Search - (2006-01-27)

 
 
EDITORIALS
Dec 23, 2005

Rough sailing for Mr. Maehara

The Democratic Party of Japan, the nation's top opposition party, has held its first convention since electing Mr. Seiji Maehara as president in September. The party's new action policy for 2006 aims to reverse the power balance between the ruling and opposition camps in the next Upper House election...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / THE SECOND ROOM
Dec 23, 2005

All I want for Christmas

Dear Santa, I hope this letter doesn't freak you out. I realize that it's been three decades since I last wrote to you, but I have been keeping your spirit alive all this time, albeit mostly as a child-management tool. I swear, this will be my last request of you.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 23, 2005

East Timorese still searching for justice

EAST TIMOR -- East Timor's 800,000 citizens are finding that the truth does not set them free and that justice and reconciliation is elusive. A recent report published by East Timor's Commission of Reception, Truth and Reconciliation (CAVR) estimates that there were a minimum of 102,800 conflict-related...
BUSINESS
Dec 23, 2005

Five major automakers increase overseas output

Japan's five major automakers increased overseas production in November after four of them saw falls in domestic sales, according to figures released Thursday by the five.
BUSINESS
Dec 23, 2005

U.S. expects sluggish beef exports in '06

U.S. beef exported to Japan is estimated to total about 100,000 tons in 2006, one-third the level prior to the ban imposed in December 2003, the president and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation said Thursday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Dec 22, 2005

Lotte's Kosaka traded to Yomiuri

The Yomiuri Giants have acquired infielder Makoto Kosaka from the Chiba Lotte Marines in a cash trade, the Central League club said Wednesday.
EDITORIALS
Dec 22, 2005

Perception of safe beef

The government lifted a ban on imports of U.S. and Canadian beef last week. The ban had been in force for Canadian beef since the discovery in May 2003 of a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), popularly known as mad cow disease, in that country. The ban on U.S. beef followed in December of...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / CERAMIC SCENE
Dec 22, 2005

Looking back on 10 years of yakimono

In the 10 years since this column started, much has changed in the worldwide perception of yakimono, Japanese ceramic art. I'm talking about in the contemporary realm, not antiques. The deep and wide world of contemporary Japanese ceramic art is as varied as there are stars in a brilliant winter night...
COMMENTARY
Dec 22, 2005

Much ado about something?

HONOLULU -- Was the inaugural East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 14 "much ado about nothing," as many critics are already claiming, or the "historic event" its proponents say?
JAPAN
Dec 20, 2005

Koizumi sees no '07 hike in sales tax

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Monday the government will not raise the consumption tax, which currently stands at 5 percent, in fiscal 2007.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Dec 20, 2005

Undercover's Zamiang, Billionaire Boys Club vs. The Ice Cream Store, Youth Dew . . .

Undercover art adventure
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 20, 2005

Doha Round still snagged on farm trade

It's time for Japan's negotiators to protect rice farmers in other ways besides high tariffs, argues an economist at Hitotsubashi University, after six days of frustrating world trade talks that ended Sunday in Hong Kong.
JAPAN
Dec 19, 2005

3.16% cut planned for medical fees

The government and the ruling coalition agreed Sunday to slash the medical services tariff -- which sets the fees paid by public health insurance to doctors and pharmacists -- by a record 3.16 percent in fiscal 2006.
JAPAN
Dec 19, 2005

No hike in consumption tax in 2007: Nakagawa

The Liberal Democratic Party's policy affairs chief said Sunday that the consumption tax will not be raised from the current 5 percent in fiscal 2007.
JAPAN
Dec 19, 2005

Government plans first budget cut in four years

The government plans to set the budget for the next fiscal year at around 80 trillion yen, down from 82.1 trillion yen this year for the first contraction in four years, Finance Ministry officials said Sunday.
JAPAN
Dec 18, 2005

Maehara raps Koizumi's policy toward U.S., Asia

Democratic Party of Japan leader Seiji Maehara said Saturday that Japan should place strong emphasis on its relations with other Asian countries, criticizing Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for leaning too much on ties with the United States.
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Dec 17, 2005

Celtic's signing of volatile Keane difficult to understand

LONDON -- It is the time of the year when, because it is goodwill to all, we open the occasional Christmas present and say "excellent . . . just what I wanted," when the reality is "oh no . . . why was I given that?"
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / PERSONALITY PROFILE
Dec 17, 2005

Lee Colegrove

In 1965, his senior class was studying drama in Lee Colegrove's university English course. The students asked him, "Can we continue to read drama after we graduate?" Pleased, he set up for them a reading group to meet regularly in his Tokyo apartment.
JAPAN
Dec 16, 2005

Shrine, temple goers to top 91 million

More than 91 million people are expected to visit shrines and temples during the first three days of 2006 if the weather is good during the holiday season, the National Police Agency said Thursday.
JAPAN
Dec 16, 2005

Joint missile development to cost Japan $1.2 billion

Japan will shoulder up to $1.2 billion of the cost to jointly develop a next-generation interceptor missile with the United States, the Defense Agency told the Security Council of Japan on Thursday.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / COUNTER CULTURE
Dec 16, 2005

Another jewel in the Cartier crown

Venerated as the royalty of jewelers and the jewelers of royalty, Cartier is by far the largest brand of its kind in the world. With its illustrious history and client list including countless kings, queens and princes, it is little wonder that the brand's double C logo and distinctive red packaging...
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Dec 16, 2005

Matsuzaka lands record salary

The Seibu Lions on Thursday signed ace right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka to a new contract that is expected to make him the highest-paid pitcher in the Pacific League next year.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Dec 16, 2005

A few more before we go

It's always the same story: So many restaurants, so much great food, so little time. The Food File never has enough columns in a year to feature all of the excellent places we've enjoyed over the past 12 months. So, quickly, before we get sidetracked on pouring the mulled wine and carving the turkey,...
MORE SPORTS
Dec 15, 2005

NFL focuses on Japan development

After all the years of Japanese players failing to make it to the NFL, it has been decided that now is the time to get serious and make some changes to this sorry showing.
JAPAN
Dec 15, 2005

Osaka mayor's reforms may spark new battles

OSAKA -- Osaka Mayor Junichi Seki has unveiled his detailed proposal for reforming the city government.

Longform

In 2020, 38% of all households were single-person. That figure is projected to rise to 44.3% by 2050.
The rise of AI companionship in a lonely Japan