Search - 2005

 
 
EDITORIALS
Feb 19, 2007

A viable farming sector

This year will be important for Japan in developing policy for creating a viable agricultural sector without inviting criticism of protectionism from abroad. Among the reasons for tackling this issue is that, although the Doha Round of World Trade Organization negotiations has stalled, the liberalization...
JAPAN
Feb 19, 2007

Local leaders undaunted by tough greenhouse goals

KYOTO -- Think globally and act locally may be a cliche. But as the ambitious goals set by participants of the Kyoto Conference on Climate Change demonstrated, local governments worldwide are feeling the effects of global warming and believe they can no longer wait on national leaders to do something...
COMMENTARY
Feb 19, 2007

Nuclear uncertainties linger

For the people of Japan, the world's only country to suffer atomic-bomb attacks, the existence of nuclear weapons in any form is unacceptable. Regrettably, however, nuclear proliferation is continuing outside the framework of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT).
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 19, 2007

Abe must not neglect Japan-U.S. ties

Since coming to power four months ago, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has successfully mended fences with China and South Korea, reinforced diplomatic and economic foundations in Europe, and built bridges in Southeast Asia. But he has not visited his closest ally, U.S. President George W. Bush, although Abe...
Japan Times
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE
Feb 19, 2007

Goals remain the same, but Hammies have changed

Success hasn't changed Trey Hillman, or his Japan Series championship team.
Reader Mail
Feb 18, 2007

Why accommodate Cheney?

Regarding the Feb. 12 article "U.S. nixes talks with Cheney, Kyuma": If U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney doesn't want to meet with Japanese Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma because of Kyuma's open criticism of the March 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, why let Cheney meet with the officers under Kyuma's command...
Japan Times
LIFE / WEEK 3
Feb 18, 2007

Close your eyes, count to 10 . . . and play to your heart's content

It seems only natural that everyone should have a wild time, at least once in their life, because for the most part our mortal span is occupied with studying, making a living or raising a family. All that, of course, can be fun -- but it tends to be rather serious stuff as well.
EDITORIALS
Feb 18, 2007

Face of the lay judge system

By May 2009, Japan will introduce a lay judge system in which ordinary citizens will take part in criminal proceedings as judges to help decide the outcomes of trials. The system is gradually taking shape as the Supreme Court has made public a simulation for the process of choosing candidates for lay...
EDITORIALS
Feb 17, 2007

Qualified GDP growth

The government has announced that Japan's economy continued to grow for the eighth consecutive quarter in the October-December period. Gross domestic product in the quarter registered 1.2 percent growth in real terms from the previous quarter, translating to an annualized 4.8 percent. This growth rate...
JAPAN
Feb 16, 2007

Bar not going to punish Asahara's lawyers for tardy court documents

The counsel for Aum Shinrikyo founder Shoko Asahara will not be penalized for missing the deadline for filing a document with the Tokyo High Court needed to appeal his death sentence, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations said Thursday.
EDITORIALS
Feb 16, 2007

JAL's last chance at revival

The medium-term restructuring plan announced last week by Japan Airlines Corp. is a plan for the survival of the nation's flag carrier. The group is saddled with 1.7 trillion yen in debt. JAL President and CEO Haruka Nishimatsu summarized the importance of achieving the goals when he said, "We must keep...
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Feb 16, 2007

Enough to make a vampire drool

Belgian choreographer Jan Fabre's most controversial work, "Je Suis Sang (I am Blood)," will be performed for three stagings only in Japan at the Saitama Arts Center this weekend.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Feb 16, 2007

The Format, Yo La Tengo

The Format, an Arizona-based pop collective centered around vocalist Nate Ruess and multi-instrumentalist Sam Means is a misunderstood band, even by people who seek to profit from them. In 2005, Atlantic dropped the duo after they delivered their sophomore album, "Dog Problems," saying it wasn't the...
BUSINESS
Feb 15, 2007

Schieffer rues lack of progress on M&A rules

Tokyo's lack of progress in making it easier for foreign companies to acquire Japanese firms is "disappointing," U.S. Ambassador Thomas Schieffer said Wednesday.
EDITORIALS
Feb 15, 2007

Breakthrough with North Korea

After tumultuous negotiations, the six-party talks reached agreement on a deal that would end North Korea's nuclear-weapons program and end the country's international isolation. The agreement took three and a half years to conclude, during which the North exploded a nuclear weapon. There is no guarantee...
BASKETBALL
Feb 15, 2007

HeatDevils, Apache agree trades

The Oita HeatDevils and Tokyo Apache agreed Tuesday on a trade between former draft No. 1 overall pick Joe Kurino and Taketo Aoki, both of whom are considered precious bench players for their respective teams, the bj-league announced on Wednesday.

Longform

Figure skater Akiko Suzuki was once told her ideal weight should be 47 kilograms, a number she now admits she “naively believed.” This led to her have a relationship with food that resulted in her suffering from anorexia.
The silent battle Japanese athletes fight with weight