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JAPAN
Jul 20, 2006

Abe set to launch nationwide swing to appeal to public

Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe will begin a series of visits across Japan next week to discuss measures to provide a second chance to people whose businesses or careers have failed, although the exercise is largely being as a precampaign ahead of the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election...
EDITORIALS
Jul 19, 2006

Hope of the marketplace

The Bank of Japan's lifting of its zero-interest rate policy last week represents an end to an extraordinary policy that continued for five years and four months. With its decision, which marks a step toward normalization of the nation's monetary policy, the central bank has signaled that the Japanese...
COMMENTARY
Jul 19, 2006

Cultural diplomacy in the Middle East

Political and economic stability in the Middle East is vital to ensure Japan's energy security and to reduce risks in the global economic system. In the interests of this region's mid- and long-term political stability, it is clearly desirable for "democratization" in the region to take root deeply and...
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 17, 2006

The beginning of the end of Guantanamo

NEW YORK -- The "war on terror" has forced democracies to grapple with the extent to which they can afford to protect the civil rights and liberties of both their citizens and foreigners. The debate has been most intense in the United States, where the refrain that the U.S. Constitution is not a "suicide...
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 13, 2006

Moving toward a creative partnership

Valuing the wisdom and capabilities of women is critical to the development of any organization or society. Organizations where women are full, contributing participants are open and energized by a wide range of opinion and approaches.
SPORTS / MULLY'S MISSIVES
Jul 11, 2006

Mully waxes about Germany 2006's place in history

BERLIN -- It was the best of World Cups, it was the worst of World Cups. Opinion will be forever divided on whether Germany 2006 was good, bad or ugly but it generated numerous talking points.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jul 9, 2006

There's a price to pay for flaunting wealth in Japan

For its annual World Wealth Report, finance firm Merrill Lynch circles the globe and counts the number of millionaires. Though a million dollars -- 114 million yen, as defined by the survey -- ain't what it used to be, it's still a distant dream for the vast majority.
EDITORIALS
Jul 7, 2006

Reaction to reckless action

North Korea test-fired seven missiles into the Sea of Japan on Wednesday in defiance of international calls, direct and indirect, that it refrain from such a reckless action. The launches not only provoked the international community but also push Pyongyang into further isolation, which won't make conditions...
SOCCER / World cup
Jul 6, 2006

Italy breaks Germany's heart at World Cup

DORTMUND, Germany -- Fabio Grosso and Alessandro del Piero scored the goals that broke the hearts of the host nation and sent Italy into the World Cup final.
SOCCER / World cup
Jul 6, 2006

Italy powers through adversity on way to final

DORTMUND, Germany -- Against all odds Italy has made it to the World Cup final.
COMMENTARY
Jul 3, 2006

Regaining the spirit to build

I had thought that Japan's Internet mogul Takafumi Horie, arrested Jan. 23 by public prosecutors for allegedly violating the securities and exchange law, was likely to be the last person to "pay the price" for the excesses associated with the nation's bubble economy from 1987 to 1990.
LIFE
Jul 2, 2006

Showdown at Budokan

The rightwing reactionaries were arriving in their menacing black-and-white trucks, blasting military music. The politicians were shaking their fists and telling people to go to a garbage dump. The police had locked down all entrances to the Imperial Palace grounds. Riot police lined the road leading...
JAPAN
Jul 1, 2006

North looks to divide Tokyo and Seoul over abduction issue

The dramatic public appearance of Kim Young Nam, a South Korean who was believed kidnapped to North Korea, shed no new light on the mystery surrounding the abduction in 1977 of Megumi Yokota, who later became his wife.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 29, 2006

A friend of African dictators?

LONDON -- Who would have thought that the Chinese Communist Party would become sensitive to world opinion? Strange as it may seem, Western criticism of China's growing involvement in Africa has triggered outpourings of justificatory articles in CCP-controlled media as well as trips this year by Chinese...
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 28, 2006

Totti puts Italy into quarters

Italy inflicted a defeat on Australia that was tough to take when substitute Francesco Totti scored with the last kick of the game.
COMMENTARY
Jun 27, 2006

Iraq pullout is not the end

The Japanese government has formally decided to withdraw Ground Self-Defense Force troops from Iraq. The decision reflects Tokyo's judgment that recent developments in the country -- the beginning of a formal government, appointment of three security ministers and the transfer of security powers to Iraq...
EDITORIALS
Jun 26, 2006

Keeping an eye on the beef

Japan agreed last week to lift its ban on imports of American beef after the United States accepted Tokyo's demand for stricter safety checks. Imports will resume only after Japanese experts have checked the 35 U.S. meatpackers authorized to process beef for export to Japan. Even after imports resume,...
EDITORIALS
Jun 22, 2006

A disappointing Diet session

The 164th regular Diet session -- the last Diet session for Mr. Junichiro Koizumi as prime minister -- has ended without fanfare. The session was tasked with making an overall review of his reforms, achieved or unachieved, since he took the reins of power in April 2001. But lawmakers have failed to fulfill...
BUSINESS
Jun 20, 2006

Trust banks should handle assets, new BOJ member says

Newly appointed Bank of Japan Policy Board member Tadao Noda said Monday that entrusting stockholdings with trust banks is one way to boost the transparency of senior BOJ officials' financial assets.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 19, 2006

Business at Beijing's pleasure

In a May 30 Wall Street Journal article, former U.S. Assistant Defense Secretary Charles W. Freeman III expressed doubts about the prospects of a free-trade agreement between the United States and Taiwan: "Given its almost obsessive antipathy for President Chen (Shui-bian), Beijing will do almost anything...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jun 16, 2006

Having a laugh with Ryuichi Hiroki

A veteran director of "pink" movies, Ryuichi Hiroki won critical acclaim for the 1994 youth drama "800 (800 -- Two Lap Runner)," his breakthrough into straight films. He first collaborated with Shinobu Terajima -- star of his new movie "Yawarakai Seikatsu -- in "Vibrator," a romantic road movie that...
JAPAN
Jun 14, 2006

Supreme Court to issue ruling June 23 on Yasukuni visit

capacity as prime minister." In July 2005, the Osaka High Court turned down the plaintiffs' appeal of the district court decision, issuing no opinion on the constitutionality of the shrine visit. The high court also refrained from ruling on whether the visit was official in nature.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 6, 2006

Murakami arrested over insider trading

Outspoken investment fund manager Yoshiaki Murakami was arrested Monday for alleged insider trading linked to his investment fund's purchase of Nippon Broadcasting System Inc. shares between late 2004 and early 2005.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jun 6, 2006

What is your opinion on the new immigration law?

Mayumi Hirai Care worker, 34 In Japan, the threat of terrorism is not as great as it is in other countries such as the United States. It is a very peaceful, safe place. However, I do think we need these kinds of measures to protect this safety.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Jun 1, 2006

Addressing social issues with drama

The Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) is often dubbed "the father of modern drama" for being one of the first to place ordinary people squarely center stage. Forty-four-year-old Yoji Sakate, founder of the Rinkogun theater company, has now created not just an homage to this Scandinavian icon,...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
May 30, 2006

Would you pay more tax to stop whale hunting?

Masuko Hosokawa Office worker, 66 I disagree with whale hunting. Whale meat is delicious, but it's not good to catch so many whales. I would pay more taxes to help subsidize fishermen, but only a little bit. And I wouldn't pay higher taxes for anything else.

Longform

Tetsuzo Shiraishi, speaking at The Center of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage, uses a thermos to explain how he experienced the U.S. firebombing of March 1945, when he was just 7 years old.
From ashes to high-rises: A survivor’s account of Tokyo’s postwar past