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Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jun 5, 2008

Torifune celebrate the birth of butoh's founder

Last month in his ongoing series Japanese Cinema Eclectics, author Donald Ritchie screened "Horrors of Malformed Men" (Toei, 1969). An "unsung classic" of Japanese film, "Horrors" features the only cinematic performance of Tatsumi Hijikata, the founder of the butoh dance movement. Hijikata, who would...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
May 31, 2008

Eroticism as a means of development

Several months ago, at an exhibition titled "Matsuri," I purchased a print by American photographer Vincent Morris.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
May 30, 2008

A dreamlike escape

An important feature of many Japanese gardens is the careful integration of the architecture of a house and the design of its garden. Many of the finest examples are located in private homes, and so are sadly not open to public view.
BUSINESS
May 30, 2008

Honda unveils new compact minivan

Honda Motor Co. on Thursday unveiled its new compact minivan, the Freed, aiming to gain a bigger share of a segment that remains popular amid slow domestic car sales.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
May 30, 2008

'Bakemono Moyo'/'Mukidashi Nippon'

Still only 24, Yuya Ishii has not only made four feature films in a blazingly short time, but had them screened in his own section (hard to call it a retrospective) at the 2008 Rotterdam Film Festival. Also, at this year's Hong Kong International Film Festival, he received the first Edward Yang New Talent...
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
May 30, 2008

Coach likes Oga's effort, fortitude

Yuko Oga has played a grand total of 19 minutes in her first three WNBA games.
EDITORIALS
May 29, 2008

Mr. Medvedev goes to Beijing

It is tempting to hyperventilate about Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to China last week. Some see the Beijing stopover as a reminder of the two countries' determination to counter Western or, more specifically, U.S. "hegemony" and the challenge they pose to the international order. By this...
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / IGADGET
May 28, 2008

Earthlings just can't resist the connection

Bluetooth as Big Brother: Humans are naturally gregarious, which is just as well since it seems that the intent of modern communications is to keep us all connected 24/7 — whether we want it or not.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
May 28, 2008

Four-eyed perch

Japanese name: Oyanirami
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
May 27, 2008

Toothpaste tube chandeliers, eco-seats and other design highlights

A toothy light
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WORDS TO LIVE BY
May 27, 2008

Osamu Miyawaki

Osamu Miyawaki 80, is the founder of Kaiyodo, a world-famous maker of collectable figures and tiny statues that are the epitome of Japanese monozukuri ("making things," signifying superb manufacturing). Kaiyodo's super-deformed characters, many from manga and anime, are easily recognizable for their...
CULTURE / Film
May 22, 2008

It is easy to find lashings of rope on show in Japan

The Tokyo kinbaku (bondage) scene can seem all but invisible to the uninitiated, but, like with all subcultures, if you poke around a bit, you'll be amazed at just how deep this rabbit-hole goes.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 18, 2008

African Festa opens eyes in Yokohama

YOKOHAMA — With the Tokyo International Conference on African Development to be held in Yokohama later this month, a two-day cultural event kicked off Saturday to bring a taste of Africa to Japan's famous harbor city.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
May 16, 2008

Colombian flavors at the Westin

Colombian flavors at the Westin As part of commemorative activities to mark 100 years of diplomatic ties between Japan and Colombia, a "Colombia Gourmet" fair is being held at Victor's restaurant at the Westin Hotel Tokyo through May 20.
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
May 16, 2008

Long-running 'Muscle Musical' embarks on enigmatic voyage

Japan's top athletes and a renowned American director have teamed up to renew the nation's most energetic theater show.
BUSINESS
May 15, 2008

Latest car-nav checks home lights, locks

Drivers can check on their pets, turn their home lights off and on and lock the front door — all from inside their cars — with a new car-navigation system from Panasonic.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
May 14, 2008

Red-spotted grouper

Japanese name: Kijihata
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WORDS TO LIVE BY
May 13, 2008

Ultraman creator Kazuho Mitsuta

Mitsuta, aged 70, is one of the creators of the Ultraman series, a science-fiction TV show that was a pioneer of the genre with its wildly imaginative mix of special effects with live action that brought to life hundreds of one-of-a-kind kaijus (monsters). Having produced and directed Ultraman for 44...
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
May 13, 2008

Yohji Yamamoto, Tsumori Chisato and Soichiro Ito's latest moves

Summer under the sea A deep-sea dive in a coral reef may not be in the cards for your vacation this year, but you can always bring the ocean to you with clothing from Tsumori Chisato.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / ON THE ROAD
May 11, 2008

Japan's gourmands should hit the highway

At the beginning of the postwar period of economic growth in Japan, highways were more for transporting parts and goods to jump-start the economy than for going on a Sunday drive. Even into the 1980s, pit stops in highway rest areas were still the stuff of nightmares. Surrounded by trucks belching acrid...
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
May 10, 2008

Washington helped Evessa down stretch, but did not deserve MVP

The bj-league is working tirelessly around the clock to make itself a recognizable product — a collection of teams, coaches and players that is identifiable and popular — in a nation where basketball plays second fiddle to almost every other sport. And it deserves credit for elevating the profile...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
May 9, 2008

The Breeders: 'What took you so long?'

Despite being the indie buff's band of choice for the best part of two decades, you wouldn't call The Breeders prolific. "Mountain Battles," released this month, will be only the band's fourth album since it formed in Dayton, Ohio, in 1988, and its first since 2002's "Title TK." With a history dogged...
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
May 9, 2008

Festival to serve up tastes, sounds of Thailand

Spicy tom yam kung (spicy shrimp soup) blende with Singha beer, beautiful Thai silk and traditional dancing.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
May 4, 2008

The role of the media in tulip massacres and suicide

Since late March there has been a rash of vandalism directed against flowers. Tulips, in particular, have been cut, uprooted or trampled in public places. The news trail seems to originate during the most recent cherry blossom season, when eight young trees were found destroyed in West Tokyo's Koganei...
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / ON THE ROAD
May 4, 2008

Take a royal ride on the Yamaha Majesty

If scooters could talk, they'd probably spout the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield's line about not getting any respect. No one casts admiring glances their way. In fact, some bikers even seem to sneer at them, but that hasn't stopped sales from rocketing through the roof.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
May 4, 2008

1970's anime, female focused drom-com, court room drama

"Yatterman" is one of those 1970s anime series that's recently been revived for a generation that wasn't alive when it was first aired.

Longform

A small shrine perched atop rocks braves the waves hitting the shoreline during a storm in Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture. The area is under threat of a possible 31-meter-high tsunami if an earthquake strikes the nearby Nankai Trough.
If the 'Big One' hits, this city could face a 31-meter-high tsunami