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COMMENTARY / World
Jan 14, 2014

The deal breaks down in Bangladeshi politics

Since the restoration of democracy in 1991, Bangladesh has managed to avoid the political turbulence that haunted it during the first two decades of its existence. Until now.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Jan 14, 2014

Le Petit Kanda: Oden with a strong Gallic accent

In Japan, it's not winter without oden. Some people find it hard to get excited about the idea — and the redolent reality — of kamaboko fish cake, hard-boiled eggs or chunks of daikon simmered interminably in murky baths of odoriferous dashi stock. But Le Petit Kanda makes this cold-season specialty...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jan 14, 2014

Will Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine beat Spotify?

Buying music is passe; nowadays it's all about renting. Billboard reports that sales of "album plus track equivalent albums" fell by 7.6 percent in 2013. (Among subcategories of both digital and physical media, only vinyl sales increased last year.) The new hot trends are monthly subscription services...
LIFE / Travel / TRAVEL INSIDER
Jan 14, 2014

Taiwan to Shikoku; Mileage program; Cathay's additional flights

Taiwan to Shikoku
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jan 13, 2014

Novartis drug's data-tampering reflects unchecked collusion

Last week, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry filed a criminal complaint with prosecutors against Novartis Pharma K.K., the Japanese subsidiary of Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis, alleging the firm made exaggerated advertising claims for its blockbuster blood pressure drug Diovan.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 13, 2014

Once veiled, French affairs feed tabloids

On Friday morning, I woke up as my usual French self. Then, from under the duvet, I reached for my smartphone and learned from Twitter that the French edition of Closer magazine had published pictures purportedly revealing an affair between President Francois Hollande and actress Julie Gayet. There had...
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 12, 2014

The way we were, or reflections for the new year

In the dusky light of ōmisoka (大晦日, Dec. 31), I spotted something that's become a rarity on Tokyo streets: a dead animal. Actually it was a yamabato (山鳩, turtle dove) — and its feathers were tragically strewn among the blood and gore like a terrible crime scene. Some tsūkōnin (通行人,...
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 12, 2014

Japan goes back to the future to affirm energy 'foundation'

The Japanese government's recently released draft Basic Energy Plan goes as close as possible to preserving the pre-Fukushima nuclear status quo, event with all nuclear power plants currently closed down and public opinion still strongly in favor of a nuclear phase-out.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 12, 2014

Americans showing sound isolationist instincts

American military intervention in Iraq has been the largest cause of the present chaos, and that makes the isolationist instincts of the American people, displayed recently when the president rashly wanted to bomb Syria, were and remain sound ones.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 12, 2014

U, mazui!

Last week we introduced the colloquial adjective u3046u307eu3044 (good). Today we introduce various meanings and usages of its antonym u307eu305au3044 (bad).
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 12, 2014

Sharon's life shaped Israel, mirrored its turbulent times

The death of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who had been in a deep coma since suffering a stroke in January 2006, represents an extraordinary moment of rupture in his country's history. Of the generation of Israeli soldiers and politicians who fought in Israel's founding conflicts, only...
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 11, 2014

Ariel Sharon, Israeli 'bulldozer' who vacated Gaza, dies at 85

Ariel Sharon, the Israeli general and former prime minister as famous for his ferocity in battling Arab foes as for his turnaround decision to evacuate settlers and soldiers from the Gaza Strip, has died. He was 85.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Jan 11, 2014

Richard Dawson: 'Pull your fingers out'

A billion hungry souls lacking your misplaced sense of entitlement want your job for a quarter of the pay.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / ESSENTIAL READING FOR JAPANOPHILES
Jan 11, 2014

Kitchen

When "Kitchen," the debut novel by Banana Yoshimoto, was first released in Japan in 1988, it caused such a stir that the media frenzy around her was dubbed "Bananamania."
BUSINESS
Jan 11, 2014

Did Soros just predict an economic crash in China?

George Soros probably shouldn't expect any warm invitations to Beijing — not with the much-reviled short seller warning of a giant Chinese crash.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Jan 11, 2014

Lt. Fukuie returns; "Yoru no Sensei" drama features teacher challenge; CM of the week: Yomiuri Shimbun

"Columbo" remains one of the most beloved American TV series in Japan and has generated dozens of local copies. One is police Lt. Fukuie, the creation of mystery writer Takahiro Okura. Fukuie is a woman whose persistence tries the patience of not only her suspects, but her colleagues as well.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 10, 2014

Looming economic problems

The major uncertainty facing the world today, says George Soros, is not the euro but the future direction of China. The growth model that drove China's rapid rise appears to have run out of steam.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Jan 10, 2014

Any Hosokawa presence in Tokyo race bad for Abe

The emergence of Morihiro Hosokawa as a potential candidate could be a game-changer for the Tokyo gubernatorial race and deal a severe blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 10, 2014

Diplomatic dustup a worrying sign for Japan-China relations

It's tempting to roll one's eyes at the respective invocations of 'Harry Potter's' Lord Voldemort by the Chinese and Japanese ambassadors to Britain in a diplomatic tit-for-tat, but the exchange is a troubling sign.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 10, 2014

Another test for Erdogan

Today the biggest challenge to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears to emanate from another Islamic leader, Fethullah Gulen, a cleric exiled to the United States who is alleged to have masterminded the investigation of a burgeoning corruption scandal.
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Jan 10, 2014

Chubu won't stop at just 10 million tourists

The government achieved its target of seeing 10 million tourists in 2013, thanks largely to the easing of visa requirements for Southeast Asian travelers and the weakening of the yen to fight deflation.

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’