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Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Dec 15, 2009

To gargle or not to gargle?

The Web site for the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) contains a pandemic influenza storybook filled with personal reflections from survivors, family members and friends. One of the accounts tells the story of Art McLaughlin, who lived about 25 km east of Chicago during...
JAPAN
Dec 15, 2009

Little headway seen halfway through COP15

COPENHAGEN — No legally binding agreement until sometime next year, emissions targets politically acceptable but not in line with what scientists recommend and only enough money to pay for the climate change needs of developing countries until the end of 2012 appear to be the likely results of the...
Reader Mail
Dec 13, 2009

Okinawans must challenge Tokyo

Regarding the Dec. 7 article "Okada's inconclusive visit irks Okinawans": It is very clear that Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and the new Democratic Party of Japan represent more of the same old baloney that Japan has had in power for years, just under a different name. As an American who feels strongly...
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Dec 13, 2009

How to survive a 'fearful age'?

The other day I attended a preview screening of "The Road," the new film of Cormac McCarthy's post-apocalyptic 2006 novel of the same name.
EDITORIALS
Dec 13, 2009

An education in violence

Violent behavior in Japanese schools increased to an all-time high in 2008, according to a recent report from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Students, teachers and other people were victims of 60,000 violent incidents involving primary, middle and high school...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST
Dec 12, 2009

The most annoying Japanese word

Several weeks ago a poll from the Marist Institute of Public Opinion — one that was slingshot quickly across the Internet — listed "whatever" as the most annoying of all English words.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 12, 2009

Tax cuts benefit domestic carmakers: U.S. firms

Japan's version of the Cash for Clunkers program intended to spur auto sales discriminates against imported vehicles, Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC said.
JAPAN
Dec 11, 2009

Japan climate role crucial: U.N.'s Nwanze

the baseline as 1990. It sends a signal to the rest of the world," he said. Japan has maintained its leadership with respect to food and agriculture in Africa, Nwanze said, pointing to its commitment to African development through the Tokyo International Conference on African Development that began in...
CULTURE / Film
Dec 11, 2009

Let us celebrate the miracle of wondrously difficult movies

The more movies you watch the more you become convinced how they are wondrously difficult things to make. Billy Wilder didn't say that exactly, but he did say something about the job getting harder as he got older, so I figured it out. I'm always awed by the fact that so many incredibly watchable films...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 11, 2009

Developing countries' differences briefly suspend summit

COPENHAGEN — A document suggesting that developing countries should do more to combat global warming continued to dominate discussions Wednesday at the U.N. climate conference, where talks were briefly suspended after a controversy erupted among developing countries over what level of greenhouse gas...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Dec 11, 2009

Mono

Considered one of Asia's top postrock acts since their 2001 "Under the Pipal Tree" debut and now a decade into their career, Tokyo's Mono are listed alongside the global leaders in their genre. Taking full advantage of their continually growing stature, the instrumental quartet invited a 28-member chamber...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 11, 2009

And the best Japanese films of 2009 were . . .

1. "Fish Story":
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 11, 2009

In praise of films that refuse to follow formulas

After jostling through a metal detector, having my bag searched and my mobile confiscated by stern-faced blue meanies, I slump in my cinema seat, enduring head-exploding levels of volume from the coming attractions, and unwanted infrared scrutiny from guards patrolling for video-heads looking for their...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Dec 11, 2009

Australia shows off Asia's talent

BRISBANE, Australia — Over the past year, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has made waves in his country and across the region with his plans to spearhead the development of an Asia Pacific Community. Rudd is in part picking up where former Prime Minister Bob Hawke left off 20 years ago, when Australia...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / ART BRIEF
Dec 11, 2009

'Bless You'

SCAI Bathhouse
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 11, 2009

'The Man from London'

Appropriate to the director's family name of Tarr, "The Man From London" is akin to walking on an endless runway strip of newly laid-on tarmac.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Dec 11, 2009

Hazel Nuts Chocolate "Cult"

Coming four years after its predecessor, 2005's "Cute," this new album by Hazel Nuts Chocolate, the solo project of singer and former capsule collaborator Yuppa, marks the end of a long wait by fans. However, the familiarity of the early tracks on "Cult," like the lo-fi tropicalia of "Moon Song" and...
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Dec 11, 2009

Countdown with salsa, champagne

The Hilton Tokyo will host two countdown parties on New Year's Eve to welcome in 2010: the Salsa Countdown Party and the Champagne Countdown Party.
BUSINESS
Dec 11, 2009

'Clean energy' plan may jump start NGK's sales

Japan's plan to use more renewable energy to fight climate change hinges on another technology — batteries as big as London buses to be hooked up to the power network at a cost of as much as ¥6 trillion.

Longform

After pandemic-era border regulations eased, Indian migrants began returning to Japan. Their population now stands at more than 50,000 across the country.
How remote work is rewriting the migrant experience in Japan