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JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Nov 25, 2012

Attitude change needed to shake up the workforce

Several weeks ago the head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, hung around briefly after the IMF finished up its annual meeting — which happened to be in Tokyo this year — and appeared on a special hourlong edition of NHK's in-depth news show "Closeup Gendai." The topic was working...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Nov 24, 2012

Yaeyama stray cats steal the show on the beaches of Taketomi

After eight days on Miyakojima in which again our departure was delayed by bad weather, we finally set sail for Ishigaki Island, part of the Yaeyama Island chain and the end of our sailing trip through Japan.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 23, 2012

Abe economic policy raises serious questions

Not satisfied with bending Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda to its will for a snap election, the Liberal Democratic Party has set its sights on Bank of Japan Gov. Masaaki Shirakawa, at No. 36 the highest-ranked Japanese on Forbes magazine's 2011 list of the world's most powerful people. (Noda was ranked...
LIFE / Food & Drink
Nov 23, 2012

Meet the ambassadors

Reader Mail
Nov 22, 2012

Prosperous times still possible

Regarding Christina Tsuchida's Nov. 8 letter, "Retreating from the car boom": I have an opinion about Japan's future that a lot of domestic and foreign media do not share. I believe that Japan still has an economic margin to stave off worse times ahead while it tries to find a way to improve society....
Reader Mail
Nov 22, 2012

Hamstrung by what it values

Shinzo Abe's proposed 2 to 3 percent inflation target, cited in the Nov. 19 front-page article "Abe pledges to make BOJ buy bonds," should not be arbitrary; it ought to reconcile with the rate of productivity growth to preserve stable prices.
BUSINESS
Nov 22, 2012

Exports at three-year low as recession nears

Japan is suffering its worst year for exports since the 2009 global contraction as Europe's debt crisis, China's economic slowdown and the Senkakus dispute with Beijing hurt manufacturers and deepen the risk of a recession.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / TRAVEL INSIDER
Nov 21, 2012

See auroras with SAS; visit, help clean up Bali with Garuda; Cathay's free business upgrade

See auroras in Norway
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Nov 21, 2012

Merumaga: Paid e-mail newsletters make a come-back

Despite the fact that Japan has the world's largest market for digital-manga, which are primarily read on cellphones, and that Amazon has recently brought out its Kindle platform in Japan — after a delay of 5 years — the e-book business here has yet to take off. As such, it's probably no surprise...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Nov 20, 2012

Occupants can suggest a buyout, but final word lies with landlords

Reader AP asked how house and land prices are decided in Japan.
BUSINESS
Nov 20, 2012

Abe call for unlimited BOJ easing rattles bond market

The bond market is growing more concerned that a new administration led by opposition leader Shintaro Abe calling for unlimited easing will stoke inflation and weaken the nation's finances.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 19, 2012

Visa overstayers rally in Tokyo for residency permits

A group of foreign residents who have overstayed their visas rallied in Tokyo's Ginza shopping district Sunday to call on the government to grant them special residency permits to remain in Japan and avoid disrupting the lives of their long-settled family members.
Reader Mail
Nov 18, 2012

Minister Tanaka failed by folding

Regarding the Nov. 7 front-page Kyodo article "Tanaka backpedals on new universities snub": Education minister Makiko Tanaka's decision to reverse her original decision is a serious blow to education in Japan.
Reader Mail
Nov 18, 2012

Stand up to the scapegoaters

Controversial Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto recently announced that Osaka's elementary schools will restart Saturday classes. His stated reason is poor performance and delinquency. In the past, Hashimoto has blamed tattoos, teachers, public servants in general and, now, the children of Osaka for Japan's...
JAPAN
Nov 18, 2012

Hashimoto, Ishihara merge parties

Against expectations and despite fundamental policy differences, Osaka Mayor and Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) head Toru Hashimoto and former Tokyo Gov. and Taiyo no To (The Sunshine Party) leader Shintaro Ishihara merged their parties Saturday, creating a third force in Japanese politics....
Reader Mail
Nov 18, 2012

Ridiculous detour from the issue

I appreciate the The Japan Times' publishing letters to the editor that tell the other side of the story, like Xiao Jin Yuan's Nov. 11 letter, "Safeguarding Territorial Integrity." It's good to get a variety of views on an issue as complex and important as this.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / WEEK 3
Nov 18, 2012

Moss art: growing a masterpiece

What's green, fuzzy and has a starring role in Japan's national anthem?
JAPAN
Nov 17, 2012

Ishihara merger looks likely: Hashimoto

Osaka Mayor and Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) head Toru Hashimoto indicated Friday evening that a merger with former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara's Taiyo no To (The Sunrise Party) is almost a done deal.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 16, 2012

Abe ups pressure on BOJ for unlimited stimulus

Liberal Democratic Party chief Shinzo Abe, who could become the next prime minister after December's general election due to his party's popularity, heaped pressure on the Bank of Japan by calling Thursday for unlimited monetary stimulus.
JAPAN
Nov 15, 2012

Noda will schedule election for Dec. 16

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Wednesday he plans to dissolve the Lower House on Friday and schedule the general election for Dec. 16.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 15, 2012

For Hitachi, there's life after ditching TVs

Hitachi Ltd. is showing Sony Corp. and Panasonic Corp. that there can be life after TV.

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’