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JAPAN
Sep 9, 2008

Fukuda comes out of hiding at last, speaks to reporters

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who refused to speak to reporters since suddenly announcing his resignation Sept. 1, finally came out of hiding Monday evening, claiming he has not been avoiding the media.
JAPAN
Sep 4, 2008

Japan probing North Korea reactor rumor

Japan is staying in close contact with other countries regarding reports that North Korea is restoring its nuclear reactors at Yongbyon, Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Kazuo Kodama said Wednesday in Tokyo.
EDITORIALS
Sep 3, 2008

Premier case of deja vu

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda announced his resignation in a news conference hastily called Monday night. It was like a replay of the resignation of his predecessor Mr. Shinzo Abe almost a year ago. Both Mr. Abe and Mr. Fukuda surrendered their Cabinet less than one year after they came to power.
JAPAN
Sep 3, 2008

Fukuda exit underscores New Komeito rift, may spur poll

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's sudden resignation Monday may set in motion a round of political upheaval, with his successor likely to dissolve the Lower House and call a snap election before year's end, critics say.
JAPAN
Sep 2, 2008

Fukuda announces resignation

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda abruptly announced Monday night he will resign.
JAPAN
Aug 29, 2008

DPJ trio to form new party

Only two weeks from the start of the extraordinary Diet session, three Democratic Party of Japan lawmakers will leave the DPJ to form a new political party with two Upper House independent lawmakers, officials said.
CULTURE / Music
Aug 29, 2008

Slipknot "All Hope is Gone"

When burlesque skull-breakers Slipknot released their eponymous debut in 1999 amid a heavy-metal renaissance that, although laughable now, saw the grizzly likes of lowest-common-denominator rap-rockers Limp Bizkit topping the charts, the Iowa nine-piece's violent conflagration of screeching thrash, visceral...
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Aug 23, 2008

Barwick's departure comes as no surprise

LONDON — England's uninspiring 2-2 draw against the Czech Republic on Wednesday was overshadowed by the news that Brian Barwick is to leave his post as chief executive of the Football Association after four years in it.
OLYMPICS
Aug 22, 2008

Team USA hoping for golden birthday treat

BEIJING — Kobe Bryant turns 30 on Saturday. U.S. basketball teammate Michael Redd celebrates his 29th birthday on Sunday.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 21, 2008

New 'Tang' Dynasty for rapidly rising China?

PRAGUE — On Aug. 8 the world watched with awe the amazing spectacle of the Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing. We saw the electronic unrolling of Chinese scrolls replete with great historic symbols and were mesmerized by dancers creating "harmony," using their bodies as ink brushes. Two thousand...
BUSINESS
Aug 20, 2008

Economy 'sluggish,' BOJ says

Growth has turned "sluggish," the Bank of Japan declared Tuesday, revising downward its assessment of the economy for the second straight month.
OLYMPICS
Aug 17, 2008

Entering uncharted waters

BEIJING — Countless media reports have reminded readers that Michael Phelps will probably make millions of dollars in endorsement deals after the Summer Olympics.
SPORTS / ODDS AND EVENS
Aug 16, 2008

Phelps on doorstep of unthinkable feat

BEIJING — This column begins with terrific inspiration: the Olympic flame, steadily casting a bright light high above the track at the National Stadium in Beijing.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Aug 15, 2008

'Dosokai'

Nostalgia keeps changing. The music, TV shows and junk food that leaves one generation misty-eyed are regarded by the next as quaint curiosities from a distant past, until they finally pass into that dead, hallowed realm known as history.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Aug 15, 2008

Everything old is new again

Too often — in this column, just as in life — we have to say goodbye. So it's been a rare pleasure this year to welcome back a couple of longtime favorites that have been sorely missed during their time away.
JAPAN
Aug 12, 2008

N. Korea stays on list for now, Rice tells Komura

Washington has no immediate plan to remove North Korea from its list of terrorism-sponsoring nations, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice assured Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura over the phone Monday.
OLYMPICS / ODDS AND EVENS
Aug 11, 2008

Li inspired gymnasts with his high-wire act

BEIJING — It was a magical moment, and it's worth taking a moment to revisit.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 9, 2008

'Pioneering' Indonesian caregivers now face true test

Like the other Indonesian welfare workers who arrived Thursday in Japan to work under a bilateral accord, nurse Erli Ridwan, 35, hopes to pass the qualifying test to stay in the country and provide care.
SPORTS / ODDS AND EVENS
Aug 8, 2008

Selection of runner Lomong to carry U.S. flag particularly poignant

BEIJING — After a tasty buffet meal at a nearby hotel restaurant followed by a few cups of delicious green tea — I had plenty of choices; there was a separate tea menu, featuring at least a dozen varieties — I'm content to return to job-related duties.
SPORTS / ODDS AND EVENS
Aug 7, 2008

Beijing putting best foot forward as opening ceremony draws near

BEIJING — The Olympic hosts want to make a good first impression. That's no big surprise. The world is watching, and it's why you are greeted by one set of smiling volunteers when you walk off the airplane at Beijing Capital International Airport.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Aug 5, 2008

Yasukuni in spotlight as Aug. 15 nears

Aug. 15 marks the 63rd anniversary of the end of World War II. For the people of Japan, including relatives of the war dead, it is a day of remembrance and of peace.
OLYMPICS / 2008 BEIJING OLYMPICS
Aug 3, 2008

Japan hopes for repeat of glory in Beijing

As a nation, Japan collected a record 37 medals at the 2004 Summer Games, including 16 golds, which matched the nation's all-time record set at the 1964 Tokyo Games. And so it's only natural for people to be curious if Japan can duplicate that level of success or achieve a higher medal count at the 2008...
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE
Jul 29, 2008

Past shortcomings motivating factor for many 2008 Olympians

According to conventional wisdom, people forget the runnersup, but they remember the champions.

Longform

Ichiro Suzuki, one of the most iconic players in NPB and MLB history, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame with 99.7% of the vote.
With Hall of Fame induction, Ichiro makes himself heard loud and clear