Search - 2012

 
 
JAPAN
Mar 29, 2012

Firms furious over Tepco rate hike

Businesses are displeased to say the least with Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s rate hike taking effect April 1, as it will put an extra burden on their operating costs, especially in those industries that use a large amount of power.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 29, 2012

EU can live on without the euro

Great significance — probably too much — has been attached to a possible breakup of the eurozone. Many believe that such a breakup — if, say, Greece abandoned the euro and reintroduced the drachma — would constitute a political failure that would ultimately threaten Europe's stability. Speaking...
CULTURE / Music
Mar 29, 2012

MiChi "Therapy"

It has been a good year for Japanese pop music so far. The Oricon charts still house the likes of AKB48, Arashi and a slew of acts that make me want to bang my head against the wall, but a crop of J-pop artists operating a little outside of the mainstream (Nanba Shiho, Kou Shibasaki and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu)...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Mar 29, 2012

The precious qualities of today's art jewelry

"The difference between art jewelry and a painting or a sculpture is that jewelry is closer to the heart — literally. Because you can wear it, it's actually even more intimate and personal than other artwork."
CULTURE / Art
Mar 29, 2012

The precious qualities of today's art jewelry

"The difference between art jewelry and a painting or a sculpture is that jewelry is closer to the heart — literally. Because you can wear it, it's actually even more intimate and personal than other artwork."
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Mar 29, 2012

'Sakura, Sakura, Sakura 2012'

Due to popular demand, the Yamatane Museum of Art has revived its annual sakura-(cherry-blossom) themed exhibition for the first time since its relocation from the famous sakura-viewing spot Chidorigabuchi to Hiroo in 2009.
CULTURE / Art
Mar 29, 2012

'Sakura, Sakura, Sakura 2012'

Due to popular demand, the Yamatane Museum of Art has revived its annual sakura-(cherry-blossom) themed exhibition for the first time since its relocation from the famous sakura-viewing spot Chidorigabuchi to Hiroo in 2009.
COMMENTARY
Mar 28, 2012

The inexorable march of creative destruction

In retreat, Sears set to unload stores
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 28, 2012

Brace for the mass customization revolution

The last two decades were the era of hypermarkets — massive superstores that could dazzle customers with an astonishing array of standardized products. But there are signs that the superstore's age of dominance may be over.
EDITORIALS
Mar 28, 2012

Challenges for electronics makers

Electronics makers, which served as a crucial engine of the Japanese economy during the period of high growth, are now experiencing difficult times. Certainly they suffered greatly from external factors such as the 3/11 disasters, the floods in Thailand and the strong yen. But leaders of these companies...
COMMENTARY
Mar 27, 2012

Bizarre logic of America's 'freedom' campaign

The Afghans are a proud people with a long and formidable history of resistance to foreign occupation. The fact that they have always prevailed should not distract from the horror they still routinely experience.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / THE ZEIT GIST
Mar 27, 2012

False eyelashes, an authentic Eid, but we're not in Karachi anymore

As soon as I told any of my friends in Pakistan I was going to study for a semester in Tokyo, it was as if my facial features suddenly started turning Japanese.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Mar 27, 2012

Tohoku in rebuilding bubble

As Tohoku struggles to rebuild from last year's quake and tsunami, money continues to pour into the region in the form of central government subsidies for cleanup, repair and reconstruction.
COMMENTARY
Mar 27, 2012

The cracks in the BRICS

As it prepares to hold its latest annual summit in New Delhi on March 28-29, the BRICS grouping — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — remains a concept in search of a common identity and institutionalized cooperation.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / 2012 BASEBALL PREVIEW
Mar 26, 2012

Yankees fiasco hasn't altered Nakajima's outlook

A bemused smile played across Hiroyuki Nakajima's lips as he entered a suite in the upper reaches of Seibu Dome.
EDITORIALS
Mar 26, 2012

Mr. Okada's pseudo-reform

Deputy Prime Minister Katsuya Okada has directed government ministries to reduce the number of recruits for fiscal 2013 by an average of about 70 percent from fiscal 2009's level. This is a typical example of the pseudo-reform that the Democratic Party of Japan government often uses to dupe the public....
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Mar 25, 2012

Aoki's departure leaves big void for Swallows

One of the big questions to be answered this year in Japanese baseball is, how will the Tokyo Yakult Swallows fare without All-Star center fielder Norichika Aoki, posted for major league service during the offseason and now with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Reader Mail
Mar 25, 2012

Afraid of their own shadow

Regarding the March 21 Kyodo article "Patriot missiles may be deployed in Okinawa to counter North Korean rocket": Why is there such an overreaction to this planned satellite launch?
BASEBALL / MLB
Mar 25, 2012

Mariners, A's begin preparations for opening series

The first day of the major league season is only a few days away, and the Seattle Mariners and Oakland A's arrived in Japan ready to get things started.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Mar 25, 2012

A woman of wisdom among the energy mandarins

Ask me who should facilitate Japan's energy dialogue and the choice is easy: Junko Edahiro.
BUSINESS
Mar 24, 2012

Kono's BOJ nomination slammed

The government on Friday nominated BNP Paribas economist Ryutaro Kono to join the Bank of Japan's Policy Board, drawing criticism from lawmakers concerned that he won't support bolder action to end prolonged deflation.
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Mar 23, 2012

African artists join culture fest

Thanks to the Internet, African musicians have been getting a growing amount of attention from outside their own borders. Blogs such as Awesome Tapes from Africa have been working to get artists known overseas, while some bands, such as Pasichigare Mbiras, continue to rely on cultural organizations for...

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