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COMMENTARY / World
May 21, 2012

Reinventing NATO for the 'smart defense' era

This month the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will hold its next summit in Chicago. Unlike European Union summits, which take place almost monthly, NATO's are infrequent. This helps to explain the inflated rhetoric that surrounds them: The November 2010 summit in Lisbon, for example, was described...
COMMENTARY
May 19, 2012

How to right what's wrong in East Asian manufacturing

East Asia's manufacturing industry, with its remarkable growth in recent years centering on China, South Korea and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has come to be called "the Factory of the World."
COMMENTARY / World
May 17, 2012

NATO: world's best security insurance

Many years ago, I took my children to visit the sites of the D-Day landings (June 6, 1944) in Normandy. I wanted them to understand the sacrifices that others had made so that Europe and North America could enjoy the benefits of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Japan Times
Figure Skating / ICE TIME
May 16, 2012

Suzuki aiming higher following best season of career

Coming off the best season of her long career, one might think world bronze medalist Akiko Suzuki could be content to retire from competition and turn to show skating.
EDITORIALS
May 16, 2012

Tax hike plan merits more scrutiny

The Diet has started deliberations on bills to raise the consumption tax rate and reform the social welfare system. Two bills deal with pension-related issues such as beefing up benefits for low-income people and improving pension coverage for irregular workers. Another two bills are related to Prime...
BUSINESS
May 15, 2012

Utilities' bond risk climbing amid nuclear shutdowns

The bond risk of nuclear power companies had the largest weekly increase in seven months led by Kansai Electric Power Co., the utility likely to face the biggest electricity shortage this summer, after the country shut its last reactor.
BUSINESS
May 12, 2012

Tepco asks for permission to hike household rates 10.3% from July 1

Tepco submitted an application Friday to the industry ministry to hike household electricity rates by an average of 10.28 percent from July in its Kanto service area, the first such move in 32 years.
BUSINESS
May 12, 2012

Analysts wary of carmakers' projections

Although Japanese automakers foresee a strong earnings rebound for the business year ending next March, experts remain cautious about extended gains amid intensifying global competition and persistent strength in the yen.
BUSINESS
May 9, 2012

Sticker price of Toyota's electric RAV4 to be twice as much as gas version

Toyota Motor Corp., the biggest maker of hybrid autos, said its electric RAV4 sport utility vehicle with batteries and motor from Tesla Motors Inc. will cost more than twice as much as the gasoline version.
BUSINESS
May 2, 2012

BOJ stimulus pleases debt holders

Holders of Japanese government debt got what they wanted from the Bank of Japan's stimulus last week, while Nissan Motor Co. Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn had little reason for cheer as the yen continued to rise.
COMMENTARY
Apr 30, 2012

The international path toward self-destruction

The latest report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows that, after allowing for some data uncertainties, world military spending in 2011 as essentially unchanged from that in 2012. This breaks a 13-year-long run of continuous military spending increases. It might be a...
EDITORIALS
Apr 30, 2012

Sorting out bills for careful debate

A special committee was set up in the Lower House on April 26 to mainly discuss tax and social welfare reform bills, including a bill to raise the consumption tax. The political parties should have careful discussions in the committee because the bills will directly affect people's lives.
BUSINESS
Apr 26, 2012

Development 'challenges' postpone maiden voyage, first deliveries of MRJ by at least a year

Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. has pushed back the maiden flight and delivery schedule of its Mitsubishi Regional Jet by at least a year, citing delays in the development schedule.
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2012

JAL may use 787s to fly to Madrid, Berlin after Boston debut

Japan Airlines Co., which began Boston services Sunday with its new Boeing Co. 787, may also use the fuel-efficient plane on routes to Spain and Germany as it bolsters services to smaller cities.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 22, 2012

Mekong states get ¥600 billion in ODA

Japan will provide ¥600 billion in official development assistance within three years to the Mekong region countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam to bolster their development, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda declared Saturday.
MORE SPORTS
Apr 21, 2012

Takahashi dazzles as Japan increases lead at World Team Trophy

Powered by another stellar performance by Daisuke Takahashi, Japan opened up an eight-point lead over the United States on the second day of the World Team Trophy on Friday.
COMMENTARY
Apr 19, 2012

Afghan lies mirror deception of Vietnam War

In the midst of the Taliban attacks in central Kabul on Sunday, a journalist called the British embassy for a comment. "I really don't know why they are doing this," said the exasperated diplomat who answered the phone. "We'll be out of here in two years' time. All they have to do is wait."
EDITORIALS
Apr 18, 2012

Make way for low-cost carriers

Low-cost carriers will likely occupy a prominent place in Japan's aviation industry from now on as major airlines enter the LCC market. Peach Aviation, in which All Nippon Airways has invested, started domestic flights in March and will begin international flights in May to and from Kansai airport. Jetstar...

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