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COMMENTARY / World
Jun 4, 2011

The Caucasian dark circle

The Russian authorities have recently begun showing off the massive security measures being implemented ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. They have good reason to be worried — and not only for the safety of athletes and spectators.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Jun 3, 2011

Kan buys time but cedes advantage to opposition

Prime Minister Naoto Kan handily prevailed over an opposition-backed no-confidence motion Thursday, in part because he compromised with foes within his Democratic Party of Japan to step down in the near future after he feels he has accomplished his disaster-response duties.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jun 3, 2011

Abdul-Rauf opines on Aono's dismissal

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf has been in this business long enough to know that coaches face an unenviable task every time they step onto the court. In other words, they can't please everyone.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jun 3, 2011

"Visions of Fuji: A Portrait Of The Japanese People as Seen Through Mt. Fuji"

Admired by many throughout Japanese history, Mount Fuji is the subject of a new exhibition at Izu Photo Museum, which itself is located in the dormant volcano's shadow. Through photographs and illustrations, the show reveals how perceptions of Mount Fuji have evolved in accordance with artistic taste...
BUSINESS
Jun 3, 2011

Japan Steel Works sees shift away from nuclear

Japan Steel Works Ltd., a maker of nuclear reactor parts for customers from Areva SA to Toshiba Corp., will shift sales to nonatomic energy equipment and may cut idled capacity as the Fukushima disaster curbs orders.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jun 3, 2011

"Making of Tokyo Sky Tree — Construction Site In The Sky"

In preparation for the 2012 completion of the Sky Tree, the world's tallest communications tower, this exhibition offers an understanding behind the construction's planning and building.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 3, 2011

Nissan says U.S. Leaf sales may reach 12,000 in '11

Nissan Motor Co., aiming to be the world's largest seller of electric cars, expects to deliver as many as 12,000 battery-powered Leaf hatchbacks to U.S. customers this year as orders are confirmed and production quickens.
BUSINESS
Jun 2, 2011

FTC probes steelmaker merger bid

The Fair Trade Commission has started its review of Nippon Steel Corp.'s plan to merge with Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd. and create the world's second-largest steel producer.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jun 2, 2011

Chasing dreams in gold and silver

You've probably heard of Japan's quaint custom of designating some people as Living National Treasures. Usually it's applied to exponents of a traditional art, craft or performing art in their twilight years. Luckily, nobody has ever come up with the idea of "stealing" these national treasures. While...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 2, 2011

Shirakawa sees fast repairs of supply chains

Bank of Japan Gov. Masaaki Shirakawa said companies are fixing disruptions in their supply chains at a faster pace than expected as they rush to repair their facilities after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Jun 1, 2011

Sony's horrible year is not over yet

This was supposed to be Sony's year. PlayStation 3 sales were on the uptick and, back in January, the Tokyo-based electronics giant introduced its upcoming game handheld, currently codenamed Next Generation Portable or NGP. Then disaster struck, not once but several times. For Sony, 2011 is really starting...
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 1, 2011

Strong trilateral ties in Asia are key to stability

Like many regions of the world, Northeast Asia faces severe political challenges in creating a viable structure of peace. But given China's rising power, such a regional structure is becoming all the more necessary if today's lack of trust is not to devolve into military antagonism.
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Jun 1, 2011

Walsh set to remain with Knicks

John Calipari couldn't believe his awful luck when he stepped into an almost empty hotel elevator a week ago in Sarasota, Floriday, (site of the Dick Vitale Gala) and the door closed before he recognized its lone occupant.
BASEBALL / HIT AND RUN
May 31, 2011

Veteran Hawks running out of time to add title to legacy

The Fukuoka Daiei Hawks' caging of the Hanshin Tigers in Game 7 of the 2003 Japan Series seemed at the time as if it would be the heralding of a new dynasty in the Pacific League.
COMMENTARY
May 31, 2011

Business bent deflates the sails of India's left

A common joke used to make the rounds in Kolkata, where I grew up and found my footing in journalism. The joke was that West Bengal, whose capital city is Kolkata, was more Marxist than China — this in the heyday of communism. While China retained its Marxist model of governance, it was shrewd enough...
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
May 31, 2011

The ordinary made extraordinary

Nendo taps into nature's secrets Since the start of this column more than five years ago, we've been strong supporters of Oki Sato — better known as Nendo — and have closely followed his development as a creator into the design superstar he is today.
COMMENTARY / World
May 30, 2011

Changing Japan's system to handle the 'unexpected'

Faced with an unprecedented crisis that was triggered by the combined disasters of the recent earthquake and tsunami, Japan is continuing to struggle with the radiation leak and sealing of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
Reader Mail
May 29, 2011

Japan's return to the leading edge

Regarding the May 25 front-page article "Tepco admits two more meltdowns": In recent times Japan has been viewed globally as being on the leading edge and as forward-thinking. The disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant has changed the image. The only way for Japan to regain that image is to phase...
EDITORIALS
May 29, 2011

Postdisaster reading

Unsurprisingly, Japanese readers are seeking books about the March 11 disaster and about how to overcome it spiritually. In bookstores now can be found many works of reportage — for example, volumes in which major newspapers have reproduced their pages devoted to the disaster.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
May 29, 2011

Kan government struggles to raise reconstruction funds

John Maynard Keynes (1883-1946), the British economist who advocated government intervention to regulate financial health, has lately been cited in the Japanese press in reference to the current administration's plan to raise the consumption tax (CT). When he held the post of finance minister for five...
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / BACKSTREET STORIES
May 29, 2011

Casting around in Tsukudajima

From Tsukishima Station on Tokyo's Oedo subway line, I launch myself northward toward Tsukudajima. A mere sandbar in the early days of the Edo Period (1603-1868), Tsukudajima long ago began to be expanded with boulders and landfill on the way to creating the area we now know.
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
May 28, 2011

CL final certain to be memorable

Over the last two weeks Sir Alex Ferguson has watched a rerun of the 2009 Champions League final five or six times. Manchester United began the stronger in Rome but after Samuel Eto'o gave Barcelona the lead in the 10th minute, the Reds lost their impetus, rhythm and thrust.

Longform

Bear attacks have dominated Japanese news headlines in recent months, with 13 people so far having been killed by the animals.
Japan’s bears have been on their killing spree for more than 100 years