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Reader Mail
Jul 25, 2007

Few signs of price inflation

I read that the Bank for International Settlements has recommended that the Bank of Japan raise the discount rate to head off inflation. But I must say that a price spike in the volatile energy sector hardly amounts to inflation. Consumer prices are actually deflating, only less than before. Also remember...
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital
Jul 18, 2007

'Kane' gone? Try saving with these money boxes

Money — it makes the world go round, and it even talks. Or at least, these money boxes do.
Reader Mail
Jan 7, 2007

Energy geopolitics is the key

In The Japan Times' Time Out features Dec. 31, various predictions are made for Japan, but not one seriously considers the most unpredictable and most influential factor of all: energy sources and where they are to come from. Robotics, demographic changes, productivity are all ultimately affected...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Sep 29, 2006

J-cool factor struggles to woo NYC

For someone who stands to gain from the hot topic of Japan's "Gross National Cool," Taeko Baba ought to be the last to pop the phenomenon's bubble.
BUSINESS
Jun 10, 2006

METI's long-term plan aims for 2.2% annual growth

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Friday it has finalized a strategy document that it believes will help Japan achieve real economic growth of 2.2 percent on average between fiscal 2004 and 2015.
JAPAN / FRAMING THE FUTURE
Jan 1, 2006

Elderly of tomorrow can count on technology, researchers say

Poor eyesight and hearing, and reduced physical strength often discourage elderly people from going out alone or visiting unfamiliar places where they can easily get tired or lost.
BUSINESS
Feb 17, 2005

Vstone leader Yamato gears up for RoboCup

OSAKA -- Members of Team OSAKA bubbled over with excitement after their teammate scored a goal in a penalty-kick shootout, leading the team to victory in a sort of world soccer championship. The little goal-scorer is a 39-cm humanoid robot named VisiON.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 13, 2004

Robot suit a culmination of sci-fi dreams

TSUKUBA, Ibaraki Pref. -- Scientist Yoshiyuki Sankai was fascinated in his childhood by robots depicted in the U.S. literary classic "I, Robot" as well as Japanese comic books such as "Cyborg 009" and "Tetsujin No. 28."
JAPAN
Aug 13, 2004

Robot suit a culmination of sci-fi dreams

TSUKUBA, Ibaraki Pref. -- Scientist Yoshiyuki Sankai was fascinated in his childhood by robots depicted in the U.S. literary classic "I, Robot" as well as Japanese comic books such as "Cyborg 009" and "Tetsujin No. 28."
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Jun 3, 2004

Sims creator: always unique

Will Wright, the creator of "The Sims," may be most accurately described as a cross between Stephen Hawking and Willy Wonka. He has a quirky and ironic sense of humor and a large and loyal following in the gaming world.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle / ON THE BOOK TRAIL
Sep 18, 2003

"Ruby Holler," "The Robodog Superhero"

"Ruby Holler," Sharon Creech, Bloomsbury; 2002, 310 pp. How do you reform a pair of 13-year-old twins who spend every spare moment breaking, spilling, throwing or dropping things -- and cursing loudly when they're caught?
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 24, 2003

University's belle of the ball ready to shake its 'botty'

A team at Tohoku University has developed a robot that can follow a human dancer's lead, according to the team's leader, Kazuhiro Kosuge.
BUSINESS
Jun 21, 2003

NEC to spin off laser operations

NEC Corp. said Friday it will spin off the group's laser-processing operations into a new company that the electronics firm and two other concerns will establish in December.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 1, 2003

Humanoid robots: companions or just costly toys?

In the 1950s, Astro Boy drew on his 100,000 horsepower and hip-mounted machineguns to fight evil-doers. Despite his supposed April 7, 2003, birthday, however, the creation of robots the likes of Astro will probably remain a superhero pipe dream forever.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 5, 2002

Welcome weapons cutbacks

WASHINGTON -- According to recent reports, Pentagon officials are considering cuts in several weapons programs as they develop their 2004 budget proposal. If defense spending is to be kept within reasonable bounds, these are exactly the sorts of reductions that will be required.
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Nov 1, 2002

Bean me down, Scottie, bean me down

"I don't think the human race will survive the next 1,000 years, unless we spread into space. There are too many accidents that can befall life on a single planet. But I'm an optimist. We will reach out to the stars."
Japan Times
JAPAN / THE OKINAWA FACTOR
Sep 13, 2002

Okinawa's free-trade zones failing to attract companies

GUSHIKAWA, Okinawa Pref. -- The Acrorad Co. factory in Okinawa's Nakagusuku Free Trade Zone looks out on more than 100 hectares of empty lots.
EDITORIALS
Jan 20, 2002

The Segway's Japanese roots

At the end of December, Emeritus Professor Kazuo Yamafuji of Tokyo's University of Electro-Communications had something interesting to add to the buzz of talk about the Segway Human Transporter, the self-balancing robotic scooter unveiled earlier in the month by U.S. inventor Dean Kamen.
BUSINESS
Aug 11, 2001

Sony, Honda work on useful, entertaining robots

Ever since Sony Corp. and Honda Motor Co. unveiled prototypes of humanoid robots last year, expectations have been growing that they can be developed to carry out household chores and used for entertainment.
BUSINESS
Jul 31, 2000

Bangalore emerges as Asia's high-tech hub

BANGALORE, India -- At a recent roadshow for India's Karnataka state, one proud exhibit was a slide of the cover of Newsweek's issue of Nov. 9, 1998, showing a list of the world's "hottest tech cites." The magazine had chosen 10, of which only two were in Asia -- Singapore and Bangalore, Karnataka's...
LIFE / Digital / CYBERIA
Apr 5, 2000

Endangered species

Cassandra will always be with us. I don't mean whiners pining for a simpler time, halcyon days, community, blah blah blah. No, I mean voices warning of future dangers visible to anyone with the foresight, intelligence and time to follow a thought to its logical conclusion.
EDITORIALS
Jun 19, 1999

Scary home companion

Just a couple of weeks after R2D2 and C3PO clicked and whirred their way back into public consciousness with the release of the latest "Star Wars" movie, Sony Corp. unveiled a rich person's toy that may be the best preview humanity has yet had of real-life "droids" to come. It was an instant hit, too....
JAPAN
Apr 3, 1997

Mobile computing seminar planned

Professional Training Services and Global OnLine Japan will jointly host a seminar in their Corporate Solution Seminar Series with the support of The Japan Times on April 17 at the Westin Tokyo, at Yebisu Garden Place.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 19, 2023

Meeting showcases region’s progress in disaster recovery

The G7 Science and Technology Ministers’ Meeting in May put the spotlight on Sendai’s cutting-edge research and technology, its growing capacity to host world-class meetings, as well as milestones in its ongoing recovery from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. At the same time, delegations from...

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