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EDITORIALS
Apr 28, 2011

Economy feels the effects

The government in its monthly report released in mid-April downgraded its basic assessment of the Japanese economy for the first time in six months. It said the March 11 catastrophe is causing downward pressure on exports, production and consumption.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 26, 2011

A Japanese contribution to Indonesian law

In general, the Indonesia and Japan relationship has been established for more than 50 years, but intensive legal cooperation between the two countries has been conducted for less than 15 years.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Apr 24, 2011

Decentralizing Tokyo may save the nation

The concentration of money and power in Tokyo is to a degree unthinkable in the United States. — Edward Seidensticker
Reader Mail
Apr 24, 2011

Making best use of the 'military'

By explaining the role of the Japan Self-Defense Forces in disaster relief, the April 15 article "Military flexes relief might, gains newfound esteem" painted the SDF in a very good light.
EDITORIALS
Apr 24, 2011

Food first

The World Bank reported April 14 that world food prices have jumped 37 percent from a year ago. That has pushed an estimated 44 million more people into poverty. As countries around the world recover from weak economies, political instability or, like Japan, from natural disasters, a central concern...
Reader Mail
Apr 24, 2011

Tribute to the Japanese people

Since the gigantic earthquake and tsunami hit March 11, the Japanese people have shown extraordinary intelligence and spirit, the same intelligence and spirit I saw over the years as Commander of U.S. Army Japan (1985-1988). Despite allegations that some responses might have been faster and that many...
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 24, 2011

Vegalta Sendai victorious in return

Vegalta Sendai enjoyed a fairy tale return to J. League action as Jiro Kamata scored an 87th-minute winner to give the stricken Miyagi Prefecture side a 2-1 victory over Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Apr 22, 2011

Is everyone in the world still patiently 'Waiting for Godot'?

"Waiting for Godot" is a masterfully minimalist play that allegorically expresses how we all strive to keep at bay the sense of life's ultimate futility. After all, there is only one certainty in our lives: our death.
Reader Mail
Apr 21, 2011

Challenges demand local efforts

In his April 17 Counterpoint article, "In this time of trials, a new nationalism would aid Japan's recovery," Roger Pulvers advocates an "informed nationalism." I disagree, while appreciating his intention. He compares the challenges we face today to those of the Meiji Era (1868-1912). I think the current...
Reader Mail
Apr 21, 2011

Consider a land deal with Russia

I loved my visit to Japan. I traveled all over the country and enjoyed the ryokans, department stores, shrine cities, bullet train, dolls, Noh and Kabuki, tea ceremony, and, most of all, the people. I love Japan! It grieves me that Japan is suffering all these earthquakes and that the country is ruined...
COMMENTARY
Apr 21, 2011

Gas: the rising star of engery

As many countries become wary of nuclear power following Japan's atomic disaster, they are looking to natural gas as the best alternative for generating electricity.
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Apr 21, 2011

Setsuden

Dear Alice, Everywhere I go now I see signs for setsuden (conserving electricity). There's a notice at my local convenience store explaining that the lights are down for setsuden. My post office has shortened its hours for setsuden. And the subway is running with fewer trains — you guessed it — for...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 21, 2011

Tepco may increase LNG imports by 50% amid energy policy shift

Tokyo Electric Power Co., which produces about a quarter of Japan's electricity, may increase imports of liquefied natural gas by 50 percent to compensate for output lost as a result of the loss of nuclear power facilities due to last month's earthquake and tsunami.
BUSINESS
Apr 20, 2011

Bicycle sales triple as 3/11 haunts Tokyoites

Tokyo residents haunted by the memory of how the March 11 earthquake shut the world's busiest subway system are returning to bicycle travel, tripling the sales of retailer Asahi Co. in the area last month.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Apr 19, 2011

Students choose failure over uncertainty

"Could you please fail me?" As a university lecturer, it is by no means unusual to have seniors drop by to check if they have sufficient credits to graduate. However, I was flabbergasted by this recent visitor who wanted not reassurance - she was on track to graduate - but rather my cooperation in failing...
Japan Times
Events / WHERE IT'S AT
Apr 19, 2011

Architects, artists converge to brainstorm disaster relief

The 52nd floor of the Roppongi Hills complex in downtown Tokyo was filled Saturday night with a high-spirited, energetic atmosphere as people gathered for a charity event to raise donations for survivors of the quake- and tsunami-ravaged Tohoku region.
JAPAN
Apr 18, 2011

Clinton meets with Matsumoto

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto on Sunday in Tokyo, where she expressed Washington's sympathy and solidarity with Japan's attempts to rebuild from the deadly quake and tsunami that claimed more than 13,000 lives.
Reader Mail
Apr 17, 2011

Give the foreign experts a chance

Regarding the April 13 article "Fukushima crisis now at Chernobyl level": It is somewhat terrifying that the severity level of the Fukushima nuclear plant crisis level has been raised to level 7.
EDITORIALS
Apr 17, 2011

Foreign students since the disaster

Of the many consequences of the Tohoku crisis, one of the most disappointing is the fear so many foreigners now have about coming to Japan. Half a million hotel reservations have been canceled, according to the Japan Tourism Agency. In addition to those losses, the number of foreign students planning...
Japan Times
LIFE / WEEK 3
Apr 17, 2011

Capturing the eerie beauty of Chernobyl

Pripyat, Ukraine, has been a ghost town for the last 25 years. On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant's No. 4 reactor experienced a sudden power surge resulting in several explosions and fires that sent a massive amount of nuclear debris into the air.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Apr 17, 2011

Isles of imperial exile where nature is king

Geology buffs take note. "By understanding the Oki Islands, you can understand how the Japanese archipelago was formed."
BUSINESS
Apr 16, 2011

Economy to expand next quarter: BOJ

Bank of Japan Gov. Masaaki Shirakawa said Thursday the economy will expand next quarter as it recovers from the March 11 disaster.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 15, 2011

Further BOJ easing needed: IMF's Shinohara

The Bank of Japan may need to provide further monetary stimulus if power shortages, supply chain disruptions and the nuclear crisis after the quake are prolonged, the International Monetary Fund's No. 3 official said.

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