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Japan Times
Events / WHERE IT'S AT
Feb 1, 2011

Diplomats relate cultures in Japanese

"Goseicho arigato gozaimashita" (thank you for listening), a regular way of ending a speech, echoed in the meeting room after each foreign speaker gave their presentations and received a big round of applause from the audience.
Reader Mail
Jan 30, 2011

Most progressive place on Earth

The attacking posture of Kunio Miyamura's Jan. 9 letter, "Celebrating a respectful sentiment " — in response to my Dec. 30 letter ("Overbearing demand on Christmas") — is far too common as it's the result of a perceived slight to Christianity.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jan 30, 2011

Cultural insensitivity no laughing matter

The tempest in a teapot whipped up by a segment on the British quiz-cum-comedy show "QI" has prompted debate on cross-cultural sensitivity. The BBC has apologized for the segment, which, contrary to a statement issued by Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara, did not make fun of its subject, the late Tsutomu...
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Jan 30, 2011

'Simple and severe' in World Nailist finals

Among the many exciting attractions of Tokyo Nail Expo, held on Nov. 28 and 29 last year, were more than 10 competitions in which nail-school students and professional manicurists showed off their skills.
JAPAN
Jan 29, 2011

Kan defends being S&P-blindsided

Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Friday defended his remarks on the downgrade of Japan's sovereign credit rating by Standard & Poor's, saying he had yet to be informed of the news when he said he was "not familiar with the matter."
Japan Times
JAPAN / CAREER-SEARCH CRISIS
Jan 28, 2011

Flawed recruiting system sparks some to fight back

When it comes to job hunting in Japan, there is something called a "naitei," an informal promise of employment given to students who pass the applicant screening, written tests and mind-crunching interviews.
EDITORIALS
Jan 28, 2011

Road for the No. 3 economy

As it has become certain that China overtook Japan as the world's second-largest economy in 2010, both countries need to consider new directions for managing their economy. China's gross domestic product grew faster than expected — by 10.3 percent in 2010 — pulling down Japan from the No. 2 position...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jan 28, 2011

There's always art behind design

For some, life-changing moments involve a traumatic experience or a piercing epiphany. For others, something as simple as a teapot can elicit transformation.
Reader Mail
Jan 27, 2011

A perpetual state of emergency

After 50 years of self-serving shambolism, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has left Japan in a deep hole. Its only aim seems to be to create an eternal state of emergency from which there will be no easy emergence. What is holding Japan back most is the nature of its politics. There has never been...
Reader Mail
Jan 27, 2011

Leadership crisis delays solutions

It is with a frustrated and sinking feeling that I read the comments of the Liberal Democratic Party chief in the Jan. 24 article "LDP pledges to send ruling party packing." With all the problems facing Japan, what Japanese politics doesn't need is more of the same tribal mentality, greed and power faction...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 27, 2011

Leaf reverses carmakers' flight abroad

YOKOSUKA, Kanagawa Pref. — The Leaf electric car is rolling down the bustling assembly line at Nissan's Oppama plant, taking the place of a gasoline-powered compact whose production was moved abroad last year.
JAPAN
Jan 27, 2011

New EU envoy cagey on FTA pact

Newly appointed EU Ambassador to Japan Hans Dietmar Schweisgut said Wednesday various issues need to be dealt with before Japan and the EU can conclude a free-trade accord.
JAPAN
Jan 26, 2011

Child-custody pact up for talks

A high-level government panel kicked off discussions Tuesday on whether to sign an international treaty against international child abductions by parents but has set no time frame for reaching a conclusion, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tetsuro Fukuyama said.
BUSINESS
Jan 26, 2011

BOJ raises growth forecast for 2010

The Bank of Japan on Tuesday raised its growth forecasts for the current fiscal year as strong overseas demand supports the economy.
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2011

LDP pledges to send ruling party packing

Liberal Democratic Party President Sadakazu Tanigaki pledged Sunday at his party's annual convention to lead the fight to corner the ruling Democratic Party of Japan into dissolving the Lower House for a snap election.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Jan 22, 2011

German braumeister puts Otaru brewery on map

While Japan's major breweries continue to report flat beer sales amid an ailing economy, there is one Hokkaido-based beer maker that's brewing up a storm.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jan 21, 2011

Mogwai

Since making their first live appearances in Japan in 1999, Mogwai have returned to tour the country a dozen times. With this in mind, it is unsurprising that the Scottish postrock quintet played only two gigs last year, and one of them was in Japan.
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jan 21, 2011

Taking the tango across the country

A renowned Argentine tango orchestra and dancers from that country and Japan are bringing their passion for the art to audiences across Japan through March.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Jan 21, 2011

Universal meanings of a poet's personal grief

Apart from glitzy musicals and kabuki, most theatrical stagings in Japan finish their run after a couple of weeks or even a few days. With no long-run system as the norm, unlike Broadway or the West End, by the time a buzz has got around that something is good, it will almost always have closed or be...
Reader Mail
Jan 20, 2011

Offer of time and skills to a child

Regarding the Jan. 12 Kyodo article "More anonymous 'cartoon hero' donors leave gifts for kids in need": I was pleased to hear about local donations to orphanages across Japan. It has long been something that has been behind closed doors and it is good to see an increased awareness of it in the public...
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jan 20, 2011

Asian Cup campaign gathering steam after five-goal salvo

Slowly but surely, Japan's Asian Cup challenge is taking shape.
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Jan 20, 2011

Wagashi

Dear Alice,
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 20, 2011

J-REITs predicted to double down as bond spreads narrow

Japan's real estate investment trusts may double property purchases in the next fiscal year to ¥1 trillion by boosting bond sales amid the lowest borrowing costs in three years, Credit Suisse 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