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EDITORIALS
May 14, 2007

Freer trade with ASEAN

Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have reached an agreement in principle on the modalities of free-trade negotiations that they hope to wrap up by the end of August. If the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement is signed in November as hoped, it will be Japan's first free-trade...
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
May 14, 2007

Security dogging weak yen, not strong dollar

The yen has fallen to above 120 yen against the dollar and as low as 163 yen against the euro. Although a weak yen and strong dollar are often confused as the same thing, what we're looking at today is a weak, yen not a strong dollar.
EDITORIALS
May 13, 2007

Path to mutual prosperity

As the economic interdependence between Japan and China deepens, Japan needs to realize a "mutually beneficial strategic relationship" — the goal that the two countries have agreed to jointly pursue. The agreement to pursue such relations was first struck when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had a summit...
COMMENTARY / World
May 10, 2007

And now to trilateralism

NANJING, China — How good are China-Japan relations today? So good that the museum here to commemorate the 1937 massacre by Japanese Imperial Army soldiers is closed for renovation. That's remarkable since this is the 70th anniversary of the massacre and criticism of historical revisionism of Japan...
JAPAN
May 9, 2007

Revision risks freedoms, U.S. academic warns

Constitution is an outlandish idea, and amending it is simple common sense," Lummis, a former professor at Tsuda College in Tokyo and a staunch supporter of the current Constitution, said via e-mail. "But a large portion of the public is not buying that, as opinion polls show the percentage of people...
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHARTER TURNS 60
May 8, 2007

Sakurai weighs in on patriotism

Love of nation has become a hot political debate topic in Japan.
JAPAN
May 8, 2007

Ishibashi's brief reign in '57 a key crossroads

is congratulated by Nobusuke Kishi after winning a runoff election for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party presidency on Dec. 14, 1956. KYODO PHOTO
EDITORIALS
May 8, 2007

Grand strategy for the Middle East

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has returned from a five-country tour of the Middle East. Ostensibly, Mr. Abe was focusing on energy security but his visits encompassed much more than that. Mr. Abe was raising Japan's diplomatic profile in a region that is vital to its national security — and that of the...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
May 8, 2007

Health insurance headaches

D.C. wrote to Lifelines with a question about health insurance.
BASKETBALL
May 6, 2007

Competition never gets old for Sako

Around his ankles and knees, thick bandages were rolled with quite a lot of ice, and in a single moment, his legs looked as twice bulky.
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
May 6, 2007

New clarities set to cloud smoke screens of ambiguity

Last month, on April Fool's Day to be exact, I revealed some terms and expressions appearing in the forthcoming Japanese government publication, "The Dictionary of All-Too-True Japanese Words and Phrases." Actually, there is far more than meets the eye in this groundbreaking, earthy volume.
Japan Times
JAPAN / History
May 5, 2007

Modify Constitution for modern world, scholar urges

Born in 1949, baby boomer Setsu Kobayashi thanks the postwar Constitution for the freedom, peace and democracy Japan has enjoyed since its debut.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
May 5, 2007

Initial terror turns into picture-book fascination

The color, excitement and vibrancy of Japanese matsuri festivals leap off the pages of Betty Reynolds' latest book, a welcome commission by Tuttle to fill a niche in children's publishing.
JAPAN / CHARTER TURNS 60
May 4, 2007

LDP wants to cut freedoms: DPJ

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe doesn't understand the basics of the Constitution and wants to use it to reduce human rights, not protect them, according to the head of a constitutional study panel for the Democratic Party of Japan.
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE
May 2, 2007

Commissioner Kawachi guiding bj-league in right direction

Two seasons down and a bright future ahead. That's the view from here on the bj-league.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
May 1, 2007

Are new rules kind to hostile mergers?

Delayed for a year because of strong opposition from domestic firms frightened by the prospect of being taken over, the so-called triangular merger system becomes legal Tuesday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
May 1, 2007

Mixi vs. MySpace -- a fight for your bytes

Since she started using the mixi Web site last summer, Yuki Nikitaki has linked up with a network of friends all over the world, including in Japan, and in Greece where she grew up.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 30, 2007

Entente to balance China

International politics is always shifting, basically affected by changes in the balance of power. Of all the factors that can change a balance of power, one that is unique to modern international society (since the 19th century) is the economic growth of a single country.
EDITORIALS
Apr 30, 2007

Mr. Abe's summitry success

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had his first summit in the United States with President George W. Bush. Describing the aim of his U.S. visit, Mr. Abe said at a news conference in Camp David, "The biggest objective of this visit this time was to reaffirm the irreplaceable Japan-U.S. alliance and to make it...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / PERSONALITY PROFILE
Apr 28, 2007

Theodore McNelly

In his book "Witness to the 20th Century" Theodore McNelly presents an autobiography officially beginning with his birth in Wisconsin in 1919.
Japan Times
LIFE
Apr 22, 2007

Japanese warm to real curries and more

It's happening all over the country: Gourmands are ripping apart freshly baked naan bread and using it to mop up fiery-colored curries containing wicked concoctions of true Indian spices. Yes, authentic Indian food is now widely available all over Japan.
Japan Times
LIFE
Apr 22, 2007

Tokyo's Indians in 'home from home'

Hari Hara Krishnan knew no one when he arrived in Tokyo in 1997. But thanks to him, fellow Indians have brought a flourishing flavor of home to the government housing project where he lives in the city's Edogawa Ward.
Japan Times
LIFE
Apr 22, 2007

Indian schools make a mark

Every day at the Global Indian International School (GIIS) in Tokyo's Edogawa Ward starts with yoga. All the students -- from kindergarteners to 14-year-old ninth-graders -- have a 20-minute session in their classrooms. The focus is on breathing, which it's thought helps them to relax and concentrate...
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Apr 17, 2007

SDF emerging as the military it truly is

The government has steadily expanded the activities of the Self-Defense Forces since the 1990s as the nation sought to play greater roles in international political and security affairs. Public perceptions toward the SDF have also changed in line with changes in the security environment, espe cially...
Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Apr 17, 2007

Automated External Defibrillator

Dear Alice,
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Apr 17, 2007

Stalking: readers respond

Japan Times readers wrote in to express their opinions about the Zeit Gist column headlind "Reported stalking cases likely just tip of iceberg" by Thomasina Larkin published on April 10. Here's what they had to say:
Japan Times
LIFE / WEEK 3
Apr 15, 2007

Stroll the streets of vending-machine heaven

Fancy some fresh eggs and veggies to go with your can of coffee in the morning? Or how about some sake with a steaming bowl of oden (soy-sauce based stew) for an evening enkai (party)? Who needs restaurants and supermarkets when you can get all you need from vending machines?
EDITORIALS
Apr 13, 2007

Working with China

Building upon the achievement of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Hu Jintao during their Beijing summit in October 2006, Mr. Abe and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao have agreed on concrete measures for promoting a "mutually beneficial strategic relationship" in such fields as economic cooperation...

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