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Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 17, 2014

Maps to the Stars: 'Paranoia born of colossal self-obsession'

Can celebrities be numbingly boring? As far as "Maps to the Stars" is concerned the answer is a big fat "Yes," but in the hands of David Cronenberg ("A Dangerous Method," "Eastern Promises") you hardly notice. Ennui and varying degrees of hysteria define this Hollywood fable where everyone is a monster,...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 17, 2014

Disney's 'Big Hero 6' reassembles Japan without the 'cultural cringe'

So we've all heard that it's hard to be a woman in Japan, but being a Japanese geek comes with its own troubles. For some, it's a life lived in front of glowing screens, a dateless existence spent in a six-mat tatami room with posters of idol group AKB48 plastered on the walls. But here's Disney's "Big...
Japan Times
BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 17, 2014

Jeter, Matsui coming together to aid Tohoku children

Retired New York Yankees greats Derek Jeter and Hideki Matsui are teaming up once again, this time in support of children in the Tohoku region.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Dec 17, 2014

Gordon stars on big stage

In a marquee matchup of American quarterbacks, which likely led fans to expect an aerial game, running back Gino Gordon stole the show with his stellar performance on the ground.
EDITORIALS
Dec 17, 2014

The skewed value of votes

Lawmakers must set aside their partisan interests and act fast to narrow the wide gap in the value of votes between rural and urban constituencies.
Reader Mail
Dec 17, 2014

Opposition's pain, LDP's gain

Regarding the Dec. 14 article "Abe tightens grip on power as ruling coalition wins 325 seats in Lower House election": Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is the main and possibly only beneficiary of this exercise in expensive futility. He can spend Christmas and New Year's knowing that he has already spent his...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Dec 17, 2014

Japan recast as a konbini state

Following its May world premiere in Mannheim, Germany, and a summer spent gathering great reviews from its European tour, "Super Premium Soft Double Vanilla Rich" finally debuted in Japan last week at the Kanagawa Arts Theatre in Yokohama.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Dec 17, 2014

'Entrance/Exit' shows the way for new arts fest

Bulging like a half moon out into the Seto Inland Sea from Kyushu's northeast corner, the Kunisaki Peninsula in Oita Prefecture may be remote and lack rail links to the rest of the country, but since time immemorial it has been a crossroads for travelers in both directions between Japan, the Korean Peninsula...
BUSINESS
Dec 17, 2014

Ruble collapse could shake Putin's grip on power

Russia failed to halt the collapse of the ruble on Tuesday, leaving President Vladimir Putin facing a full-blown currency crisis that could weaken his iron grip on power.
JAPAN
Dec 17, 2014

More than 20,000 bras recalled in Japan over injury fears

A defect can cause underwires to protrude from holes in the fabric while the undergarments are being worn, the Japanese division of lingerie-maker Triumph International says.
WORLD / Politics
Dec 17, 2014

Republicans tip hand on Obama lines of attack with nominees

Senate Republicans are previewing the lines of attack they'll pursue in 2015 against President Barack Obama's immigration, foreign policy and gun regulation policies during this week's debate on executive-branch nominees.
Japan Times
Figure Skating / ICE TIME
Dec 16, 2014

Hanyu reasserts dominance with Grand Prix Final win

Olympic and world champion Yuzuru Hanyu showed he has regained both his form and confidence with his dominating victory at the Grand Prix Final in Barcelona, Spain, on Saturday.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 16, 2014

At least 84 children killed in Taliban school attack in Pakistan

At least 84 children were killed in Pakistan on Tuesday when Taliban gunmen stormed a military-run school in the city of Peshawar, taking hundreds of students and teachers hostage in the bloodiest insurgent attack in the country in years.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 16, 2014

'Lone wolf' Australian hostage-taker had violent, unsettled past

The self-styled sheik behind a siege at a Sydney cafe had been charged as an accessory to murder and with multiple sexual offenses. He also harbored deep grievances against the Australian government and had found little kinship in the city's large Muslim community, where he was seen as deeply troubled....
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 16, 2014

What economics can learn from human beings

Legend has it that it's hard even to get bank staff to read the 'World Development Report' published annually by the World Bank. The report for 2015 should prove to be an exception, though, as it appears to help policymakers understand deeply ingrained habits or cultural settings.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 16, 2014

North Korea wants U.N. Security Council to discuss CIA torture

North Korea on Monday asked the United Nations Security Council to add the issue of torture by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency to its agenda as the council prepares to hold a meeting next week on alleged human rights abuses by the Asian state.
WORLD / Science & Health
Dec 16, 2014

Ancient DNA reveals history of horse domestication

Speed, smarts, and the heart of a champion: using genomic analysis, scientists have identified DNA changes that helped turn ancient horses such as those in prehistoric cave art into today's Secretariats and Black Beautys, researchers reported Monday.
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Dec 16, 2014

'Yasukuni' director says 2007 film timelier than ever

With Angelina Jolie's film "Unbroken" about Japan's brutal treatment of prisoners during World War II being released this month, Chinese filmmaker Li Ying figures his 2007 anti-militarist documentary "Yasukuni" has only gained in relevance.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 15, 2014

Why CIA torturers won't be punished

U.S. Department of Justice memos gave CIA a free pass to torture without being punished. Serious crimes were committed, but interrogators will go unpunished.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 15, 2014

Time to take away the punch bowl in Japan

The BOJ's policies are allowing the government to sidestep its responsibility. That must stop if 'Abenomics' is to come off life support.

Longform

Once smoky, male-dominated spaces, today's net cafes, like Kaikatsu Club, are working to make their operations more attractive to women customers.
The second life of Japan's net cafes