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Reader Mail
Mar 2, 2008

Fear of foreigners holds Japan back

Regarding the Feb. 27 article (from Sentaku magazine) "Wanted: world's best minds": The writer evidently believes that Japan is largely unable to attract the best young minds from abroad for studies and employment because politicians and bureaucrats have been unwilling to institute the necessary measures,...
BUSINESS
Feb 29, 2008

Cap on foreign holdings in airports to be dropped

The government will scrap a clause aimed at capping foreign ownership of operators of the country's major airports from its draft bill to revise the airport law and submit it to the current Diet session, government sources said Thursday.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Feb 29, 2008

Daiginjo — the peak of the brewing season

Look at the labels of pricier sake and you will almost certainly find the word ginjo.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Feb 29, 2008

Shomyo no Kai

Shomyo got off to a good start in Japan. The first documented performance of this form of Buddhist sutra chanting, originally from India, was before an audience of 10,000 monks and priests at Nara's Todaiji Temple in 752.
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Feb 29, 2008

Salmon Sound back at Shinjuku Wire

There will be fishy goings on at Salmon Sound, which returns to club Wire in Shinjuku on March 1. The concept for the event is simple: a night of Norwegian music spun by Norwegian DJs.
BUSINESS
Feb 29, 2008

Atlantic LNG imports see big surge

Japan increased imports of liquefied natural gas from the Atlantic Ocean area ninefold in January after a nuclear power plant was shut last year for safety checks after a deadly earthquake.
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Feb 29, 2008

Calligraphy: brushes with text, ecstasy

Japanese audiences are well acquainted with the films of British director Peter Greenaway. Several have included Japanese characters or been shot in this country, the most prominent of which was "The Pillow Book" (1996) — a very modern interpretation of early 10th-century Japanese diarist Sei Shonagon's...
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 28, 2008

Why's Japan grown so ugly?

YUNOMINE, Wakayama Pref. — My brother wanted to create a new room in the loft of his house in an English provincial city, actually Kingston upon Hull (population 250,000), a place of passing interest to Japanese because two centuries ago it was one of the world's biggest whaling ports. Today, the whales...
Reader Mail
Feb 28, 2008

Inspiration for a working man

Regarding Judit Kawaguchi's Feb. 19 article, "Words to live by": I was greatly moved by this seemingly insignificant report of an individual's quest for reasoning and affirmation. I am a Canadian living close to Yokohama as an English teacher (unfortunately), questioning my own self-worth and trying...
Reader Mail
Feb 28, 2008

Progenitor of the next war

Regarding Ramesh Thakur's Feb. 22 article, "Beware Kosovo's offspring": For the sake of maintaining an indefinite NATO presence in Kosovo to act against a resurgent Russia, Western leaders have destroyed the foundations of international law, including respect for sovereign nations, by illegally recognizing...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Feb 28, 2008

Human reeds swaying in a museum maze

It's dangerous to talk to an artist. Whatever you think of their art, after a conversation with them, you are bound to walk away intrigued, enchanted — maybe even disgusted (which isn't necessarily bad) — but mostly, hopefully, enlightened by a new understanding of their work.
JAPAN
Feb 28, 2008

Israel's Olmert lauds Japan for peace-building initiatives

Israel is in the middle of negotiating a peace agreement with the Palestinians that could be concluded by the end of the year, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on Wednesday.
Reader Mail
Feb 28, 2008

Do residents really hate the bases?

Regarding Kiroku Hanai's Feb. 25 article, "Fuel to fire in Okinawa": Has Hanai ever visited a U.S. military base in mainland Japan or Okinawa? Rather than repeat stories on alleged crimes, why doesn't someone in the Japanese press bother to interview Japanese people who live in the communities around...
EDITORIALS
Feb 27, 2008

New occupant in the Blue House

South Korea has a new president. Mr. Lee Myung Bak has vowed to take the same "bulldozing" approach to running his country as he did when he was the head of a construction company and the mayor of Seoul. His first priority is economic revival, but he also hopes to forge new relationships with his neighbors,...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 27, 2008

JR Tokai generates friction with costly maglev train

Concerns about huge estimated costs and future profitability are casting a shadow over Central Japan Railway Co.'s long-term project to build a magnetically levitating train system.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 26, 2008

Building a stronger alliance

Japanese and U.S. military professionals are building upon their partnership to collaboratively respond to unpredictable security challenges that can lead to instability in Asia and the world. U.S. forces remain deeply committed to the Japan-U.S. Security Alliance and being sincere, credible partners...
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Feb 26, 2008

Japan needs imports to keep itself fed

After a spate of food mislabeling frauds and the recent scare over pesticide-laced "gyoza" dumplings imported from China, consumers are perhaps more conscious than ever of the origin of what they eat. Many routinely check the origins of the foods they buy, especially imported products, which Japan relies...

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji