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JAPAN
Dec 8, 2010

Forced firings hitting JAL crews in prime

The 51-year-old copilot's career at the once high-flying national flag carrier went south on Sept. 25 when he received his schedule for the following month: no flights.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 8, 2010

Euro crisis reaches midlife

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Now that the European Union and the International Monetary Fund have committed 67.5 billion euro to rescue Ireland's troubled banks, is the euro zone's debt crisis finally nearing a conclusion?
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 8, 2010

China must release Liu or lose its credibility

LONDON, THE OBSERVER — We no longer live in a unipolar world. Western nations do not enjoy a monopoly on economic and political power. This is an encouraging shift and one that is bringing greater equality and prosperity to the world. With this progress, developing countries are increasingly influential...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 8, 2010

Kabuki star apologizes for drunken brawl

Kabuki star Ichikawa Ebizo, injured during a midnight brawl in a Tokyo bar late last month, apologized Tuesday for disappointing his fans and promised to keep away from alcohol.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 8, 2010

When even teachers run to get things done

It's here: Shiwasu (師走, the month of December), whose kanji characters are composed of shi (師, teacher) and hashiru (走る, running) — put them together and you get a month so busy and jam-packed with events that even teachers have to sprint to get everything done.
JAPAN
Dec 7, 2010

Kan won't rule out LDP option

Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Monday left open the possibility of a grand coalition with the opposition Liberal Democratic Party, although he added that the idea won't easily be accepted without good reason.
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Dec 7, 2010

MOFA gets E for effort in 'with or without U' farce

My Japanese passport expired last month, meaning I've been a citizen here for a full decade now. Hooray.
COMMENTARY
Dec 7, 2010

U.S. remains delinquent on landmine treaty

NEW YORK — "I heard a thundering sound and saw darkness all around me. I spent three months in the hospital, and lost my leg and my son. I had stepped on a landmine and the world as I knew it had come to a halting end," wrote Monica Piloya, chairperson of the Gulu/Amuru Landmine Survivors' Network...
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 6, 2010

The price of WikiLeaks gossip and 'secrets'

SINGAPORE — The latest information dump from WikiLeaks offers fascinating insights into the workings of the U.S. State Department that will keep foreign policy wonks and conspiracy theorists busy for months. Much of what has been reported is not "news" in the traditional sense, of course, but a series...
COMMENTARY
Dec 6, 2010

Frankly, says the diplomat

LONDON — There is not much in the latest batch of Wikileaks that should come as a surprise to most well-informed people. It is surely common knowledge that the present Russian government has close connections with Mafia-style criminals. No one could have been surprised by reports of the concerns of...
Reader Mail
Dec 5, 2010

Whaling body belies 'awareness'

Regarding the Nov. 30 Kyodo article "Japan to propose establishing body made up of whaling states": How disappointing. So many Japanese are trying their best to make Japan appear as a nation that is aware of its actions. In this case, Japan is going in the opposite direction. How dare it criticize China...
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Dec 5, 2010

Catching autumn's glory on camera

At this dazzling time of year, it seems that half of Japan's population turn into photographers journeying to their favorite spots or seeking out new ones around the city as they try to capture the myriad colors of autumn leaves.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / OLD NIC'S NOTEBOOK
Dec 5, 2010

Anyone for a great green gourd?

Copying a Canadian friend, during spring for the last two years I have built tepee frames, not conventional trellises, for my cucumbers to trail around as they grow.
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Dec 4, 2010

Starbucks caves in to refills, sort of

While it's stopping short of a bottomless cup, Starbucks Japan is making a slightly generous offer of u00a5100 refills on the Coffee of the Day.
EDITORIALS
Dec 4, 2010

Getting JAL on its feet

Japan Airlines Corp. on Nov. 30 received approval from the Tokyo District Court for its reconstruction plan. JAL achieved a consolidated operating profit of ¥132.7 billion in the April-October period helped by a strong yen and a temporary upturn in the Japanese economy.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST
Dec 4, 2010

Tigers and lions and bears, oh my!

I have always enjoyed a good zoo.

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