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CULTURE / Music
Dec 24, 2010

Japan makes Beethoven's Ninth No. 1 for the holidays

It's Sunday afternoon at Tokyo Geijutsu Gekijo, where the Japan Philharmonic is performing Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, one of dozens of performances of the piece that take place throughout Japan during the month of December. The house is virtually sold out, and the audience appears to be mostly...
CULTURE / Music
Dec 24, 2010

Kamattechan release major-label debut alongside darker indie LP

Shinsei Kamattechan frontman Noko is missing. His three bandmates, chatting with The Japan Times in an eerily silent karaoke booth in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, reckon he's ignoring his phone deliberately because he doesn't like interviews unless they're one on one. You might say he's somewhat volatile....
LIFE / Food & Drink
Dec 24, 2010

Why not spend New Year's Eve totally soba?

The yearend period, called shiwasu, is a really hectic time in Japan. Think of it as spring cleaning, Thanksgiving and the usual end-of-year activities all rolled into one.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Dec 24, 2010

Meet some famous Japanese ghosts of publishing

We live in interesting times. Because of the Internet, old familiar media formats are breaking down or going through changes. More and more printed word publications are going out of business or finding new life online. The old LP/album format is essentially an anachronism in an iPod-centered universe....
MORE SPORTS
Dec 23, 2010

Sugawara overcomes adversity

Quarterback Shun Sugawara is one tiny cookie. But he has a big heart, which helped him guide the Obic Seagulls to their first X League championship in five years.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 23, 2010

U.S. may up child custody pressure

NEW YORK — Japan and India are among America's key allies. Yet to scores of embittered parents across the U.S., they are outlaw states when it comes to the wrenching phenomenon of "international child abduction."
COMMENTARY
Dec 23, 2010

A peek at the dark side of Chinese diplomacy

HONG KONG — For some people, the very name Guantanamo has come to stand for something repulsive about America — in particular the difference between what it preaches about human rights and what it practices.
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
Dec 22, 2010

Expansion should bring more NBA veterans to play in Japan

NBA Players Association executive director Billy Hunter has been quoted as saying he's "99 percent sure" a lockout will take place after the collective bargain agreement expires on June 30.
COMMENTARY
Dec 21, 2010

Wave-spectrum yard sale shadows Singh

CHENNAI, India — India may well be a case of two vastly different stories. One is a grand tale of its phenomenal success, while the other shocks and scandalizes you.
BASEBALL / HIT AND RUN
Dec 21, 2010

Curtain beginning to fall on careers of some of Japan's top closers

Is Takuya Asao the next great Japanese closer? He might have to be, because as age creeps up on some of the league's top firemen, the next generation will soon have to step up and prove its worth.
Japan Times
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Dec 20, 2010

'Lost Boy' Lomong reflects

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — No one should be surprised that a movie is being made about Lopez Lomong's life. There is edge-of-your-seat drama, the horror of evil, the goodness of humanity. It is a lesson in how perseverance and a positive attitude, no matter what, can be rewarded with joy.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / ONE-ON-ONE WITH ...
Dec 19, 2010

Hopson hopes Sendai a stop on way to NBA

The Japan Times will be featuring periodic interviews with players in the bj-league. Mac Hopson of the Sendai 89ers is the subject of this week's profile.
JAPAN
Dec 18, 2010

Defense focus shifts from Russia to China

The administration endorsed a new defense guideline Friday that focuses on China's growing military activities instead of former Cold War foe Russia and paints North Korea as a regional security threat.
CULTURE / Music
Dec 17, 2010

J-pop singer Akanishi sets his sights on America

One of Japanese pop's more restless stars has found a home. Jin Akanishi, who for nine years had an on-and-off relationship with J-pop group Kat-tun, has signed a contract for global representation as a solo artist with Warner Music Group.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Dec 17, 2010

Smells like great Italian — but book ahead

Even in its earliest incarnation on the edge of Hiroo, Aroma Fresca was one of the hottest tables in town — and among the hardest to reserve. It was the same story during its stay in Azabu-Juban (in the premises now occupied solely by Casa Vinitalia), and nothing has changed since its rebirth in August...
EDITORIALS
Dec 17, 2010

Mr. Kan to open floodgates

Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Wednesday decided not to appeal a Dec. 6 Fukuoka High Court ruling that called for opening two floodgates, north and south, of the dike in Isahaya Bay.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 17, 2010

'Made in the world' notion no answer to U.S. prayers

HONG KONG — Pascal Lamy, director general of the World Trade Organization, recently made an interesting and thoughtful plea for a new approach to trade, with the idea that "Made in the world" could often be a more accurate description than one that put a purely national label on a product.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Dec 17, 2010

Casa Vinitalia: High-end Italian for the spontaneous gourmet

Snaring a reservation at a top-end Tokyo restaurant is hard enough at the best of times. Now, with the yearend celebrations in full flow, it's nigh on impossible. But even if you haven't booked that special dinner yet, there could still be a glimmer of hope. You can always try your luck at Casa Vinitalia...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Dec 17, 2010

Aroma Fresca: Smells like great Italian — but book ahead

Even in its earliest incarnation on the edge of Hiroo, Aroma Fresca was one of the hottest tables in town — and among the hardest to reserve. It was the same story during its stay in Azabu-Juban (in the premises now occupied solely by Casa Vinitalia), and nothing has changed since its rebirth in August...
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Dec 16, 2010

Bonenkai season a blast for some, drag for others

A recent survey says budgets for year-end bonenkai parties are up; on the other hand, more companies are opting to take their festivities in-house.
Japan Times
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Dec 16, 2010

Jackson making most of chance in Japan

Stardom often starts with a simple reason.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 16, 2010

Is open diplomacy possible or even desirable?

PRINCETON, New Jersey — When the furor erupted over WikiLeaks' recent release of a quarter-million diplomatic cables, I was reminded of U.S. President Woodrow Wilson's 1918 speech in which he put forward "Fourteen Points" for a just peace to end World War I.
JAPAN / Q&A
Dec 15, 2010

Testimony at ethics panel not under oath

The Democratic Party of Japan's internal rift is widening by the day on whether DPJ heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa should be summoned to give unsworn testimony before the Lower House Council on Political Ethics about the money scandal for which he faces indictment.

Longform

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