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JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jan 29, 2008

G8: Meaningful or anachronistic forum?

Over the next six months, Japan will host a series of meetings of the Group of Eight countries, culminating in the Leaders' Summit at Lake Toya, Hokkaido, in July. Along with leaders of the G8 — Japan, the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Russia — the European Commission...
COMMENTARY
Jan 28, 2008

Haves and have-nots in golf

Two recent scandals reflect the Japanese weakness for golf. In one, former Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya allegedly provided favors to a Japanese trading company involved in defense contracts, after taking more than 100 one-day golf trips at the invitation of the company. In November, Moriya was...
EDITORIALS
Jan 28, 2008

Thais refuse to be intimidated

Thailand's generals must be wondering what they have to do to cow their countrymen. After they overthrew the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and forced voters to ratify a constitution that institutionalizes the military's influence over Thai politics, national elections still gave a majority...
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Jan 27, 2008

Ito excels as point guard with Portland

When University of Portland (Ore.) point guard Taishi Ito was asked to take on a leadership role as a freshman, he handled the role admirably.
Reader Mail
Jan 27, 2008

Recycled opinions shed little light

Regarding the Jan. 13 letter, "Valuable data from whale research," from Dan Goodman of the Institute of Cetacean Research: I was pleasantly surprised to read Goodman's helpful explanation that study design and methods are reviewed by the International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee, and that...
CULTURE / Books
Jan 27, 2008

Modern Japanese women: dealing with sex, lies and the dried-flower syndrome

GOODBYE MADAME BUTTERFLY: Sex, Marriage and the Modern Japanese Woman, by Sumie Kawakami. Chin Music Press, 2007, 219 pp., $20 (cloth) Who wants to be a woman in Japan? Misery can't get much worse than the sexless relationships, dreary marriages, loneliness, patriarchal blues and stressed out women portrayed...
Reader Mail
Jan 27, 2008

Adjunct to mental health care

I am writing in response to the anonymous Jan. 17 letter, "Far-fetched claim on 'life force,' " which commented on Angela Jeffs' profile of me in the Jan. 12 Japan Times.
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Jan 27, 2008

In memory of one for whom Japan was a muse

A month ago I lost a very close friend. This would not be the proper place to write about it, except for the fact that despite her not being Japanese, her profound understanding of Japan and her love for the country were the lifeblood of her artistic career.
COMMENTARY
Jan 26, 2008

Democracy is not a panacea

LONDON — U.S. President George W. Bush has at times seemed to regard "democracy" as a panacea for all the problems of government throughout the world. It's far from clear, though, what exactly he means by "democracy." If a government is duly chosen by a majority of voters in a fair election, should...
BASKETBALL
Jan 26, 2008

Gibson's clutch basket lifts Ryukyu

Point guard Herb Gibson scored the game-winning basket with 3 seconds remaining, leading the Ryukyu Golden Kings to a 70-69 victory on Friday over the visiting Niigata Albirex BB. The Golden Kings, who improved to 5-16, got a team-high 18 points from Eric Walton and 12 from Danny Jones, while Gibson...
JAPAN
Jan 25, 2008

Ambulance fiascoes become Osaka campaign issue

OSAKA — With just a few days to go until Osaka elects a new governor, the candidates are finding themselves facing an issue that is literally a life and death situation for all prefectural residents.
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jan 25, 2008

Classic director remembered

The Japan Foundation will present the film series "Rediscovery of Yamamoto Satsuo" on Feb. 2-3 as it continues to promote cultural and arts exchange with non-Japanese. A selection of the most popular works by the celebrated director Yamamoto will be shown in Tokyo with English subtitles.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 25, 2008

'American Gangster'

According to gangster-cinema logic, a gang boss wallows in crime and murder largely because he feels obligated (often willingly so) to look after the people on his turf: to keep the streets safe, his family well-fed and his business thriving. The contradiction is, of course, that by doing so a gang boss...
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
Jan 25, 2008

Time for JBA to stop ignoring bj-league, act in best interests of game in Japan

SENDAI — Ninety minutes after Sunday's Sendai 89ers-Ryukyu Golden Kings game, a slew of players were still visiting with fans or conducting interviews.
Reader Mail
Jan 24, 2008

Help those who can help Japan

Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura's statement that the Japanese government may require long-term residents "to have a certain level of Japanese proficiency" has been getting significant attention, particularly from mass media outside of Japan. I would like to congratulate Japan Times writer Kaho Shimizu...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 24, 2008

The girl in the corner

She's one of the most admired actresses in Hollywood, both for her talent and versatility.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Jan 24, 2008

From ordinary to spectacular

Go Aoki is one of Japan's most in-demand playwrights and directors. The small venues where his Gring theater company typically stages his works attract drama-world insiders — as a result, besides taking Gring on the road in early 2008, Aoki has already been enlisted for three high-profile collaborations....
CULTURE / Art / INSIDE ART
Jan 24, 2008

The parallel world of art associations

What are the most famous exhibitions of contemporary art in the world? The Venice Biennale? Art Basel Miami Beach?
COMMENTARY
Jan 23, 2008

False choices for Tokyo

HONOLULU — A gloom is settling over Tokyo. A recent visit revealed deep and deepening frustration and anxiety as Japanese contemplate strategic options. Decision-makers in Tokyo have framed their choices in overly simple terms that do not reflect the range of possibilities in foreign and security policy....
Japan Times
JAPAN / ALSO OUT THERE
Jan 23, 2008

Mobage-town a rising-star site of mobile users, but filters loom

Just when mobile phone users may have thought the worldwide proliferation of video games and social networking services into the popular culture left little room for radical new tacks, the combination of the two has opened up new avenues.
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Jan 23, 2008

Bay Area fans unfair to target Dunleavy

NEW YORK — Warriors fans who booed Mike Dunleavy when he played for their team and continued to do so each time he touched the ball last week at Oracle Arena, his first appearance there since being traded to the Pacers, are easily the NBA's most unrefined.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital
Jan 23, 2008

Nikon's full-frame camera aims at the 'Canonistas'

For many professional photographers, their camera is a friend, a trusted companion and colleague. When an important story hinges on the functioning of their "partner," they want a product that is, above all, trustworthy.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 22, 2008

Newly democratic Bhutan in a tight spot

MADRAS, India — Bhutan is now a democracy. Its transition from a monarchy to a democracy has been smooth. The tiny country, where Buddhism is the state religion, has been applauded by the world for changing with the times, and not waiting to be pushed like Pakistan, which has stubbornly refused to...
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Jan 22, 2008

Where corporate care gets it right

In a spacious sunlit room, an infant is dawdled by his smiling nurse. Two toddlers fidgeting quietly in their sleep are patted by their doting teacher. Shelves are lined with infant formula, puzzles and a picture library that includes "The Hungry Caterpillar."

Longform

Japan's growing ranks of centenarians are redefining what it means to live in a super-aging society.
What comes after 100?