Search - 2012

 
 
COMMENTARY
Jun 1, 2012

Russia needs true family policy

The unprecedented upswing of public interest in Russia's presidential elections opened a window of opportunities — quite unexpected but welcome — to see and discuss many socioeconomic problems in a more realistic manner.
COMMENTARY
Jun 1, 2012

It's not healthy to make a chief justice 'worry'

In one of his characteristic conniptions about people who frustrated him, Theodore Roosevelt, progressivism's first president, said of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, "I could carve out of a banana a judge with more backbone than that." TR was as mistaken about Holmes' spine as are various progressives...
CULTURE / Music
May 31, 2012

AKB48 'election' shows marketing brilliance

The biggest event of the year for AKB48, the 48-member pop group that's the most popular music act in Japan today, arrives next Wednesday.
EDITORIALS
May 31, 2012

AEC's dubious behavior

It has surfaced that the Cabinet Offices's Atomic Energy Commission, in the course of its review of Japan's nuclear fuel cycle policy, has held a series of closed-door study meetings attended by insiders in the nation's nuclear power establishment. These meetings were separate from the official meetings...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
May 31, 2012

Japanese art history, through the eye of the collector

"Japanese Masterpieces from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston" is not a survey of Japanese art, nor is it representative of the vast holdings of the institution. Rather, it is an exhibition that tells of an understanding of Japanese art formulated in the late 19th century by the collectors and scholars...
BASKETBALL
May 31, 2012

Blackwell returns to U.S. as Evessa tenure ends

For Ryan Blackwell, nothing's changed. His status — as the former Osaka Evessa head coach — is the same as it was last Friday, when it was first reported in this newspaper that his tenure had ended.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 31, 2012

Nissan poised to sell green-vehicle credits

A new front is opening in the emerging market for electric vehicles — not for selling cars, but for credits required to meet clean-air rules.
COMMENTARY
May 30, 2012

It's time U.S. dropped the college-for-all crusade

The college-for-all crusade has outlived its usefulness. Time to ditch it. Like the crusade to make all Americans homeowners, it's now doing more harm than good. It looms as the largest mistake in educational policy since World War II, even though higher education's expansion also ranks as one of America's...
COMMENTARY / World
May 30, 2012

Who will triumph in Egypt?

Everything about Egypt's revolution has been unexpected, and the first-round results in the country's first-ever competitive presidential election are no different.
COMMENTARY
May 28, 2012

China, too, faces challenge of an aging society

Parallel to its economic development, China is facing the challenge of a rapidly aging population. This is happening at a time when urbanization and industrialization is quickly increasing in the country. It is a trend that has weakened traditional family support networks, particularly for the elderly....
COMMENTARY / World
May 28, 2012

Why do economies stop growing?

Over the years, advanced and developing countries have experimented, sometimes deliberately and frequently inadvertently, with a variety of approaches to growth. Unfortunately, many of these strategies have turned out to have built-in limitations or decelerators — what one might call elements of unsustainability....
CULTURE / Books
May 27, 2012

Life and death north and south of the Korean DMZ

The Orphan Master's Son, by Adam Johnson. Random House, 2012, $26.00 464 pp., (hardcover) Mr. Kill, by Martin Limon. Soho Crime, New York, 2011 $23.00 375 pp., (hardcover) A North Korean will instantly recognize that the young man called Pak Jun Do was raised in an orphanage; the name is a generic one...
BASEBALL
May 27, 2012

Injuries, departed players present challenges for Hawks early in season

The Fukuoka Softbank Hawks had hoped to absorb the loss of three top pitchers and their starting shortstop to free agency and maintain their high standards, but it appears the defending Japan Series champions may be sinking into mediocrity as the 2012 season approaches its one-third mark.
Reader Mail
May 27, 2012

The road to a volunteer culture

Regarding the May 18 editorial "Helping people help NPOs": With more companies concerned about corporate social responsibility, this is a great time to start encouraging companies to cooperate with the operations of nongovernmental organizations. I just came back from Japan after living there through...
Japan Times
LIFE
May 27, 2012

Japan's Everest timeline

Japan has had a tumultuous, and at times controversial relationship with Mount Everest. Its history features the first woman summiteer, a heated race to claim the crown of oldest person to the top, a disastrous early expedition — and one of the mountain's most infamous casualties.
SOCCER / J. League
May 26, 2012

Taking road less traveled has worked out for Tanaka

Last year may have been a dream come true for Kashiwa Reysol, but forward Junya Tanaka is determined to prevent 2012 from turning into a nightmare.
BUSINESS
May 26, 2012

Japan Tobacco buys Belgium's Gryson

Japan Tobacco Inc. agreed to pay €475 million ($597 million) for Belgium-based Gryson NV to boost growth in Europe's roll-your-own cigarette market in the biggest purchase by a tobacco company since 2009.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 25, 2012

Japan's stellar speller ready for global contest

Natural learner Haruka Masuda's secret is reading, reading and reading.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
May 25, 2012

'Men in Black 3'

How do you feel about men in black suits? Black shoes? Narrow (but not too narrow) black ties? Call me strange, but I've always had a weakness for that look, ever since Jake and Elwood Blues of "The Blues Brothers" perfected the mode in 1980. Always trust the guy in the suit, as my granny used to say....
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
May 25, 2012

Evessa split with coach Blackwell

The Osaka Evessa have decided not to renew coach Ryan Blackwell's contract, The Japan Times learned late Wednesday night.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
May 25, 2012

Namizato involvement casts cloud over Golden Kings' win

Ryukyu Golden Kings' 2011-12 championship memorabilia are now proudly displayed throughout Okinawa, what with the team dethroning the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix in Sunday's title game. At the same time, the long summer of discontent has already arrived.
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
May 24, 2012

Banks get tax cut and finally decide to pay up

After six years of profits, banks decide they can afford to pay taxes.
COMMENTARY / World
May 24, 2012

Turkey tacks new foreign policy course

Turkey has recently been at the forefront of international economic and political debates. On the one hand, despite the economic crisis engulfing neighboring Europe, Turkey remains the world's second-fastest growing economy, after China. On the other hand, there is almost no issue on the global agenda...
COMMENTARY / World
May 23, 2012

Chen case highlights Beijing's misrule of law

A last-minute deal between the United States and China may afford human-rights lawyer and activist Chen Guangcheng the opportunity to enroll in law school in New York. But, even if a way out of the diplomatic debacle is at hand, much about the case remains troubling. In particular, despite more than...
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
May 22, 2012

Newton, Golden Kings know what it takes to excel

Seven seasons are in the record books now, and the only numbers that truly resonate are championships.

Longform

Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.