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JAPAN
Jun 13, 2010

Lufthansa launches Airbus A380 on Frankfurt-Narita route

Deutsche Lufthansa AG launched its new flagship Airbus A380 between Frankfurt and Narita on Saturday, becoming the first European carrier and the second after Singapore Airlines to operate the world's biggest commercial airplane at Narita International Airport.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jun 13, 2010

Few TV surfers ride 'Korean wave' series 'Iris'

Two weeks ago, cast members of the South Korean TV drama series "Iris" appeared in concerts at Osaka Castle Hall and Saitama Super Arena. Some 60,000 fans of the star Lee Byung Hun bought tickets, but 1,400 at one of the Saitama events found themselves shut out after the organizers decided that the stage...
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Jun 13, 2010

'Superpowers' explained; super-beautiful women ranked; CM of the week: Suntory Black Oolong Tea

The appeal of NHK's half-hour science show "Suiensa" (NHK-E, Tues., 6:55 p.m.) is pretty simple: Cute young women carrying out scientific experiments. The premise is even simpler: Answer an everyday question scientifically.
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2010

Kamei resigns over postal reform bill

New Prime Minister Naoto Kan's government had its first casualty Friday as financial services minister Shizuka Kamei stepped down in protest because the Diet session won't be extended to act on his controversial pet bill to scale back the postal system privatization.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jun 11, 2010

Pierce, Tennichi still on outside looking in

In the hours after Tuesday's bj-league draft, former Shiga Lakestars coach Bob Pierce spoke to Akita Northern Happinets officials about the expansion team's coaching vacancy, The Japan Times has learned.
JAPAN
Jun 10, 2010

Okada, Kitazawa hope to get past contentious base plan

Reappointed Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa said early Wednesday one of their key tasks in new Prime Minister Naoto Kan's administration will be to follow through with Japan's agreement with Washington to relocate U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa....
JAPAN
Jun 10, 2010

Renho beats drum against waste

Renho, the new state minister in charge of government revitalization, reiterated Wednesday her intention to trim waste in special account budgets, saying some aspects of the spending technique call for a thorough investigation by her team.
JAPAN
Jun 10, 2010

Maehara still has Futenma, JAL, road toll vows to contend with

Former Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa should go before a Diet ethics committee to give a detailed explanation about his political funds scandal, land minister Seiji Maehara said late Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jun 10, 2010

Wary of protests, whalers set out for hunt in Northwestern Pacific

KITAKYUSHU (Kyodo) Four whaling ships of the government-affiliated Institute of Cetacean Research departed Wednesday from Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, planning to catch 260 whales in the Northwestern Pacific by the end of August.
BUSINESS
Jun 10, 2010

Noda stakes out a hawkish stand on fiscal discipline

Taking a strong stance on fiscal discipline to deal with the snowballing national debt, newly appointed Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Wednesday the issuance of new Japanese government bonds for fiscal 2011 should be kept below this fiscal year's ¥44.3 trillion.
JAPAN
Jun 9, 2010

First order of business: Remedy nation's debts

New Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Tuesday reiterated his intention to work toward restoring Japan's fiscal balance, stressing in his inaugural remarks that the economy's plunge in recent years was the result of steering clear of tax hikes and relying too much on government bonds.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Jun 9, 2010

Don't count Ozawa out of the scene yet

When Naoto Kan announced his candidacy for the Democratic Party of Japan presidency last week, he told reporters DPJ kingpin Ichiro Ozawa "should remain silent" for a while after quitting as secretary general, considering how his political money scandals helped speed the downfall of Yukio Hatoyama as...
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle / Japan Pulse
Jun 8, 2010

Divorcing couples seek solace in ring-smashing ceremonies

Who says a divorce isn't a reason to celebrate? A ring-smashing ceremony may be planting the seeds of a new tradition.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Jun 8, 2010

Virtual versions map out real benefits of Tokyo localities

Jimotonow lets local shop-owners speak for themselves with Twitter-friendly communities representing areas in Tokyo's Suginami-ku.
JAPAN
Jun 8, 2010

Kan's picks for DPJ limit Ozawa's role

Members of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan approved on Monday the selection of new Prime Minister Naoto Kan's DPJ executives, with the influence of party kingpin Ichiro Ozawa conspicuously absent.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jun 8, 2010

Whether covered or brazen, tattoos make a statement

Tattoos have long occupied a place in Japanese society, generally in the shadows of the underworld and the realm of taboo.
COMMUNITY / Voices / HAVE YOUR SAY
Jun 8, 2010

Readers weigh in on U.S. military presence

Fear of breaking taboo During my 31 years in Japan I have appreciated The Japan Times' coverage of social issues such as discrimination against ethic and social minorities, which the vernacular papers give only passing mention to.

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