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COMMENTARY
Aug 9, 2007

Odds in democracy's favor

LONDON — "There's going to be a civil war." You heard it all the time in the old Soviet Union at the end of the 1980s. People fretted about it constantly in South Africa in 1994. They have been worrying about it in Lebanon for the past year. Now they're predicting it for Pakistan — but nine times...
BUSINESS
Aug 8, 2007

Interest rates fine, IMF says

Interest rates in Japan, the lowest among the major economies, are appropriate and the central bank needn't rush to raise them because inflation isn't a threat, the International Monetary Fund said.
COMMENTARY
Aug 7, 2007

A question of G8 legitimacy

Viewed from the media coverage of the Group of Eight Summit in Heiligendamm, Germany, the gathering was dominated by three main issues: environment, missile defense and clashes between demonstrators and police.
JAPAN / Q&A
Aug 7, 2007

DPJ's prospects with upper hand in Upper House

The July 29 House of Councilors election brought a landslide victory to the Democratic Party of Japan, which together with the other opposition forces gained a majority in the chamber. In addition, the DPJ won the largest number of seats on a single-party basis and thus will grab the Upper House presidency....
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Aug 7, 2007

Still the king of alcohol in Japan

The unbearably hot and humid summer is peak beer season in Japan. Here are some facts about the nation's beer market and its taxes, as well as regulations related to the alcoholic beverage:
BUSINESS
Aug 7, 2007

Top economic panel urges cuts in fiscal spending

The government's top economic panel pledged Monday to keep recommending cuts in fiscal spending, including public works, despite the crushing losses the ruling coalition took in rural areas during the Upper House election.
COMMENTARY
Aug 3, 2007

Wanted: creative leadership

HONOLULU — As expected, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) were defeated in Sunday's Upper House election. And, despite concerted attempts to lower expectations, the results still embarrassed the ruling party.
JAPAN
Aug 2, 2007

Scandal-tainted farm minister axed

Scandal-tainted agriculture minister Norihiko Akagi was sacked Wednesday for contributing to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's historic defeat in the House of Councilors election.
Reader Mail
Aug 1, 2007

Stellar conviction rate is suspect

My early experience with the police here was positive. Officers manning police boxes were kind, giving directions when I lost my way. Since then, what I have read and heard has spun my view 180 degrees. Japanese police are a danger to law-abiding foreigners and Japanese citizens alike.
BUSINESS
Aug 1, 2007

HMV sells Japanese store chain

HMV Group PLC, Britain's largest music retailer, said Tuesday it agreed to sell its Japanese store chain to Daiwa Securities Group Inc. and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. for ¥17 billion in cash.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Aug 1, 2007

E-cash silencing the jingle of change

Since major electronic money services emerged in 2001, it has become common in Tokyo for people to go through ticket gates by just touching a smart card to electronic readers at train stations and to make small purchases without pulling out their wallets at convenience stores. Japan's cash-based tradition...

Longform

Ichiro Suzuki, one of the most iconic players in NPB and MLB history, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame with 99.7% of the vote.
With Hall of Fame induction, Ichiro makes himself heard loud and clear