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BUSINESS / ANALYSIS
Dec 27, 2012

'Abenomics' gets off to a flying start

The very idea of big-spender Shinzo Abe's reappointment as prime minister was enough to send the yen falling against the dollar and spurred the Nikkei above the 10,000 mark for the first time in months.
JAPAN
Dec 27, 2012

Abe ready for 'fresh' restart as Cabinet is sworn in

Shinzo Abe, president of the Liberal Democratic Party, became Japan's seventh prime minister in six years Wednesday, replacing Yoshihiko Noda of the Democratic Party of Japan.
EDITORIALS
Dec 26, 2012

LDP's vague nuclear energy policy

In their policy agreement, the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito have failed to declare that they will aim to eventually end nuclear power generation in Japan. They have agreed only to gradually decrease Japan's reliance on it, without indicating the year in which all of Japan's...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WORDS TO LIVE BY
Dec 25, 2012

Benshi Midori Sawato

Midori Sawato is a benshi, a unique kind of performer who provides live narration to silent films at the movie theater. The benshi brings the characters in films alive using different voices and vocal expressions. They sit to the side of the screen, watching the movie with the audience and using their...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Dec 25, 2012

Sites for J-footy fans; variable service at Softbank

In response to our Oct. 23 column, " 'Prenups' uncommon but doable; aid for avid J. League fans," some of our readers wrote in with their favorite Japan soccer resources.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Dec 24, 2012

Rip van Winkle returns to government with trade war on his mind

Japan is about to get a new government and it's just like old times. Liberal Democratic Party leader Shinzo Abe, who is set to become prime minister, again sounds as if he has been spending his time out of office back in the 1960s.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Dec 23, 2012

Public works funds best spent fixing aging infrastructure

Last week's Lower House election was all about what people didn't want — the Democratic Party of Japan — but the issue foremost in voters' minds was the state of the economy, and new prime minister Shinzo Abe has made that his first priority by pledging to boost inflation through monetary easing...
Reader Mail
Dec 23, 2012

LDP doesn't get a grace period

I was tremendously interested in the Dec. 17 editorial, "LDP back in the saddle again." A few comments about that.
EDITORIALS
Dec 23, 2012

Facedown over privacy

In and around Tokyo, face-recognition cameras have started to take photos of passersby at various locations. Supermarket chains, shopping malls and vending machines inside JR East stations all have been using face-recognition software to identify the sex and age of individuals who come within line of...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / THE YEAR IN BOOKS
Dec 23, 2012

Revisiting Asia's past, present

"From the Ruins of Empire: The Revolt Against the West and the Remaking of Asia" (Allen Lane) by Pankaj Mishra. This is the story of the Asian intellectual's response to Western imperialism. It is an intelligent and rewarding read that crisscrosses time and space, helping readers better understand the...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Dec 22, 2012

Dutchman keeps paper-making traditions alive at his Shikoku studio

Rogier Uitenboogaart, who has been charmed by the world of washi (traditional Japanese paper) for the past three decades — especially its deep relationship with nature and people's everyday lives — is trying to help preserve both nature and the traditional craft in this country.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 22, 2012

Starbucks pours fewer drops of drip per cup

A cup of Starbucks coffee in Japan just got smaller.
JAPAN
Dec 22, 2012

LDP mulling U-turn on Takeshima Day

The Liberal Democratic Party may not sponsor an event to mark Takeshima Day on Feb. 22 despite pledging to do so during its election campaign, an LDP executive said Friday, in another apparent effort by party chief Shinzo Abe to improve strained ties with South Korea.
BUSINESS
Dec 21, 2012

BOJ will ease more, denies Abe pressed

The Bank of Japan on Thursday boosted its asset-purchasing program from ¥91 trillion to about ¥101 trillion and promised to review its medium- to long-term price stability goals next month.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / EVERYMAN EATS
Dec 21, 2012

Food festivals: all yesterday's parties

The best of 2012 The inaugural Tama Geta Shoku no Saiten in Hachioji offered locavores a chance to sample the creative cuisine of western Tokyo. Thirty vendors showed off dishes such as motsu yaki-udon, a bowl of beef tripe and noodles from the town of Mizuho in Nishitama, and the "Tokyo-X" hot dog,...
EDITORIALS
Dec 21, 2012

Ms. Park returns to the Blue House

Ms. Park Geun Hye has eked out a victory in South Korea's presidential election. The conservative candidate narrowly bested progressive rival Moon Jae In in a contest whose outcome was not apparent until the votes were counted.
CULTURE / Music
Dec 20, 2012

Tokyo Girls' Style to perform first solo gig at legendary Budokan, but first — homework

The members of Tokyo Girls' Style have a lot to juggle in the next couple of months. This Saturday, the five-member pop group will perform a solo show at Japan's storied Budokan arena — a huge milestone for any musical outfit here. About a month later, their third album "Yakusoku" ("Promise") will...
EDITORIALS
Dec 20, 2012

Getting off the downward path

Reports from the government and the central bank show that the Japanese economy is on a downward path. Because of fund shortages, the size of the economic packages that the Democratic Party of Japan government decided on in October and November was too small to be effective.
JAPAN / EMBASSY AVENUE
Dec 20, 2012

Grand Cordon given to Algerian diplomat

The Japanese government awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun to Abdelmalek Benhabyles, 91, the first Algerian ambassador to Japan, for his contributions in developing closer and deeper ties between the two countries.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EMBASSY AVENUE
Dec 19, 2012

'Secrets of India' seen in manga

The inaugural publication ceremony of a manga comic book titled "Secrets of India" was held at the auditorium of the Indian Embassy in Tokyo on Dec. 14.
JAPAN
Dec 19, 2012

Obama calls Abe, eyes summit in U.S. next month

When President Barack Obama phoned Shinzo Abe, the prime minister-in-waiting, on Tuesday, they agreed to arrange a summit in the U.S. as early as January, according to an official who took part in the 10-minute chat.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Dec 19, 2012

Firms move some eggs out of China basket

Anti-Japan riots in Beijing, Shanghai and elsewhere in China in September triggered by Japan's nationalization of the disputed Senkaku Islands brought vandalism and violence to Japanese restaurants, stores and car dealers and a boycott of Japanese products.
BUSINESS
Dec 19, 2012

Does Abe win signal a Volcker moment?

Shinzo Abe was chief Cabinet secretary in 2006 when he backed the Bank of Japan's interest rate hike, a move that the prime minister-in-waiting, who is growing increasingly intolerant of the nation's chronic deflation, now says was a mistake.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS / ICE TIME
Dec 19, 2012

Mao, Kim begin road to second Olympic showdown

Japan's strong showing at the recent Grand Prix Final in Sochi, Russia, set the table for what promises to be a fascinating 14 months leading up to the 2014 Olympic Games in the same city.
JAPAN / ELECTION 2012
Dec 18, 2012

DPJ blows chance to establish two-party rule

It took 54 years for the nation's politics to produce a viable opposition party, and 39 months for it to self-destruct after winning power, splintering prospects for an enduring policy-driven two-party system.

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