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COMMENTARY
Apr 3, 2006

Protectionism has returned to Europe

LONDON -- The big idea was that Europe would do away with economic nationalism, sweep away frontiers and stand as a shining example to the rest of the world of free trade and open markets. That was the dream. The reality is turning out rather differently.
BUSINESS
Mar 31, 2006

Japan, U.S. strengthen ties to fight piracy

Japan and the United States agreed Thursday to enhance bilateral cooperation on the protection of intellectual property rights by exchanging information so they can address piracy problems in third countries, most notably China.
JAPAN
Mar 31, 2006

23,800 rights abuses tallied in Japan

The number of human rights violations reported to the Justice Ministry's regional legal affairs bureaus across Japan reached a record-high 23,800 in 2005, up 4 percent from the previous year, a ministry tally showed Thursday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / NEW ART SEEN
Mar 30, 2006

Getting down to just art

In the development of contemporary art scenes in Asian countries over recent years, a strong tendency has been for artists to buck the yoke of tradition and steer well clear of anything that might remotely resemble their nation's folk art -- unless of course their intention was to mock it.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 30, 2006

Canberra-Jakarta ties sink

SYDNEY -- Fragile relations between Indonesia and Australia have taken a nosedive, again, and Canberra is concerned that any sudden venting of anger in Jakarta may wreck years of painstaking efforts at building up mutual good will. The Indonesian ambassador has been recalled from Canberra "for consultations."...
JAPAN
Mar 30, 2006

Change to allow foreign political funds

Running for office doesn't come cheap. Politicians need money for posters, vans, venues for speeches and meals for volunteers. The problem for aspirants to office is that political donations are falling, and corporate money in particular is dwindling fast.
JAPAN
Mar 28, 2006

Japan, ASEAN ink agreement on integration fund

Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Malaysian Ambassador to Japan Marzuki Mohammad Noor signed an agreement Monday for Japan to establish a fund to help promote the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' efforts toward integration.
EDITORIALS
Mar 28, 2006

Skating on thin ice

Shizuka Arakawa's Olympic triumph and the media hype surrounding women's figure skating belies the grossly inadequate training environment that Japan's top skaters face and the escalating training costs they shoulder in the absence of meaningful support from the government or corporations.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WORDS TO LIVE BY
Mar 28, 2006

Takao Tsue

Takao Tsue, 80, is the Honorary Chief Priest of Osaka City's Imamiya-Ebisu Shrine, famous for the Toka Ebisu festival held every January, which attracts over 1 million people over three days. According to legend, the shrine was established in AD 600 by Shotoku Taishi, and written records show that Tsue's...
COMMENTARY
Mar 27, 2006

No more tax money to U.S.

The administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has played down Japanese public sentiment against the U.S. military presence, believing that most people approve of it in general but object when their own community is affected.
JAPAN
Mar 26, 2006

Lawmakers reveal global cultural heritage preservation bill

A nonpartisan group of lawmakers will draft a bill to help restore cultural heritage lost in Afghanistan, Iraq and other war-torn areas, the lawmakers said Saturday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / PERSONALITY PROFILE
Mar 25, 2006

Ken Nimori

Ken Nimori has an unusual personal background. He is a Japanese who, despite having lived almost always in Tokyo, did not beyond kindergarten receive Japanese education. He spent his full 12 years of schooling at the American School in Japan.
JAPAN
Mar 25, 2006

East Timor leader lauds Japan's aid toward peace

" for another year, Alkatiri said. Asked what lessons the international community can learn from the reconstruction of a country emerging from conflict like East Timor, Alkatiri said that encouraging the voluntary initiatives of the people is key to success.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 24, 2006

New envoy says he is not too soft on China

Tokyo's next ambassador to Beijing on Thursday played down concerns he might be too soft on China and said he will continue to put Japan's interests first when he takes up his post April 10.
JAPAN
Mar 18, 2006

LDP OKs sanctions bill targeting North Korea rights abuses

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party approved a bill Friday that would require the government to impose sanctions on North Korea if it failed to make progress in addressing its human rights abuses, including the abductions of Japanese.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 11, 2006

Danes, Muslims to open dialogue

The Danish Embassy and Muslim federations in Japan have agreed to hold round-table meetings in the wake of violent protests overseas over the publication of caricatures of the prophet Muhammad by a Danish daily, Denmark's ambassador to Japan said Friday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Mar 4, 2006

Investor, philanthropist gives new name to jet set

It is 7:30 a.m. and Takaaki Kawashima has less than one hour to spare before leaving for Narita airport. He's due to take a midday flight to London, arriving in time for dinner with Prince Charles, Camilla and a small group of intimates at Clarendon House. He will leave for Japan again Friday morning,...
JAPAN
Mar 4, 2006

Private surveillance cameras on the rise

Is it neighborhood watch or Big Brother?
COMMENTARY
Mar 2, 2006

Blow to Philippine democracy

MANILA -- In democracies, governments have a constitutional right, even an obligation, to protect the democratic order against the enemies of the state. In line with this basic principle, Philippine President Gloria Arroyo recently justified the imposition of emergency rule as a preemptive action against...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Mar 2, 2006

TIF pushes theater's borders

With guest productions from as far afield as Kuwait, Israel, Germany and the United States, this year's 12th annual Tokyo International Arts Festival (TIF) is delivering a challenging program of theater and dance from some of the world's leading dramatists. In doing so, TIF -- held for the first time...
JAPAN
Mar 1, 2006

Japan will side with UNSC position on Iran: Aso

Japan will be in sync with the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council should they decide to bring the Iranian nuclear case up for discussions, Foreign Minister Taro Aso suggested Tuesday.
EDITORIALS
Mar 1, 2006

Race against bird flu speeds up

A vian flu appears to be spreading with increasing rapidity. In recent weeks, there have been confirmed reports of the disease in Europe and Africa, demonstrating that the H5N1 strain is hardier than thought and truly a global danger. While health officials call for continuing surveillance and vigilance,...
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Mar 1, 2006

Nintendo scores with consumers and then almost squanders its edge

Xbox 360 vs. PlayStation 3, Microsoft vs. Sony, DVD vs. Blu-ray -- there's a glimpse into the world of the hardcore game community. Tech talk and brand loyalty create enough static to scare away normal people who just want to play some games in their free time.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Feb 28, 2006

Poison, vendors and tai chi

Dangerous G wonders (somewhat bizarrely) where to begin inquiring about where people go to find poisons for the purpose of suicide. "I would appreciate some suggestions for the heroine of a story I'm planning to write."
EDITORIALS
Feb 27, 2006

Deepening crisis in Nepal

The political situation in the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal grows increasingly chaotic. Local municipal elections recently called by King Gyanendra, who assumed direct rule after sacking the prime minister and his Cabinet a year ago, had a voter turnout of just 22 percent, abnormally low for that country....

Longform

Japan's growing ranks of centenarians are redefining what it means to live in a super-aging society.
What comes after 100?