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COMMENTARY / World
Mar 7, 2010

Don't just cut public spending — rethink it

LONDON, INTERNATIONAL POLICY NETWORK — The strikes in Greece against the government's austerity package must worry the leaders of any country running big budget deficits — which is most countries, including Japan. After all, the package was not particularly austere: minor trimming of Greece's notoriously...
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 7, 2010

Emotionalized debate blurs valuable functions of Futenma

CAMP BUTLER, Okinawa Pref. — In recent months, the issue of the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma has gotten a great deal of attention in the news — so much so that it has almost overshadowed the significance of this year being the 50th anniversary of the revision of the U.S.-Japan...
Reader Mail
Mar 7, 2010

Viewing older workers as an asset

Regarding Yosuke Kaneda's Feb. 21 letter, "Encourage foreign students to stay": Encouraging more foreigners to settle in Japan as a solution to the growing labor shortage — due to the declining and aging population — would be difficult to implement and would have various negative side effects.
CULTURE / Books
Mar 7, 2010

Propagation of a perfect storm

In Japan, often the only way to deal with history is to forget it. This defective resort deprives some people of the opportunity not only to learn from history but also to be absolved of it. Akira Yoshimura's novel about the American campaign to capture Okinawa deftly reflects the quandary faced by many...
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE
Mar 7, 2010

Olympic memories are priceless

It was only fitting that hockey's beloved icon lit the Olympic torch and Canada's top current star scored the gold medal-clinching goal — in overtime, the proverbial icing on the cake — on the final day of the Vancouver Winter Games.
JAPAN
Mar 6, 2010

Sex offender rehab takes new tack

Since its introduction three years ago, Japan's correctional program for sex offenders, modeled after Canada's system, has made great strides, a leading expert on rehabilitation from Ontario says.
JAPAN
Mar 6, 2010

Japan, U.S. veterans join memorial on Iwo Jima

Dozens of U.S. veterans, now in their 80s and 90s, returned to the remote volcanic island of Iwo Jima this week to mark the 65th anniversary of one of World War II's fiercest battles.
EDITORIALS
Mar 5, 2010

Passed budget a respite for DPJ

To the relief of the Hatoyama administration, the fiscal 2010 budget was passed by the Lower House on Tuesday. It was immediately sent to the Upper House, but it is certain to be executed from April 1, the first day of fiscal 2010. Under the Constitution, if the Upper House does not approve the budget...
EDITORIALS
Mar 5, 2010

Funding scandals keep coming

Another political funds scandal linked to a Democratic Party of Japan figure has come to light. On March 1, four trade union members were arrested on suspicion of violating the Political Funds Control Law with regard to donations allegedly received by the election campaign office of DPJ Lower House member...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Mar 5, 2010

'The Hurt Locker'

There's a moment near the end of "The Hurt Locker," Kathryn Bigelow's masterful look at life and death on Baghdad's mean streets, where one American sergeant — a cool, tough professional on mission after mission — finally breaks down and loses it after yet another close brush with death. "Another...
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Mar 5, 2010

Springtime special hotel offers

Spring is a time of rebirth and renewal. In Japan, spring means the coming of a new year — in schools, at companies, fiscally. During this season, hotels offer a wide variety of events for you to refresh and relax in style. Like the cherry blossoms that dominate the imagery of spring, these offers...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Mar 5, 2010

Dan Graham: In defiance of convention

New York-based Dan Graham is a pioneer of conceptual art who has defied convention throughout most of his 40-year career. Born in Illinois and raised primarily in New Jersey, he started out by creating text-based concept pieces intended for distribution in magazines. Then he moved on to performances...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Mar 5, 2010

'Gekijo-ban Kenka Bancho: Zenkoku Seiha'

Fights were a spectator sport at my rural Pennsylvania high school. One guy would call out another and after classes the combatants would square off on a patch of ground outside school property, surrounded by a circle of friends and hangers-on. The typical finish was the victor straddling the prostrate...
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Mar 5, 2010

Wife of writer behind 'Slumdog Millionaire' exhibits art at Miele

Aparna Swarup, wife of diplomat Vikas Swarup, who wrote "Q & A," the original story behind Oscar-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire," is showing her art in Tokyo.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Mar 5, 2010

A16: Brick Square is hip

Spring may not be here for real just yet, but it's never too early to celebrate the first al fresco lunch of the year. So when last week's unseasonably warm spell arrived we knew exactly where to go — into the heart of the city, to grab an outside table at A16.
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Mar 5, 2010

Sail away at Japan Boat Show

The Japan Boating Industry Association (JBIA) has docked in Yokohama to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
Reader Mail
Mar 4, 2010

Tiger Woods owes public nothing

Tom Plate's March 1 article, "Woods' apology whips up media incapable of behaving with class," has to be the best article I've seen written on the Tiger Woods scandal. I agree with every word. I am so worried about Woods, although he does still have a lot of friends as well as that God-given talent that...
JAPAN
Mar 4, 2010

Group hopes U.S. ad raises awareness of Futenma

Concerned about the lack of information in the U.S. regarding the relocation of a marine base in Okinawa, a network of Japanese and U.S. citizens and nongovernmental groups announced Wednesday plans to take out a full-page ad on the controversial issue in a major U.S. newspaper.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 4, 2010

Pragmatic Asia can bolster global stability

DAVOS, Switzerland — Is there an "Asian way" for resolving global challenges? The conventional answer is no. But elements of an Asian way are gradually emerging. Given Asia's growing influence, the world should pay attention — and may have much to gain.
JAPAN
Mar 4, 2010

Foreigners get nod to skip social insurance

The Immigration Bureau announced Wednesday new guidelines for foreign residents, stating that joining the social insurance system is not a requirement for renewing or changing one's visa status.
COMMENTARY
Mar 3, 2010

Zero tolerance for bullying

The British media have given prominence recently to allegations that Prime Minister Gordon Brown is a bully who intimidates those who work for him. It has also been alleged that some of his staff have briefed against Cabinet ministers with whom Brown disagrees. The government has dismissed these charges...
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Mar 3, 2010

Decks cleared, DPJ focuses on poll

With Tuesday's Lower House passage of the fiscal 2010 budget securing the way for its enactment by the end of March, the ruling Democratic Party of Japan will now focus on passing as many key policies as it can to bring visible results to voters before the summer Upper House election.

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