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JAPAN
Jan 28, 2011

Two abductees 'alive' in '06

KAGOSHIMA (Kyodo) Two Japanese abducted by North Korea were reported alive there as of 2006, despite Pyongyang's claim they died decades earlier, a relative of one of them claimed Thursday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 28, 2011

Greed is good again in 'Wall Street' sequel

BEVERLY HILLS, California — After having announced a week earlier that he had beaten cancer, Michael Douglas took the stage at the Golden Globes awards ceremony in Beverly Hills, California, on Jan. 16 and was greeted with a warm round of applause.
Reader Mail
Jan 27, 2011

Living with the fear of being shot

Thank you for the Jan. 23 editorial, "Making sense of Tucson." Despite the deluge of news and comment following the tragic shooting, I had yet to read or hear a single reference to what I believe Americans call "the elephant in the room," namely the link between gun ownership and gun violence. One would...
Reader Mail
Jan 27, 2011

The will to commit mayhem

I fault some of the points raised in the Jan. 23 editorial, "Making sense of Tucson." First, with regard to the claim that anyone can get a gun with a high-capacity ammo clip, there are several steps in place to prevent that. These laws are split between federal and state control, and if memory serves,...
Reader Mail
Jan 27, 2011

Leadership crisis delays solutions

It is with a frustrated and sinking feeling that I read the comments of the Liberal Democratic Party chief in the Jan. 24 article "LDP pledges to send ruling party packing." With all the problems facing Japan, what Japanese politics doesn't need is more of the same tribal mentality, greed and power faction...
JAPAN
Jan 27, 2011

New EU envoy cagey on FTA pact

Newly appointed EU Ambassador to Japan Hans Dietmar Schweisgut said Wednesday various issues need to be dealt with before Japan and the EU can conclude a free-trade accord.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 27, 2011

Facing the specter of famine

SINGAPORE — In India, a potentially huge economic and social crisis is in the making, involving extensive rewriting of recipe books to exclude a favorite ingredient. Onions are in short supply and their prices have risen by 80 percent, too expensive for many Indians to afford as part of their daily...
JAPAN
Jan 26, 2011

Worse rare earth shortages 'yet to come'

Trade statistics have revealed the country's import of rare earth minerals from China surged by more than 50 percent in the January-November period last year from the same period in 2009 — even though it plunged by two-thirds in the October-November period due to export restrictions by Beijing.
COMMENTARY
Jan 26, 2011

Universal values do matter

NEW DELHI — With a Nobel Peace Prize to his credit, U.S. President Barack Obama was widely expected to advance universal values. Yet he has signaled that promotion of human rights is a tool to be used only against the small kids on the global block who hold no major economic benefits for the United...
BUSINESS
Jan 26, 2011

BOJ raises growth forecast for 2010

The Bank of Japan on Tuesday raised its growth forecasts for the current fiscal year as strong overseas demand supports the economy.
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Jan 25, 2011

Hilton Hotels bag white elephant, turn it around

What is a luxury brand hotel like Hilton doing with a hot spring resort in the mountains of Shizuoka?
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jan 25, 2011

Family restaurants falling from flavor

Family-style restaurants are feeling the squeeze as diners increasingly opt for meals more on the cheap, such as under-¥300 "gyudon" bowls of beef on rice and "bento" boxed lunches below ¥500.
BUSINESS
Jan 25, 2011

Toyota holds sales crown a third year but GM close

Toyota sold 8.42 million vehicles globally in 2010, remaining the world's top automaker for the third year straight despite recall woes in the key North American market.
BUSINESS
Jan 25, 2011

Mobile slump hits KDDI 3Q profit

KDDI Corp., the second-largest cell phone operator, said Monday that third-quarter profit fell as a slump in its wireless business offset improved earnings from fixed line service.
Reader Mail
Jan 23, 2011

Increase the appeal of graduates

Regarding the Jan. 17 editorial "Students feel heat of joblessness": It's very sad news to hear of the plight of new grads from Japanese universities. It is disheartening when nearly one in 12 students cannot get a job in his own country. This could lead to frustration with the higher education system...
Reader Mail
Jan 23, 2011

Service with a smile sets us apart

Regarding the Jan. 11 Kyodo article "Japanese service winning customers in Europe": I am delighted that Japanese service is rated highly, because there hasn't been much good news recently. I feel that Japan is inferior when it comes to politics, scholastic ability and self-sufficiency, so I'm happy that...
JAPAN
Jan 22, 2011

U.S. neutral over 'Daioyu' sovereignty: Obama adviser

HONG KONG (Kyodo) The United States does not recognize any claims regarding the sovereignty of the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which are administered by Japan but claimed by both China and Taiwan, an adviser to President Barack Obama said Friday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 22, 2011

Asahi Glass unveils new supertough cell cover

Gorilla glass, meet Dragontrail.
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Jan 21, 2011

Thirst growing overseas for nihonshu

Last year more nihonshu than ever was shipped overseas. From Seoul to San Francisco, tipplers are saying kampai to sake.
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Jan 21, 2011

Future of Japanese pension system as cloudy as ever

Rather than overhaul the pension system, the welfare ministry continues to tweak a failed system.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 21, 2011

Facebook and dark matter

HONG KONG — News that Goldman Sachs has taken a $450 million stake in Facebook in a deal that puts a $50 billion valuation on the fledgling company raises interesting and somewhat troubling questions beyond the immediate gawping and jaw-dropping headlines that a spotty-faced Harvard dropout aged 26...
BASKETBALL
Jan 21, 2011

Rera Kamuy coach Bryant fired

Head coach Joe Bryant of the cash-strapped Rera Kamuy Hokkaido has been fired, a Japan Basketball League official said on Thursday.
BUSINESS
Jan 21, 2011

Daihatsu plans ¥1 million gas-sipping minicar

OSAKA (Kyodo) Daihatsu Motor Co. will begin marketing its new highly fuel-efficient gasoline-engine minivehicle this summer at a sticker price of ¥1 million or less, company President Koichi Ina said in a recent interview.

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