Search - article

 
 
COMMENTARY
Mar 22, 2007

Does religion do more harm than good?

LONDON -- In an opinion poll published in Britain recently, 82 percent of the people polled said that they thought religion does more harm than good. My first reaction, I must admit, was to think: That's what they would say, isn't it? It's not just that suicide bombers give religion a bad name. In "post-Christian...
JAPAN / INNOCENT VICTIMS
Mar 21, 2007

Foster-care group aims to change the way Japan treats its children

When Kazuko Sakamoto found herself unable to conceive a child, she and her husband figured there was more than one way to start a family.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Mar 20, 2007

Where can I get an original Japan gift?

Another creperie In reply to Sophie's recent plea for an authentic creperie in Tokyo, Yolande writes: "I am French and always enjoy the exquisite and authentic crepes served with delicious Brittany beer at 'Le Bretagne' in Kagurazaka. They also have a restaurant in Omotesando."
Reader Mail
Mar 18, 2007

The subcategories of Japanese

Philip Brasor's March 11 article, "Female foreigners are OK in Japan, so long as they're not Asian," criticizes Japan for not yielding to pressure from the United Nations to conduct a survey of its minority women. He then refers to a nongovernment organization survey that "did not target foreigners,...
Reader Mail
Mar 18, 2007

Sniping at women's knowledge

I have just finished reading C.W. Nicol's March 7 article, "Coo-ee! Or how to snipe posh pigeons," and am regretting that I decided to read it at all. What is Nicol trying to prove? That he is some great "macho" man?
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Mar 15, 2007

'Crossing the Bridge'

Amusic "scene" tends to arise out of a number of like-minded musicians operating from the same cultural starting point. Think San Francisco psychedelia, Detroit techno, London punk or Kingston's reggae and dub -- all scenes full of musicians sharing the same cultural ferment and arriving at similar sounds....
Reader Mail
Mar 14, 2007

The blame for the Pacific War

In response to Hisahiko Okazaki's Feb. 24 article, "Telling the truth at Yasukuni," I would like to question Okazaki's assertions that the Hull note of 1941 was "meant to close negotiations" and that it is "a historical fact that Roosevelt induced Japan to carry out the first strike" in opening the...
Reader Mail
Mar 14, 2007

Iraq war penalized Afghanistan

Max Boot's March 5 article, "Allies with tiny armies aren't much help" -- a review of the deteriorating military situation in Afghanistan -- states that the "primary culprit is declining defense spending among U.S. allies." Boot doesn't mention that the United States pulled many troops out of Afghanistan...
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Mar 13, 2007

Japan is obliged to accept refugees, so why so few?

In 1981, Japan signed the U.N. 1951 Conventions Relating to the Status of Refugees and in 1982, it inked the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees and enacted the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law. Signatories are obliged to give refugees due recognition and protect their basic...
JAPAN
Mar 10, 2007

Civilian survivors sue state over Tokyo air raid

Claiming that the state has failed to compensate civilian casualties of the Great Tokyo Air Raid of 1945, victims and their relatives filed suit against the government Friday, demanding a combined 1.23 billion yen in reparations and an apology.
Reader Mail
Mar 7, 2007

Critique of war museum exhibit

I am writing to object to the minimal changes that Hisahiko Okasaki says he has had done to exhibits in the Yushukan war museum at Yasukuni Shrine. According to his Feb. 24 article, "Telling the truth at Yasukuni," he says he will take responsibility for errors, but he doesn't mention thoroughness.
Reader Mail
Mar 7, 2007

Irresponsible story selection

Regarding the front-page, Feb. 21 Kyodo News article: "Archives: Stalin, Kim and Mao plotted Japanese invasion?": No research, no additional information is provided -- just an "unnamed source" floating a rumor from more than 40 years ago, which U.S. intelligence didn't believe and for which there's no...
Reader Mail
Mar 7, 2007

Teach patriotism at school

Regarding the Feb. 18 article "Whose Japan deserves youth's patriotism now?": I believe patriotism must be taught at school. Since 2000, some 875 public school teachers have refused to pay their respect to the national flag and anthem at school ceremonies. Given the influence they wield as teachers,...
LIFE / Language
Mar 6, 2007

Eek! It's White Day, so what to say to your gal?

