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JAPAN
Sep 11, 2008

Five start campaigns for LDP presidency

The Liberal Democratic Party officially kicked off its presidential election campaign Wednesday with five candidates angling to succeed Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who announced his resignation last week.
BUSINESS
Sep 11, 2008

Wholesale inflation eases to 7.2%

The wholesale inflation rate slowed in August for the first time in 11 months as oil and commodity costs fell, signaling price pressures are starting to ease on the economy.
BUSINESS
Sep 10, 2008

Vale seeks to hike iron-ore price extra 12%

Cia. Vale do Rio Doce, the world's biggest iron-ore producer, is asking Nippon Steel Corp. and its Japanese rivals to pay 12 percent more for the material on top of a 65 percent increase agreed to in February, according to two sources familiar with the negotiations.
JAPAN
Sep 9, 2008

Koike, Yosano declare bids for LDP leadership

Former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike and Kaoru Yosano, economic and fiscal policy minister, officially announced their candidacies Monday to run in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Sep 9, 2008

Waistline scrutiny a midlife bugbear

The term metabolic syndrome has become a hot topic with middle-aged workers now that the government has made it mandatory for companies and local governments to check for it during annual employee health examinations.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Sep 9, 2008

The withered middle-aged guy becomes a hot item in Japan's dating market

If you happen to be an over-45 male, looking a little tired, inclined to decline party invitations because you can't stand the hassle, comfortable in your own company and not really caring what other people think — so, the news is ALL good, at least in urban Japan. You are, or are extremely close...
JAPAN
Sep 9, 2008

Japanese and Chinese differ on diplomatic ties

More than 80 percent of Chinese are optimistic about future ties with Japan, while only 32 percent of Japanese feel likewise, a bilateral survey released Monday shows.
JAPAN
Sep 9, 2008

Ozawa given a new DPJ mandate

Ichiro Ozawa's third term as president of the Democratic Party of Japan was effectively confirmed Monday when no one chose to run against him.
COMMENTARY
Sep 8, 2008

Why Japan's leaders matter to Americans

CALIF. — These days, when a Japanese prime minister resigns, the temptation is to say just two things. One is "ho," and the other is "hum."
BASEBALL / MLB
Sep 7, 2008

Phillies sign veteran Iguchi

NEW YORK (Kyodo) The Philadelphia Phillies on Friday announced the acquisition of Japanese infielder Tadahito Iguchi, who was released by the San Diego Padres earlier this week.
JAPAN
Sep 6, 2008

More candidates lining up for LDP presidential race

The field of possible candidates for the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election is growing, with various party members scrambling to collect the 20 recommendations needed from LDP lawmakers to run in the race to succeed the incumbent, departing Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.
Japan Times
JAPAN / LETTERS FROM KOBE
Sep 5, 2008

'Life keeps right on moving'

Ashes and rubble covered the devastated land as far as the eye could see.
EDITORIALS
Sep 5, 2008

The DPJ's kind of nation

The sudden decision and announcement by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda to resign must have caused a headache for the Democratic Party of Japan, the No. 1 opposition party. The DPJ had worked out a strategy for future general elections on the assumption that Mr. Fukuda would remain in power. The DPJ thought...
JAPAN
Sep 5, 2008

Saiki to meet six-party delegates Hill, Kim

Japan's chief delegate to the six-party talks on denuclearizing North Korea will visit Beijing on Friday, the Foreign Ministry said.
BUSINESS
Sep 5, 2008

MUFG denies report of bid for controlling stake in Lehman

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., Japan's biggest bank, denied a report it is considering entering the bidding for a stake in Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.
EDITORIALS
Sep 4, 2008

Need for mandate

Japan and the rest of the world have seen two Japanese prime ministers in a row suddenly throw in the towel without giving convincing reasons for doing so. Mr. Shinzo Abe announced his resignation Sept. 12, 2007, and Mr. Yasuo Fukuda on Sept. 1. The manner in which the two prime ministers decided to...
Reader Mail
Sep 4, 2008

How 'natural' is the weather?

This summer we have endured a lot of rain, humid weather and weird cloud formations. This may not be unusual for Japan in August, but I asked locals if the weather was unusual and many said "yes." Using the Internet, I was able to learn that the U.S. government has an official policy of "weather modification"...
COMMENTARY
Sep 4, 2008

Fukuda hounded out of office

Japan's PR-vulnerable public and lightheaded media have done it again. Between them they have got rid of yet another of Japan's better prime ministers. I have no brief for Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's policies. On two key issues I think he was wrong. One was his determination to force through legislation...
Reader Mail
Sep 4, 2008

'Gaijin' to Japanese eyes

Regarding the Sept. 2 article "The 'gaijin' debate: Arudou responds": Debito Arudou's claim that the word "gaijin" is racist not only borders on whining but also smacks of something that could only be brought up by a white person. I'm part Japanese and part black, and I'll tell you right now that I would...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Sep 4, 2008

Devo uphold their duty now for the future

As I sit down opposite the gray-haired man in a black shirt and glasses, someone comes to clear the clutter off the table — a stick-thin, retro-futuristic guitar that has been rigged for its strings to explode at the climax of a solo. His flame-haired partner takes a seat; he's wearing a full suit...
JAPAN
Sep 3, 2008

Aso gets set for run at LDP presidency

Taro Aso, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's secretary general, indicated Tuesday he will run for the party's presidency amid the disarray following Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's abrupt resignation.

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