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COMMENTARY
Nov 11, 2013

Discredited theory grips EU

Last week the notorious "troika" representing the three major lenders to severely indebted European Union nations — officials from the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission and the European Central Bank — once again descended upon Athens to consider new Greek proposals for dealing...
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 11, 2013

Slowdown belies untapped potential in China

The economic slowdown in China belies its untapped potential. The question is whether Beijing will take advantage of the cost shocks to implement necessary structural reforms.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Nov 11, 2013

Talk show on women's desires; documentary on Keiji Nakazawa; CM of the week: Canada Dry

NHK's interactive talk show by and for women is titled "Shaneru" (BS Premium, Mon. 11:15 p.m.), which is a double pun: first on the fashion house Chanel, and second on the neologism "sha-mēru" or "picture mail," since viewers are encouraged to send in their own digital-photo impressions of the topics...
BASKETBALL
Nov 11, 2013

Happinets keep unbeaten run going

Nearly one-fourth of the 2013-14 bj-league season has now been played, and the Akita Northern Happinets are still unbeaten.
Japan Times
MULTIMEDIA
Nov 10, 2013

[VIDEO] Good Design Exhibition 2013

Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Nov 9, 2013

Learning to revel in the odd with the Ig Nobel

"I noticed there was a suspicious-looking email in my in box with the subject 'Ig Nobel' and 'Congratulations.' At first I thought it was some kind of spam. I was going to disregard it, but then I recalled the famous Ig Nobel awards," relates Dr. Masanori Niimi of Teikyo University in Shukan Shincho...
JAPAN
Nov 8, 2013

Government unpins Google Maps for top design prize

The government will not give the Good Design Grand Award to Google Maps even though it got the most votes, prompting speculation that it was snubbed because the maps include rivals' names for disputed islets claimed by Japan.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 8, 2013

Abe's security bill aims to shutter 'spy's paradise'

With the prime minister's Liberal Democrats in strong control of both legislative houses, a bill to undertake the long-overdue modernization of Japan's national-security governance is certain to pass.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 8, 2013

Tehran's nuclear quandary

There are many obstacles to an agreement on Iran's nuclear program. Particularly troubling for the U.S. and its allies, though, is how much Iran has mimicked the regime in Pyongyang.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Nov 8, 2013

Kyushu Basho 2013 – a tale of two newbies

In Japanese sporting circles, mention of the name Endo has, for the past few years, come with images of national soccer team and Gamba Osaka player Yasuhito Endo. All that is about to change.
MULTIMEDIA
Nov 8, 2013

[VIDEO] International Robot Exhibition 2013

Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Nov 7, 2013

Franz Ferdinand gets it right on latest album

When I speak to Paul Thomson, drummer with Scottish art-poppers Franz Ferdinand, it is just over 36 hours since James Blake's second album, "Overgrown," was announced as the surprise winner of this year's Mercury Prize, the award for the best record to come out of the U.K. and Ireland in the past year....
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 7, 2013

Should we outlaw hate-filled extremist parties?

The Greek government's crackdown on the country's far-right Golden Dawn party revives the vexing question of whether we should outlaw the more hateful, extremist political parties.
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Nov 7, 2013

Beaujolais Nouveau party; Thanksgiving dinner; Xmas courses for couples, families

Beaujolais Nouveau party
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 7, 2013

Staying home paying off for Toyota amid weakening yen

Staying at home is paying off for Toyota Motor Corp.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 7, 2013

Robots walk the walk, fix 'bento' at Tokyo show

Robots that can build cars side by side with humans on an assembly line or precisely place pieces of chicken into "bento" boxed lunches, even those capable of dancing or creating nail art are just some of the highlights of the International Robot Exhibition that got under way Wednesday at Tokyo Big Sight...
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Nov 7, 2013

Collecting organizations try to give credit where it's due, don't always succeed

It's not uncommon for companies to incorrectly report credit information.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Nov 6, 2013

'Absence' makes Mroué's ghostly work even stronger

Rabih Mroué is an internationally renowned Lebanese actor, director and playwright whose work often probes into representations of the real in an age of digital narratives — particularly in the context of conflict and revolution in the Middle East. His work is marked by its continual reworking of...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Nov 6, 2013

Japan brings out the big guns to sell remilitarization in U.S.

With a probable nod and a wink from the Americans, there's not a lot we can do but watch Abe's military machinations march to fruition.
LIFE / Digital
Nov 5, 2013

Why the Obamacare website was doomed

One of the most dispiriting spectacles of the last month has been the botched launch of HealthCare.gov, the website created to implement President Barack Obama's landmark healthcare reforms. Obamacare had a desperately turbulent passage through Congress and survived various wrecking attempts by the Tea...
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 4, 2013

New maritime challenges

The recrudescence of territorial and maritime disputes, largely tied to the competition over natural resources, will increasingly have a bearing on maritime peace and security.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji