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EDITORIALS
Nov 11, 2005

High hopes for Mr. Mitarai

Mr. Fujio Mitarai, president of Canon Inc., has been picked to succeed Mr. Hiroshi Okuda as head of Nippon Keidanren (the Japan Business Federation). He will start leading the organization dubbed as the "commanding headquarters" of Japan's business community in May 2006.
COMMENTARY
Nov 11, 2005

Is capitalism key to peace?

WASHINGTON -- In a world that seems constantly aflame, one naturally asks: What causes peace? Many people, including U.S. President George W. Bush, hope that spreading democracy will discourage war.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / THEN AND NOW
Nov 11, 2005

Investigating the history of Hiroo

The Shibuya River starts at Shinjuku Gyoen. Running southward, it makes a big horseshoe curve near Ebisu and heads north to Roppongi. At Ichi-no-hashi, it abruptly bends east to eventually pour into Tokyo Bay. The river's upper reaches are now culverts, but water emerges just south of Shibuya Station...
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Nov 11, 2005

Tokyo FILMeX hits the spot

Thirty-four films selected for their originality and creativity will be showcased in the sixth annual Tokyo FILMeX running Nov. 19-27.
JAPAN
Nov 11, 2005

New Rengo leader wants to mend fence with DPJ

, said in an interview Wednesday with The Japan Times. "As long as (such discussions) are held, I'm not at all worried about our relationship with the DPJ," he said.
BUSINESS
Nov 11, 2005

Softbank rides broadband to 4.4 billion yen operating profit

Softbank Corp. said Thursday it posted its first first-half operating profit in five years, helped by steady growth in its high-speed Internet service.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 10, 2005

Korean 'treasure' returns for Konami

For winning an unprecedented three MVP awards, Sun Dong Yol was called "South Korea's national treasure" when he was an active player. And even after his retirement, he still is respected by everyone.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 10, 2005

North Americans to get 'manga' in Sunday comics

Charlie Brown, Garfield and other longtime favorite cartoon stars will soon be sharing space in North American newspapers with doe-eyed women in frilly outfits, effeminate long-haired heroes and cute fuzzy animals.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Nov 10, 2005

Tokion talks Tokyo

Uber-cool magazine Tokion has been investigating the cutting edge of creative subcultures for almost 10 years. Having started as a Japanese/English bilingual culture magazine in 1996, it now has separate editions in each language and a cult following on both sides of the Pacific.
JAPAN
Nov 10, 2005

Teen admits in court to slaying parents, arson

A 16-year old boy pleaded guilty in court Wednesday to murdering his parents and blowing up their apartment in June with an explosive device.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Nov 10, 2005

The man in the photo

"Over 4,000 pictures!" the press officer shouts with enthusiasm over the phone the day after the opening of the most comprehensive exhibition of 65-year-old Nobuyoshi Araki's photographs to date.
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Nov 9, 2005

Study finds broccoli combats gastritis

As futurists get excited by the prospect of engineering ourselves to have longer lives, it's easy to forget that, as well as the high-tech ways, there are very simple ways to live longer.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 8, 2005

Tigers, Marines to face off in May

The Hanshin Tigers and Chiba Lotte Marines will face each either in a rematch of their Japan Series showdown last month when interleague play opens its second-year schedule on May 9 next year.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Nov 8, 2005

Spreading the spirit of an old Japanese tradition

It's probably a sign of impending old age but these days, I find myself recalling the words of my late grandmother and applying them to current life situations.
BUSINESS
Nov 7, 2005

Amway ready for greater triumph in China after tough years in Japan

For direct-selling giant Amway Co., China is fast becoming its most lucrative overseas market, far surpassing sales in the massive yet troublesome Japanese market.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Nov 6, 2005

Hot hibachi league heating up; can Jojima cut it in majors?

Welcome to the new sponsored "Baseball Bullet-In," and thanks to Jeff Libengood and the staff of the just-opened East West Fitness workout place in Tokyo for the support. If you would like to sponsor a column in an upcoming edition of The Japan Times, please contact me at the e-mail address below.
EDITORIALS
Nov 6, 2005

Fishing for 'interesting individuals'

Tired of the same old liberal causes? Here's one you might not have heard of: "Fish," according to a spokeswoman for the Fish Empathy Project, "are interesting individuals who deserve our respect and compassion." Not since the British poet Rupert Brooke wrote about "each secret fishy hope or fear" way...
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Nov 6, 2005

Say 'cheese' and snap out of such fanciful thinking

Foreign-ministers-in-waiting don't drop clangers for nothing. When the then Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Taro Aso spoke last month at the newly-opened Kyushu National Museum in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture, he fully expected his clanger to resound and reverberate when it hit the ground....
Japan Times
BUSINESS / CABINET INTERVIEW
Nov 5, 2005

Japan Post's private units will need business leaders

When the gigantic Japan Post takes its first steps toward privatization in October 2007, the reins should be held by people who have had experience heading private businesses, Heizo Takenaka, who doubles as minister in charge of postal privatization and minister of internal affairs and communications,...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Nov 4, 2005

Portugal and Brazil united in one voice

Fado, the passionate, powerful music of Portugal, was -- and still is -- sung in the local bars and small eateries for working people. The music's spirit is saudade, a word that translates roughly as nostalgia, melancholy or longing, though mixed with happiness and love. Fado's greatest singer was Amalia...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / THE SECOND ROOM
Nov 4, 2005

Psychedelic radar 11.04

Saturday, Nov. 5
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Nov 3, 2005

A chance to dance Cranko's 'Onegin'

The etoile Manuel Legris, one of the top dancers of the Paris Opera Ballet, will fulfill one of the dreams of his career as a guest dancer in the Stuttgart Ballet when it tours Japan: performing the role of "Onegin" in a production of the ballet by the same name.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / CABINET INTERVIEW
Nov 3, 2005

New METI chief to try softer touch with Asian neighbors

Newly appointed Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshihiro Nikai said he favors a "patient, but persistent" approach toward improving strained relations with China caused by a protracted bilateral squabble over natural gas fields in the East China Sea.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Nov 2, 2005

Once-lovable prince goes medieval

Like any other entertainment medium, it isn't hard to point out certain qualities that suggest whether a game was developed in Japan or abroad. Japanese games tend to be very character driven, boast a more artistic visual style and are often a part of a long-standing series. ("Final Fantasy XII" rings...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Nov 1, 2005

People power

After nearly a decade of stalling and prevarication over the replacement of Futenma Air Station in Okinawa, a solution has finally emerged from the dusty halls of power in Kasumigaseki and Washington.
COMMENTARY
Nov 1, 2005

Reform march must go on

The Diet on Oct. 14 enacted the postal-privatization bills that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi called the "centerpiece" of his reform agenda. It was a dream come true for Koizumi, after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner New Komeito won two-thirds of the Lower House seats...

Longform

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