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CULTURE / Film
Sep 11, 2009

Keeping it plain, simple and brilliant

When one thinks of the grand old men of American cinema, directors who have spanned a few decades and continue to keep up the pace, there are but a handful of names to check.
Reader Mail
Sep 10, 2009

Writing about a minority group

After reading Debito Arudou's Sept. 1 article, "Meet Mr. James, gaijin clown ," I am not sure what Arudou is more upset about: Mr. James as a threat to foreign identity in Japan, or foreigners who refuse to join Arudou in his dramatic outrage. I would like to suggest that Arudou's writing does more harm...
Japan Times
LIFE
Aug 9, 2009

'No public discourse' in Pakistan about its nukes

Kamila Shamsie is a Pakistan-born novelist who was educated in the United States and now lives in London, from where she recently gave the interview below. In her 2009 novel "Burnt Shadows," Kamila Shamsie explores the indelible mark that the larger sweep of history leaves on people caught up in its...
JAPAN
Aug 7, 2009

Lay judges relieved case over but enthusiastic about experience

The first serving lay judges expressed relief Thursday at having completed their duties and encouraged others to step up and benefit from what they called "a valuable experience."
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Aug 7, 2009

Crowe gunslings his way into Japan

"People think of Westerns as being quintessentially American," says New Zealand-born actor Russell Crowe. "But they're quintessentially frontier stories. They're integral to anywhere with a frontier. Like Australia. I think the Westerns I've done could just as easily have happened in Australia."
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jul 28, 2009

How do you feel about paying into Japan's national health and pension programs?

Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 24, 2009

He can't seem to escape from the museum

Ben Stiller is back in the museum. Specifically, in "Night at the Museum — Battle of the Smithsonian."
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jul 19, 2009

Explaining a hold and a tale about 'Smokey' catching for the Carp

Checking out what is on the minds of fans and readers of the column this week as we go through the e-mail inbox, and Josh Barnett in Kobe wants to know, "What is a 'hold' and what does a pitcher need to do to be awarded one?"
COMMENTARY
Jul 19, 2009

Like it or not, China is not about to go away

KUALA LUMPUR — There was never the slightest doubt in the mind of a single reputable expert anywhere in the world that China was a caldron of ethnic unrest ready to boil over. Nor was there the slightest possibility that the masters of the People's Republic of China would be able to escape, within...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jul 14, 2009

What do you think about this summer's round of cuts in bonuses for company workers?

Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jul 7, 2009

How do you feel about the death of Michael Jackson?

JAPAN
Jul 1, 2009

Election is about local issues, not a national litmus test: Aoyama

Political parties and the media widely see the July 12 Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election as the last and biggest litmus test before a Lower House election that may see the Democratic Party of Japan unseat the ruling bloc.
COMMUNITY / Voices / HAVE YOUR SAY
Jun 30, 2009

Re: Something to sing about?

Following are some readers' responses to Nicholas Drapier's June 2 Zeit Gist article "Something to sing about?":
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jun 16, 2009

What do you like most about life in Japan?

Hiroaki Daikai Airline staff, 22The food in Japan is healthy and safe to eat. There is a good variety to choose from. When I travel to developing countries, I often get sick from the food.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 9, 2009

Educating Americans about Muslim voices

NEW YORK — President Barack Obama has extended an open hand of friendship in his landmark Cairo speech to the Muslim world — seeking to engage Muslims with a commitment of mutual respect. No one can doubt his sincerity. From his first days in office, he has emphasized the importance of embarking...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Jun 2, 2009

Something to sing about?

Last year, I attended my daughter's elementary school graduation and the opening ceremony of her new middle school. Sitting through the rituals gave rise to a number of musings.
Japan Times
CULTURE
May 29, 2009

Looking for love, and an English teacher

Actress Kazue Fukiishi looked perplexed when I asked if she could see herself ever marrying a foreigner.
JAPAN
May 24, 2009

MOX use opposed by Genkai's leery residents

GENKAI, Saga Pref. — Before a two-lane access road was built to connect it with other parts of the prefecture, the village of Genkai, nestled in high hills with deep ravines beside the Sea of Japan, was so remote that even locals called it the "Tibet of Saga Prefecture."
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
May 22, 2009

Tattoo you — Mika's call to arms

"I believe in my voice as a singer," declares Mika Nakashima, alluding to the three words tattooed in English around her right wrist. " 'Trust your voice,' in a broad sense, means we should accept everything and believe in many things. I learned this in New York and developed myself in many ways that...
Reader Mail
May 21, 2009

Unwarranted paranoia about flu

Susan Menadue-Chun should know that getting a disease from the biometric fingerprinting device at Narita Airport is virtually nil and only statistically possible, but carrying some wet tissue like "handy wipes" is a good idea.
JAPAN
May 21, 2009

Okada calls on Ozawa to open up about funds

Newly appointed Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Katsuya Okada on Wednesday urged former party leader Ichiro Ozawa to give a full and public account of how money allegedly illicitly donated by Nishimatsu Construction Co. was used.
EDITORIALS
May 15, 2009

Truths about malpractice

Doctors have been acquitted in one malpractice trial after another. In August 2008 an obstetrician in Fukushima Prefecture was found innocent in the death of a woman from blood loss during a Caesarean operation. In November that year a Kyorin University doctor who did not realize a cotton-candy stick...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
May 1, 2009

So what then was 1968 all about?

For over a decade, artist-in- residence programs have been held by myriad organizations throughout Japan, all with roughly the same objective: to provide a unique and mutually enlightening experience for the both visiting artist and host. One of the latest residencies held at Tokyo Wonder Site might...
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Apr 29, 2009

Rumors about Mullin joining Knicks intensify

NEW YORK — Despite an upsurge of chatter claiming Donnie Walsh only has eyes for Chris Mullin — a couple of NBA observers assert the apparently departing Warriors VP has been promised the GM job — this is untrue, according to the Knicks president.
JAPAN
Apr 16, 2009

JTA still upbeat about reaching 2020 target

Despite the strong yen, the government remains optimistic about achieving its target of attracting 20 million annual foreign visitors by 2020, the head of the Japan Tourism Agency said Wednesday.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Apr 5, 2009

Dead ends, about turns abound in the politics of roads

About a year ago, the government was all in a lather about extending the gasoline tax. Local governments and the ruling coalition, not to mention interested bureaucracies, wanted to continue the tax because they said the revenues were necessary to build more roads. Opposition parties were against the...
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Apr 5, 2009

London trauma points with relief to a convenient truth about Japan

Sometimes Japan is just different from everywhere else.

Longform

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