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CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF
Aug 4, 2002

Finding a place in history

SENTO AT SIXTH AND MAIN: Preserving Landmarks of Japanese American Heritage, by Gail Dubrow with Donna Graves. Seattle: Seattle Arts Commission, 2002, 220 pp., $19.95 (paper) A lumber camp in Selleck, Washington; a sento at 302 Sixth Avenue in downtown Seattle; a bowling alley in Los Angeles's Crenshaw...
COMMENTARY
Aug 3, 2002

Flaws mar proposed reforms

LONDON -- The Japanese Foreign Ministry has been much criticized over the last year. Reforms have been made and more changes are likely. Some of the criticism has been justified, but much is misplaced and some of the proposals for changes are mistaken.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 2, 2002

Uphill battle for regional hub aspirees

SEOUL -- South Korea (where the idea of becoming a regional hub is now all the rage) and Malaysia share the same basic vision for Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, respectively. In addition, the two countries are cosponsoring an initiative to formally coordinate the ASEAN plus three forum. Last month,...
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / WILD WATCH
Aug 1, 2002

A camphor by any other name

Growing among the the laurel-dominated evergreen forests of central and southern Japan is a tree with a host of names and a host of uses.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Aug 1, 2002

Support groups for foreign spouses and kimono essentials

Since it's too hot to hang around chatting, let's plunge straight in.
JAPAN
Jul 31, 2002

Panel calls for universities to be involved in foreign aid

A government panel proposed Tuesday the creation of a government-run institution to involve universities in international development assistance projects.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / NEW ART SEEN
Jul 31, 2002

Man vs. nature: the frontline

Blockbuster solo shows now running at the Bunkamura (Rene Magritte) and the Setagaya Art Museum (Joan Miro) are already ensuring this is one of Tokyo's best summers in years for aficionados of 20th-century art. Now, thanks to a bit of bold curating by Taro Amano, the Yokohama Museum of Art is host to...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jul 31, 2002

New and improved Pops!

How can anyone market one of the world's great orchestras in an era when orchestral music is growing ever less essential to the cultural fabric and the recording industry itself is ailing?
JAPAN
Jul 30, 2002

Mandatory community work gains favor

An advisory panel to education minister Atsuko Toyama recommended Monday that schoolchildren be required to take part in community activities, and that this be part of a student's evaluation, ministry officials said.
Japan Times
JAPAN / WEEKEND WISDOM
Jul 28, 2002

Tokyo planetary science professor doubles as ramen guru

Although the fields of extraterrestrial activity and ramen may seem to be worlds apart, these disparate subjects have provided one Japanese academic with widespread recognition.
CULTURE / Stage
Jul 28, 2002

Placido Domingo calling all opera buffs in Japan

Opera is total theater that incorporates all of the arts, says the publicist. It's a pageant, says the wig-maker. We live in a visual culture and opera appeals to the visual; it is pure, unadulterated spectacle, says the stage director.
BUSINESS
Jul 26, 2002

Stronger national identity sought

OYAMA, Shizuoka Pref. -- Education is the key to establishing a stronger national identity amid globalization, business leaders said Thursday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 25, 2002

Chiyoda Ward kicks smokers' habits

With smoking now prohibited in a vast number of public spaces, the nation's sidewalks are viewed by some as the last refuge for those who want to light up.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Jul 25, 2002

Drive to halt pork 'n' ride tide

The rivers of Nagano Prefecture still flowing as nature intended may yet survive. If they do, it will be largely due to former (and perhaps soon to be re-elected) Gov. Yasuo Tanaka, whose "no more dams" policy directly challenges pork-barrel politicians who for decades appear to have put construction-industry...
JAPAN
Jul 24, 2002

Koizumi slams 'amakudari' gravy train

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi ordered his Cabinet ministers Tuesday to take steps to halt "amakudari," the practice of senior bureaucrats retiring early to join government-affiliated organizations as highly paid executives, because of the corruption that can result.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES
Jul 24, 2002