In January 2004, members of a Japan Ground Self Defense Forces contingent headed for Iraq were shown on the news being seen off by their families. It was an emotional moment, with plenty of misty eyes in evidence; but not one of these gallant young soldiers going off to war was seen exchanging a kiss...
Reader Mail
Mar 4, 2007

Japanese publishers accountable?

Regarding the Feb. 23 article "Mag on foreigner crime not racist: editor": I would like to comment on editor Shigeki Saka's remark that publisher Eichi's special magazine edition "Shocking foreigner crime: the underground file" does contain "a little bit of extreme expressions for commercial purposes."...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 3, 2007

Kansai Time Out: 30 years without a breather

KOBE -- On the cover of the December 1979 issue of Kansai Time Out magazine, an Osaka-based foreign aikido instructor, sporting an Afro, is seen executing a throw that puts his Japanese opponent on the floor.
BUSINESS
Mar 1, 2007

BOJ's rate hike insane, economy expert says

The Bank of Japan was "insane" to raise its key interest rate to 0.5 percent last week because the economy is still fragile, Bill Emmott, author of several books on the Japanese economy, said Wednesday.
Reader Mail
Feb 28, 2007

Pejorative reference to PR people

The Feb. 15 article headlined "Abe PR flack U.S.-bound for media spin control" is insulting to those of us in the public relations business, because both "flack" and "spin" are pejoratives that do not accurately convey the essence of what PR professionals actually do.
Reader Mail
Feb 28, 2007

The obedient and unthinking life

Regarding Eric Larson's Feb. 14 letter, "An institutionalized hazing system" -- about what is happening in public schools in Iwate Prefecture: It is dreadful and it reminds me of the sad and horrible experiences during the flourishing militaristic period in the 1940s. I used to be afraid to go to school...
Reader Mail
Feb 25, 2007

Lifting the stigma of depression

Regarding the Feb. 15 article "Masako book author spurns call to apologize": I agree with Australian author Ben Hills that the protest he received from the Japanese government over his depiction of the Imperial family in his biography of Crown Princess Masako is offensive, but perhaps for different reasons....
Reader Mail
Feb 25, 2007

Freedom to dislike anything

Regarding the Feb. 17 article "NBA sanctions ex-star Hardaway following anti-gay tirade": The recent trouble that American basketball player Hardaway has found himself in gives us lots to consider. First, since when does a single sentence ("I hate gay people") amount to a "tirade"? By definition, a tirade...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 23, 2007

Mag on foreigner crimes not racist: editor

"Now!! Bad foreigners are devouring Japan," screams the warning, surrounded by gruesome caricatures of foreigners who look like savages, with blood red eyes and evil faces.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 22, 2007

Truth and consequences of inequality

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Leaders around the world seem to be convinced that inequality and lack of broad participation in economic growth, if allowed to persist, will lead to social discord and even violence. But is inequality the real problem?
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Feb 20, 2007

Upping the fear factor

The government and media would have you believe that Japan has lost its mantle as a safe country. Apparently we live amidst a spree of heinous crimes. Accurate? Not very, according to a new academic study. But before we get to that, let's take stock of one alleged cause of this "crime wave," this decade's...
Reader Mail
Feb 18, 2007

Far more offensive remarks

Japan's hapless health minister, Hakuo Yanagisawa, has drawn the ire of Japanese women with his comment on "baby-making machines." Strangely, the far more offensive comments of Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, as reported in the Feb. 10 article "Trash Constitution, face China threat: Ishihara," do nothing...
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...

Longform

A small shrine perched atop rocks braves the waves hitting the shoreline during a storm in Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture. The area is under threat of a possible 31-meter-high tsunami if an earthquake strikes the nearby Nankai Trough.
If the 'Big One' hits, this city could face a 31-meter-high tsunami