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Reader Mail
May 24, 2009

'Rambo' missed his staging area

Regarding the two May 16 wire service articles "West slams Myanmar on Suu Kyi" and "U.S. 'fool' at center of furor": The recent actions of the military junta of Myanmar are disgusting and despicable, and the statement by the Japanese foreign minister is too perfunctory.
LIFE
May 24, 2009

Traders' plans pay off in Motomachi

What was supposed to be a day spent savoring the delights of Motomachi Shopping Street for our Timeout Yokohama feature soon took on the nature of a quest.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
May 24, 2009

Trial suspense, dealing with depression and the problem with pedigrees

A recent NHK documentary about the new lay judge system cited a survey that found many citizens were learning about trials by watching movies and TV dramas. To that end, TBS's ongoing drama series "Hotei Suspense" ("Trial Suspense") should be popular.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
May 24, 2009

Trial suspense, dealing with depression and the problem with pedigrees

A recent NHK documentary about the new lay judge system cited a survey that found many citizens were learning about trials by watching movies and TV dramas. To that end, TBS's ongoing drama series "Hotei Suspense" ("Trial Suspense") should be popular.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
May 24, 2009

Hitching through Japanwith friends at every turn

Second in a two-part series
EDITORIALS
May 23, 2009

A giant slush fund?

As the Diet continues deliberations on the ¥14 trillion supplementary budget for fiscal 2009 and related bills, it needs to scrutinize the content of the huge extra budget. When the fiscal 2009 main budget and the supplementary budget are combined, the total budget size will top ¥100 trillion for the...
JAPAN
May 23, 2009

Internet eyed as path to clean politics

The Nishimatsu Construction Co. fundraising scandal is shaking up the political landscape, with some lawmakers calling for removing businesses from the fundraising picture in favor of individual donations.
COMMENTARY
May 23, 2009

U.S. fighting the wrong war

The deeper Pakistan has dug itself into a jihadist dungeon over the past decade and more, the more the United States has gotten involved in that country, including in propping up its tottering economy through generous bilateral and international aid, macro-managing Pakistani politics and pampering the...
JAPAN
May 22, 2009

H1N1 tally hits 292 over six prefectures

The H1N1 swine flu tally grew to 292 on Thursday after Kyoto confirmed its first case and Tokyo confirmed its third, placing the virus in six prefectures so far.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
May 22, 2009

Taico Club

Although it's gearing up to be a bonanza year for Japan's two main outdoor summer showcases, with Fuji Rock looking set to bounce back triumphantly after last year's lineup fiasco, where Primal Scream ended up playing two nights on the mainstage, and Summer Sonic celebrating it's 10th anniversary by...
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
May 22, 2009

A Russian maestro of Prokofiev

Russian conductor Alexander Lazarev, who became chief conductor of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra in September 2008, aims to lead the orchestra in performing the seven symphonies by his compatriot Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) over a period of three years.
BUSINESS
May 22, 2009

Traders can get out of lay judge duty

Traders may be able to call upon guidelines from the Supreme Court to be excused from the new lay judge system, on grounds that they are critical to the functioning of financial markets.
Reader Mail
May 21, 2009

Symbolic cleanliness vs. hygiene

In her May 17 letter, "First things first to fight the flu," Susan Menadue-Chun hits directly at one of Japan's polite fictions. Contrary to its reputation, Japan is very doubtfully the most hygienic country in the world. Washing hands is for show more than for hygiene. It's only symbolic cleanliness....
EDITORIALS
May 21, 2009

Day of the lay judges

Epoch-making judiciary reform is starting as lay judges prepare to sit for trials of suspects indicted on and after May 21 on charges of serious crimes such as murder, arson and kidnapping for ransom. But many people are not enthusiastic about it because the system has been implemented from above. The...
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
May 21, 2009

Wild orchids

Dear Alice, Can you please find out what the heck I saw on Mount Takao on the outskirts of Tokyo? Last spring, about this time of year, I was on a trail with a lot of other hikers lugging cameras and tripods. All of a sudden everyone got very excited. Not knowing Japanese, I had no idea what they were...
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
May 21, 2009

Building title team a 'wonderful experience,' says Ryukyu GM

Two days after the Ryukyu Golden Kings captured the bj-league title in the team's second season, general manager Tatsuro Kimura reflected on the significance of this achievement.
JAPAN
May 21, 2009

Signs in North point to Kim's third son being heir

Students in North Korea are singing songs in praise of Kim Jong Il's third son and potential successor, Kim Jong Un, a recently obtained report said, indicating that a full-scale power shift may be on as news of the North Korean leader's ailing health fuels speculation over who will lead the reclusive...
JAPAN
May 21, 2009

Online trade in Tamiflu flourishes in gray zone

As H1N1 swine flu continues to spread throughout the country, a controversy has erupted over what import agencies claim is legal online trading of Tamiflu, one of the best-known medicines for treating flu viruses.
JAPAN
May 21, 2009

Okada calls on Ozawa to open up about funds

Newly appointed Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Katsuya Okada on Wednesday urged former party leader Ichiro Ozawa to give a full and public account of how money allegedly illicitly donated by Nishimatsu Construction Co. was used.
COMMENTARY / World
May 21, 2009

Can India's Congress deliver?

LONDON — Yet again, India's voters confounded the pundits and comfortably returned the Congress party alliance to power. Now the question is whether leader Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and their colleagues can return the compliment and get to grips with the immense problems and the enormous...

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