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Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 13, 2009

'Changeling'

Clint Eastwood, at 79 (yes, you read that right), continues to create films that garner plaudits such as "gutsy and virile," "seething with power," and "frighteningly potent."
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Feb 13, 2009

Theater unchained in Marx-themed play

The grave of Karl Marx in Highgate Cemetery, North London, is marked by a bronze bust of the German political philosopher and economist atop a massive granite block on which is inscribed: "Workers of all lands unite."
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WORDS TO LIVE BY
Feb 12, 2009

State minister Seiko Noda

Seiko Noda, 48, is Japan's state minister in charge of science and technology policy, food safety, consumer affairs and space policy. As a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and of Prime Minister Taro Aso's Cabinet, she is entrusted with running 21 different departments. Not one to crack under...
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 11, 2009

Love not an option as the big chill settles in

A phrase heard often this winter is samusa ga mini shimiru (寒さが身に沁みる, the chill settles right into the bones), as everything — from the weather to office temperature to the predicted wintry fukeiki (不景気, bad economy, bad times) of Valentine’s Day chocolate sales — seems...
COMMENTARY
Feb 10, 2009

Consumption amid constraints

During the period of Japan's rapid economic growth — from 1958 to 1973 — the three items that households yearned for most were a black-and-white TV set, washing machine and refrigerator. By 1965, when more than 80 percent of households had these items, the next targets for purchase were a color TV,...
COMMENTARY
Feb 10, 2009

James Brady struck warlike pose for peace

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — If not in memory of the awful Korean War (1950-1953), then in memory of the brilliant author James Brady (1928-2009) — you might want to read, or perhaps re-read, his novel about that war.
Reader Mail
Feb 8, 2009

A destiny to defend the oceans

Regarding the Feb. 3 article "Protesters, whalers fight over use of illegal weapons": The only way this will ever stop is if Japan itself stops killing whales. We citizens of the world will not stand idly by to watch our beloved whales and dolphins slaughtered for Japanese appetites.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Feb 8, 2009

New law may backfire on victims

In December, a new law went into effect allowing victims of crimes and their families to participate in trial proceedings. Previously, victims were virtually shut out of criminal courts unless they were called on to provide testimony. Under the new law, they may sit next to prosecutors during trials,...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST
Feb 7, 2009

The venom of the expatriate's choice

In a corner of my office, next to a shelf containing such diverse items as a biography of Willie Mays, Quirk and Greenbaum's "A Grammar of Contemporary English," and Carole Bloom's "All About Chocolate," sits a polyethylene snake, 45 cm tall.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Feb 3, 2009

In an ideal world, where would you choose to retire?

ENVIRONMENT / OLD NIC'S NOTEBOOK
Feb 1, 2009

Mucking about with horses

In Britain when I was a lad in the 1940s and '50s, horses were still a common sight in the streets. Although horse-drawn carriages had pretty well vanished except for those used for ceremonial purposes, delivery wagons ladened with milk, coal and beer were commonly pulled by horses.
CULTURE / Art
Jan 30, 2009

Drama outsider takes a step into the theater

Kuro Tanino leaped into the spotlight in November 2007 with a production of Henrik Ibsen's tragicomedy "The Wild Duck" that was almost sold out for a month at Theater 1010 in Tokyo's Kitasenju.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jan 30, 2009

Yamagata paints a broken heart

I 've never met Rachael Yamagata, nor spoken to her or even e-mailed her before. Yet here I am, on a long-distance phone call, asking her about her love life.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 30, 2009

'Dare mo Mamotte Kurenai'

The popular media maw, from the Brit tabloids to the Hollywood paparazzi, chews up its subjects, from celebs to criminals, everywhere, anytime. If you're at the receiving end, it's probably an awful experience. Nonetheless, there's something special about the voracity of the Japanese media, with its...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 28, 2009

Tamogami out of ASDF, not out of range

Based on his controversial essay that blamed Franklin D. Roosevelt for Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, one would expect retired Gen. Toshio Tamogami to be a hardcore rightist unwilling to allow a counterargument in edgewise.
COMMUNITY / Voices / HOTLINE TO NAGATACHO
Jan 27, 2009

'Marathon' ritual must change

Recently, my son ran an 800-meter "marathon" at his local elementary school. He received a congratulatory "certificate of achievement" noting his participation and the fact he placed 79th. He has come to dread this annual ritual. It is damaging his fragile self-esteem and emerging identity by blatantly...
COMMENTARY / THE VIEW FROM NEW YORK
Jan 25, 2009

Repercussions of war gone bad

NEW YORK — A young friend of mine, Rie Nakano, who did some archival research for a university professor, has given me a small batch of documents prepared by the Special Higher Police, known by the Japanese acronym Tokko. (I had told Rie that my father was an officer of the dreaded "thought police.")...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST
Jan 24, 2009

The language game — here's what not to do

Life is full of stupid moves.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2009

2channel founder ponders next step after forum's sale

A short message recently posted on Hiroyuki Nishimura's personal blog sent shock waves across the online community. In a single sentence dated Jan. 2, he announced that he had sold 2channel, his wildly popular Internet forum.
CULTURE / Film
Jan 23, 2009

'Quantum of Solace'/'Elegy'

As a teen, I spent some time involved in youth theater, and auditions weren't always the most pleasant experience. I was a skinny youth, and one director — deciding to mess with me — requested that I act, in open audition, as if I were the strongest man in the world. I thought about that for a moment...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 23, 2009

'Quantum of Solace'/'Elegy'

As a teen, I spent some time involved in youth theater, and auditions weren't always the most pleasant experience. I was a skinny youth, and one director — deciding to mess with me — requested that I act, in open audition, as if I were the strongest man in the world. I thought about that for a moment...
Japan Times
Events / WHERE IT'S AT
Jan 20, 2009

Animal fair brings in the people

Seven-year-old Julie-Anne Bernet of Tokyo said coming to the fair had been "a surprise!" For both Julie-Anne and her brother Alan, 6, it was a day that brought lots of smiles and lots of warm, fuzzy feelings. How could it not, with all those cats and dogs to pat and play with?
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Jan 18, 2009

'Forgotten song' show, 'impossible crime' investigator and a reset to the past

The Nihon TV series "Dare mo Shiranai Nakeru Uta" ("Songs That Make You Cry and Which Nobody Knows") (Tuesday, 9:30 p.m.) is hosted by actor Toshiyuki Nishida and comedian Shinya Ueda, who listen to obscure songs suggested by viewers.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 17, 2009

Strategist puts stock in future of women

Ranked tops in equity strategy by Institutional Investor magazine in 2000, 2001 and 2006, Kathy Matsui has a new challenge: empowering Asia's women.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 15, 2009

Refugee hopefuls' ally speaks out

Tsuyoshi Amemiya, 74, a retired Aoyama Gakuin University professor, recalls the day he got a lesson on the status of refugees in Japan — and how shocked he was by his own ignorance of the issue.
COMMENTARY
Jan 14, 2009

Gaza: worse than a crime

"Israel is not going to show restraint," Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni told the Washington Post on Jan. 10, after the United States abstained on Friday's U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. All last week the speculation grew that Washington was going to defy its Israeli...

Longform

An illustration features the Japanese signs for "ganbare" (good luck) and the Deaflympics, which will be held between Nov. 15 and 26.
A century of Deaf sport finds its moment in Tokyo