Search - 2003

 
 
JAPAN
Mar 8, 2007

Aussie skiers spark land boom in Niseko

"When I started the business, people told me 'Ben, you're crazy, it's too expensive,' " he said. "But our buyers were saying the opposite: 'Ben, you're crazy. Why is it so cheap?' " suggesting properties in the area are still underpriced compared with overseas ski resorts.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Mar 8, 2007

Top-selling author Atwood: sometimes caustic, never without cause

She enjoys immense popularity in Japan. Twelve of her books have been translated into Japanese and more are on the way. But internationally acclaimed Canadian author Margaret Atwood wasn't in Japan recently to promote a new book. She was here to look at birds.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 7, 2007

Bans on ethnic and racial information well-founded

PARIS -- Race has always been a provocative subject when the needs of science and statistics intersect with politics. Now that debate is once again heating up in France, as the planned introduction of "ethnic statistics" has caused a fierce dispute that touches the very heart of French republicanism....
JAPAN
Mar 7, 2007

Asano enters Tokyo race, hits Ishihara autocracy

Former Miyagi Gov. Shiro Asano officially announced his candidacy Tuesday for the Tokyo gubernatorial election in April, saying the capital's government needs to be cleaned up "before things get out of hand."
JAPAN
Mar 6, 2007

'Kimigayo' snub stings another teacher

The Tokyo metropolitan board of education punished a high school teacher Monday who refused to play the piano accompaniment to the "Kimigayo" national anthem during a school ceremony in November.
EDITORIALS
Mar 6, 2007

Political pledges at the local level

Under a recent revision of the Public Offices Election Law, candidates running for leadership posts in local government can print their election "manifestos" with public money and distribute copies during the campaign period. For Diet elections, the distribution of printed manifestos has been allowed...
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Mar 5, 2007

Japan must eliminate hidden agriculture taxes to progress at Doha

Some new developments may be around the corner in the Doha Round of trade liberalization talks.
COMMENTARY
Mar 2, 2007

China makes due with cosmetic changes

HONG KONG -- With the approach of the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese government is making all kinds of preparations to host the games and to welcome foreign visitors and athletes. It knows that the eyes of the world are increasingly turning to China.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Mar 2, 2007

'Matsugane Ransha Jiken'

Nobuhiro Yamashita is one of the great comic talents working in Japanese films and also one of the most unusual. Unlike the many directors and actors here who equate "funny" with "over the top," Yamashita is low-key, ironic and very sharp. If he were an American he might have written for "Curb your Enthusiasm,"...
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Feb 28, 2007

Bird's memories of D.J.

NEW YORK -- How wretchedly ironic Dennis Johnson, 52, dropped dead from a heart attack on the day of the NBA's trading deadline.
EDITORIALS
Feb 27, 2007

Indonesia decides to share

The fight against infectious diseases can be won only if all countries participate, sharing research and results. That's why Indonesia's recent decision to stop sharing samples of the H5N1 bird flu virus so alarmed public-health officials: It could have prevented researchers from working on one of the...
BUSINESS
Feb 27, 2007

Move on Sapporo double-edged

The move earlier this month by U.S. hedge fund Steel Partners to acquire Sapporo Holdings Ltd. is again raising the specter in corporate Japan of foreign raiders taking over established Japanese companies to turn a quick profit.
Japan Times
LIFE
Feb 25, 2007

Japanese NGOs focus on relief, reconciliation -- and coffee co-operatives

The violent troubles in 2006 drove many staff of Japanese nongovern- mental organizations out of East Timor. The NGOs I visited had modest offices and accommodations, and the staff lived frugally -- unlike the "lords of poverty" I have encountered elsewhere in the international development community....
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 23, 2007

Mag on foreigner crimes not racist: editor

"Now!! Bad foreigners are devouring Japan," screams the warning, surrounded by gruesome caricatures of foreigners who look like savages, with blood red eyes and evil faces.
BUSINESS / SOUTH KOREAN JOURNALIST SYMPOSIUM
Feb 22, 2007

Japan, South Korea can pull Asia together

See related stories: China's rise may force Tokyo, Seoul to reassess business tie-ups Rules change, but Japan, S. Korea game the same
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 21, 2007

Tokyo librarians to vanish by attrition

When the first batch of baby boomers born between 1947 and 1949 start retiring at the end of March, the three public libraries run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will also see many qualified librarians go.
JAPAN
Feb 21, 2007

Ozawa says big office expenses were for real estate

Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa on Tuesday released details of how his political management body spent the large amounts of money listed as "office expenses" on his political funding reports from 2003 to 2005.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 20, 2007

Cotton prices wrecking Indian farmers

MADRAS, India -- The western Indian state of Maharashtra, whose capital is the nation's financial capital Bombay, has made great strides in lifting cotton production. Land dedicated to growing cotton increased from 92,000 hectares in 2003 to 480,000 hectares in 2004, according to government sources....
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Feb 20, 2007

TV shows spur 'health' food fads

How many people would believe a doctor who says eating two packages of natto fermented soybeans every day helps you lose weight?

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji