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Reader Mail
May 26, 2011

The myth of Tiananmen Square

In his April 17 review of Philip J. Cunningham's book, "Tiananmen Moon: Inside the Chinese Student Uprising," I am surprised that a scholar of Jeff Kingston's caliber is taken in by the June 4, 1989, Tiananmen Square massacre myth.
Reader Mail
May 26, 2011

Virtues will stand reconstruction

I believe that Michael Hoffman's May 22 article, "Extreme nationalism may emerge from the rubble of the quake," reiterates, in its own way, the unique character of Japan. For me, the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami seemed to remind the world of this country's character, which has always...
Reader Mail
May 26, 2011

Shifting blame to U.S. pressure

As the potentially worst nuclear accident ever continues to unfold at Fukushima, it has become quite common to read obfuscations and falsehoods from nervous and embarrassed Japanese officials. The May 19 Kyodo article from Geneva, "Japan offers WHO apology for nuclear crisis," takes the cake.
Reader Mail
May 26, 2011

International support for victims

I still grieve when viewing TV video of the disaster-struck Tohoku-Pacific areas. I know that too many people still live in evacuation centers and that some may suffer from radioactive contamination. Yet the victims seem to show a strong spirit.
JAPAN
May 26, 2011

One tough job: selling Fukushima

Hands down, the workers at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant trying to cool off the reactors have one of the toughest jobs in Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 26, 2011

Mideast envoys urge exchanges

Members of the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Tokyo said Wednesday they would like to pursue greater exchanges with Japan in an effort to let Japanese know more about the region, especially in light of recent political turmoil there.
Reader Mail
May 26, 2011

Exalting superiority carries risk

Michael Hoffman's article on the apparent rise of nationalism in the wake of the March 11 earthquake disaster leads me to wonder: If Japanese "intellectuals" like conservative journalist Yoshiko Sakurai and professor emeritus Masahiko Fujiwara (both cited in Hoffman's article) make themselves and their...
EDITORIALS
May 26, 2011

Helping hands to Mr. Kan

The perseverance that people in northeastern Japan have shown after the massive earthquake and tsunami devastated their communities March 11 has impressed many people around the world.
COMMENTARY
May 25, 2011

Risky business, IMF style

We need to have a clear understanding about what is happening with the International Monetary Fund. Do not for a minute believe the current scandal is just one of those more or less happening things. It may not be the total end of the world for the IMF, but if the world's largest money-granting bureaucracy...
COMMUNITY / Voices / HOTLINE TO NAGATACHO
May 24, 2011

Japanese adults need an education in dealing with difference

To the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology:
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
May 24, 2011

Travel firms feel pinch, pitch in after disasters

Every spring, as the wave of blossoms sweeps up the archipelago from south to north, washing up from the coasts into the higher altitudes, travelers flood into Japan. Rivaled only by the cool autumn months that redden maple leaves across the country, March and April are high season for tourism in Japan....
JAPAN
May 23, 2011

Kan, Wen, Lee bolster disaster plans

Prime Minister Naoto Kan and his Chinese and South Korean counterparts agreed Sunday to enhance cooperation on a range of programs — including nuclear safety and disaster management — in light of the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 23, 2011

Tamura residents challenge hot zone for short trip home

Residents of Tamura, Fukushima Prefecture, were allowed to visit their homes in the nuclear no-go zone for two hours Sunday.
Reader Mail
May 22, 2011

Can't beat interactive approach

Regarding the May 16 article: "Study: It is not the teacher but the method that matters": I have been a teacher of English for nearly 12 years. My specialty is early childhood education, though I now mainly teach junior high and high school children.
Reader Mail
May 22, 2011

Put the effort into renewables

Looking at Tokyo Electric Power Co. workers struggling to solve what seem like unsolvable technical difficulties; damaged nuclear reactor emissions contaminating the air, land and sea; dairy people draining precious milk into a ditch; farmers unable to sell vegetables in the market; fishermen unable...
Reader Mail
May 22, 2011

'Edo Period' energy outlook

Regarding Eriko Arita's May 14 article, "": I find the comments of Tetsunari Iida (executive director of the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies) very interesting, but I have the following questions:
Reader Mail
May 22, 2011

Queen's visit celebrates ties

Last week Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh made a state visit to Ireland. The visit was a historic event in relations between Ireland and the United Kingdom—the first such visit since Irish Independence in 1921 changed political relations on these islands....
Reader Mail
May 22, 2011

Village mayor with foresight

Regarding the May 18 AP article "How one village defied the tsunami": How is it that the tiny fishing village of Fudai in Iwate Prefecture could anticipate the threat of a major earthquake/tsunami? How did this tiny fishing village have the resolve and foresight to build a sea wall and floodgates at...
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
May 22, 2011

U.S. court victories show how to get rid of nuclear plants

Lawyer Tom Twomey knows far more than most of us about the importance of citizen participation in making energy policy. That's because Twomey has spent four decades keeping a watchful eye on electric power suppliers in New York — and he's learned that what we don't know can hurt us.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
May 22, 2011

Iejima: an island of resistance

During the 30-minute ferry ride from Motobu on mainland Okinawa, Iejima reveals itself in stages. First, Mount Tacchu emerges above the waves like a chunk of the peanut brittle for which the island is renowned. Next, the wind-blown scent of countless thousands of hibiscuses sweetens the stink of the...
BUSINESS
May 21, 2011

Fund managers hunt for bargains amid losses

The worst Japanese earnings season in two years is spurring top fund managers to scoop up shares of drugmakers, car companies and telephone operators.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
May 21, 2011

Fusing aikido and language studies a potent combination

Literally across the globe, martial arts fans flock to their favorite dojos and disciplines, thanks to the fluid strength and cool demeanor of the activity's many superstars. Equally as important to fans are the philosophies behind the physical aspects of martial arts.
COMMENTARY
May 20, 2011

Folly of official obfuscation

Politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen never seem to have learned that they will not be trusted if they repeatedly lie.

Longform

Bear attacks have dominated Japanese news headlines in recent months, with 13 people so far having been killed by the animals.
Japan’s bears have been on their killing spree for more than 100 years