Warren Zevon: 'My Ride's Here'

Despite having predicted his own irrelevance as far back as 1976 on the song "Desperados Under the Eaves," Warren Zevon has outlasted his more illustrious L.A. pals The Eagles and mentor Jackson Browne even if his awkward song stylings and unpretty baritone haven't changed a bit. And while Zevon himself...
BUSINESS / ON MANAGEMENT
Jul 23, 2002

Managing growth differs from growing one's firm

The news in business has been full of falling stars lately. "Is it just me," a friend asked the other day, "or does it seem as if half of the CEO supernovas from two years ago have crashed and burned?" In light of the economic turmoil I could understand how he had gotten this impression, but could not...
BUSINESS
Jul 22, 2002

Europe poised to bounce back and lead world economy: German consultant

Europe, and possibly Japan, will stage a comeback to dominate the world economy in the near future, a leading German business consultant predicts.
JAPAN
Jul 21, 2002

Elephant trumpets 50 years of Japan-India ties

An Indian cultural festival opened Saturday at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and India, with an elephant presented by India making a public appearance.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Jul 21, 2002

Sailing in the world

Japan's area is less than that of California, though its economic exclusion zone takes in an enormous 4 million sq. km of ocean. The length of the coastline per sq. km of land is second only to Denmark, yet Japan's annual celebration of its partnership with the sea, Umi no Hi (Marine Day), rated hardly...
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jul 21, 2002

Public works projects? Dam them all to hell

The person who said that all politics is local probably wasn't thinking about Japan, where regional officials don't seem to have much purpose in life beyond trying to cadge money from Tokyo.
Japan Times
JAPAN / HONING ENGLISH
Jul 20, 2002

Japan experiments with Super English Schools

Principal Katsutoshi Wakabayashi gives a speech in English through the school's public address system at Gunma Prefectural Chuo High School every Wednesday morning, and all notices around the school are now in English.
Japan Times
JAPAN / MUSEUM MUSINGS
Jul 20, 2002

Printing technology through the ages awaits

How have advances in printing technology contributed to our society as a means of communication?
BUSINESS
Jul 20, 2002

CCC downgrades takeover plan

Culture Convenience Club Co. said Friday it now plans to take over only 19 of the 42 stores of Dai-Ichi Katei Denki Co., down from 32, because many employees at the failed consumer electronics retailer do not want to work for CCC.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Jul 20, 2002

Kyoto's unique guide gives you tour to remember

It's unfortunate that I can't join one of Johnnie Hillwalker's world famous walks. His tours -- Walk in Kyoto, Talk in English -- are scheduled come rain or shine on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (excluding national holidays). I am in the city for the weekend.
Japan Times
JAPAN / HONING ENGLISH
Jul 19, 2002

English education at early age gains momentum

Don't worry about grammar; listen more and enjoy speaking.
JAPAN
Jul 14, 2002

Expert predicts patients' rights will come slowly to Japan

KYOTO -- It is often the case in Japan that the decisions of the family are more respected than those of the individual when considering someone's personal affairs.
CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF
Jul 14, 2002

Living outside the box

The days of Japan as the No. 1 business model for the world are long gone, but a new and perhaps more interesting model combining Japanese and Western elements seems to be developing. Unfortunately, the transition from a system based on lifelong employment, seniority and unthinking loyalty to one's company...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / PERSONALITY PROFILE
Jul 13, 2002

Ciaran Murray

"I had to come to Japan, to sit in a garden and discover something of Japanese culture, in order to write the history of my hometown," Ciaran Murray said.

Longform

A small shrine perched atop rocks braves the waves hitting the shoreline during a storm in Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture. The area is under threat of a possible 31-meter-high tsunami if an earthquake strikes the nearby Nankai Trough.
If the 'Big One' hits, this city could face a 31-meter-high tsunami