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EDITORIALS
Jan 10, 2010

Squeezing the merchants

On Nov. 30, North Korea redenominated its currency, the won, without prior announcements, and reportedly banned the use and circulation of foreign currencies after Jan. 1.
BUSINESS
Jan 9, 2010

Panasonic plotting green tack

Panasonic Corp. said Friday it plans to boost sales and domestic and international competitiveness by expanding green technology products.
COMMENTARY
Jan 7, 2010

Obama on track in Asia

With one exception, U.S. relations with East Asian countries are better today than when the Obama administration took office. This is no small accomplishment since the Bush administration left Asia in good shape.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 7, 2010

Snack maker Lotte to open first Japan hotel

Snack maker Lotte Co. has announced it is opening a hotel in Tokyo's Sumida Ward on April 6, including rooms featuring its Koara no Maachi (Koala's March) cookie snack mascot.
BUSINESS
Dec 26, 2009

Panasonic boasts rise in lithium-ion output

Panasonic Corp. has developed more powerful batteries for use in everything from laptops to electric vehicles, the Japanese electronics maker said Friday.
COMMENTARY
Dec 24, 2009

No winners emerge from COP15 conference

If the climate change conference in Copenhagen failed to meet the expectations of both developed and developing countries, it did make one thing clear: The United States remains the most powerful developed country and China is acknowledged as a leading representative of the developing countries, though...
EDITORIALS
Dec 22, 2009

Pragmatism, realism prevail

They struck a deal in Copenhagen. As expected, it satisfies few and angers many. That means it is probably the best deal that could have been reached given the profound differences among the 193 nations that negotiated the agreement. The document that was finalized urges, but does not require, deep cuts...
JAPAN
Dec 21, 2009

Japan finds a little to crow about

COPENHAGEN — The political agreement on climate change formally recognized Saturday has been roundly condemned, but the Japanese government sees it as a diplomatic achievement for including China and the United States, the two largest emitters, and paving the way for a future framework to reduce emissions....
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 19, 2009

Japan, Australia, Canada hit for falling short

COPENHAGEN — Japan won the "fossil of the day" award Thursday from international nongovernmental organizations that said the country could do better despite announcing Wednesday night it will contribute ¥1.75 trillion between 2010 and 2012 to help developing countries adapt to climate change.
EDITORIALS
Dec 19, 2009

Toward fewer nuclear arms

The United States and Russia failed to reach a new arms control agreement as the START 1 pact expired earlier this month. The two governments remain committed to a new agreement; reportedly only a few issues kept negotiators from meeting the Dec. 5 deadline.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 18, 2009

Is Mazda next in line for partner?

Mazda Motor Corp. may be the next carmaker to strike an alliance following plans by Suzuki Motor Corp. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. to team up with overseas manufacturers, investors and analysts say.
JAPAN
Dec 17, 2009

Gridlock threatens to doom COP15

COPENHAGEN — U.N. negotiators at the COP15 conference worked through the night Tuesday, increasingly desperate to reach agreement before more than 120 world leaders gather Thursday night and Friday and following an official warning that the stalemated negotiations could doom the conference.
BUSINESS
Dec 17, 2009

Moody's prods Japan on debt

Japan should set a "well-articulated" target to reduce government debt that is already the largest in the world, according to Moody's Investors Service.
JAPAN
Dec 15, 2009

Xi says he wants to improve ties

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrived Monday in Japan where he stressed the importance of the "friendly" ties between China and Japan and vowed to do his best to further develop the relationship.
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Dec 13, 2009

How to survive a 'fearful age'?

The other day I attended a preview screening of "The Road," the new film of Cormac McCarthy's post-apocalyptic 2006 novel of the same name.
JAPAN / COP15 COPENHAGEN SPECIAL
Dec 13, 2009

Japan objects to climate summit draft proposal

COPENHAGEN, Asia's battle: Page 3 — Japan objected to a draft proposal released Friday at the COP15 climate negotiations, saying that it would give the United States, which opted out of the Kyoto Protocol, a free pass to increase its carbon dioxide emissions beyond 2012 and penalize nations such as...

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.