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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.
JAPAN
Dec 18, 2012

Abe vague on manning Senkakus, Yasukuni visits

Shinzo Abe, who is expected to be named prime minister next week, tried Monday to ease international concerns a bit over his hawkish stance a day after his Liberal Democratic Party won an overwhelming victory in the Lower House election.
JAPAN / ELECTION 2012
Dec 18, 2012

Economy, split of antinuclear vote, aided LDP

The economy prevailed over nuclear power in the minds of voters in Sunday's general election, dealing a setback to antinuclear parties, including the newly established Nippon Mirai no To (Tomorrow Party of Japan) and the Social Democratic Party.
JAPAN / ELECTION 2012
Dec 17, 2012

Nippon Ishin falls short, readies for next race

Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) picked up only 54 seats in the Lower House election, a far cry from the hundreds of seats party leaders had hoped for.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ELECTION 2012
Dec 17, 2012

For Tokyo, Osaka voters, election revolved around economy

The multitude of parties and issues on the table Sunday made it difficult for voters to make up their minds, according to those who spoke with The Japan Times on the streets of Tokyo and Osaka.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / WILD WATCH
Dec 16, 2012

Beware: Devil birds at work in the woods

The final months of the year seem something of an afterthought following the delightful palette of autumn colors; they offer only fickle moods and fickle weather.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / WEEK 3
Dec 16, 2012

Pyongyang offers a rare 'real' photo opportunity

Most images of North Korea appearing in the media express just a few aspects of that country — namely, repression, militarism, poverty, backwardness, gloom.
Reader Mail
Dec 16, 2012

China doesn't respect diplomacy

Regarding the Dec. 11 editorial "Hawkish approach won't help": It is beyond my ability to imagine how diplomacy can deter China from expanding its empire. Since 1949 the Chinese (under Mao Zedong as well as Chiang Kai-shek) have occupied one piece of territory after another: Tibet, east Turkistan, east...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Dec 16, 2012

Otani made right decision by choosing to play for Fighters

So, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters got a nice Christmas present with the decision by 18-year-old fire-balling right-handed pitcher Shohei Otani to play for the defending Pacific League championship club rather than head straight for a career in the major leagues. From this point of view, the boy did...
JAPAN / History / JAPAN TIMES GONE BY
Dec 16, 2012

Coal mine explosion, Nanking falls, economy grows 14 percent, whalers depart despite protests

A part of the Mount Yubari coal mine in Hokkaido exploded at 10 a.m. Monday, possibly trapping up to 238 workers.
JAPAN / ELECTION 2012
Dec 15, 2012

Idled reactors' fate holds center stage in nuclear hub Fukui

On a snowy afternoon just a few days before the general election, local politicians and many residents of Fukui Prefecture were in a state of shock and wondering what the future holds, after a team of nuclear experts declared it is highly likely that a fault under the Tsuruga nuclear plant's reactor...
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Dec 15, 2012

'Face of election' Kawamura of Nagoya now the odd man out

After deciding not to run in this weekend's Lower House poll, Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura's status as the "face of the election" has faded and his frustration is clearly growing.

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’