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CULTURE / Books
Jul 26, 2009

The quirky terrain of an otaku mind

"Otaku" is one of those Japanese words that has no precise equivalent in English. "Geek" translates the knowledgeability as well as the social ineptness of the stereotypical otaku, but not quite his (and, more rarely, her) intense interest in what so-called serious adults regard as trivial pursuits:...
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Jul 19, 2009

To be human in today's Japan, is it best to be 'no longer human'?

On June 22, playwright and novelist Hisashi Inoue appeared on national broadcaster NHK's television program, "Close Up Gendai." The occasion was the centenary of the birth of the novelist Osamu Dazai.
SOCCER / J. League
Jul 19, 2009

Miyamoto's sensational goal rescues Vissel

KAWASAKI — Former national team captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto struck with a spectacular overhead kick to rescue a point for Vissel Kobe in a 2-2 draw with Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday.
COMMENTARY
Jul 14, 2009

Why is Japan introverted?

The number of students from China, South Korea and other Asian countries studying at American or European universities have, in general, been increasing over the years. Although there was a time when such a tendency was checked due to the increasing complexity of entry procedures into the United States,...
SOCCER / J. League
Jul 13, 2009

Finke calls for change to J. League schedule

SAITAMA — Urawa Reds manager Volker Finke has urged the J. League to change the timing of its season to align with the European calendar.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jul 10, 2009

Gutai installation a winner in Venice

Yoko Ono is not the only historically significant Japanese artist included in biennale director Daniel Birnbaum's exhibition, "Making Worlds." In the newly renamed Palazzo delle Espozioni in the Giardini, Birnbaum has dedicated a room to works by members of the post World War II avant-garde Gutai Art...
CULTURE / Books
Jun 28, 2009

Seduced by the stereotype: a meeting and parting of East and West

A prequel to her autobiographical best-selling novel "Fear and Trembling," Amelie Nothomb's "Tokyo Fiancee" is a slight tale of love and doubting in Japan. The narrative overlaps the time period of "Fear and Trembling," recounting the years between Amelie's return to Japan from Belgium after 16 years...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
May 22, 2009

Collector steps into the void

How a psychiatrist from Yamagata came to possess one of the world's most important collections of Japanese contemporary art — meaning art made in the last 15 years — is almost embarrassingly simple. Ryutaro Takahashi had the savings and liked the art, so he bought it. As far as the 62-year- old is...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Apr 17, 2009

'Nisesatsu'

Counterfeiting is one of those movie crimes that, by the laws of script writing, is doomed to fail, like the overelaborate heists that end with the thieves either dead or captured and their loot billowing up in clouds of green from an open briefcase.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Apr 7, 2009

Prosecutors boast clout, success

Prosecutors are legal professionals who work for the state and represent the public interest. They have the authority to investigate any crime and indict and try alleged offenders.
MORE SPORTS / ICE TIME
Apr 5, 2009

Time for Mao to consider Morozov

She could have taken the easy way out, played it safe, and walked away with another medal at the world championships.
COMMENTARY
Mar 10, 2009

Toward a globalized Asia

As a result of globalization, intellectual frameworks and paradigms for forming cultural policies are shifting, especially regarding cultural activity in international contexts.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Feb 20, 2009

Snow yaks and yetis — an ice man cometh

Fans of Pop Surrealism were no doubt tickled pink to hear of their messiah, painter Mark Ryden, making an appearance in Tokyo for the opening of "The Snow Yak Show" at the Tomio Koyama Gallery. The solo exhibition features eight new works from the masterful painter, each exquisitely detailed in his characteristic...
MORE SPORTS / ICE TIME
Jan 11, 2009

Mao's poise under pressure proved decisive in 2008

Mao Asada capped off an incredible year by rallying for her third straight national title in Nagano on Dec. 27.
BUSINESS
Dec 30, 2008

Three insurers plan merger amid fall in auto policies

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group Holdings Inc., Aioi Insurance Co. and Nissay Dowa General Insurance Co. are in talks to create Japan's largest nonlife insurer, two sources said Monday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Dec 11, 2008

Was that the sound of the China art bubble bursting?

As quickly as it appeared, the Chinese contemporary art boom ended last week in Hong Kong.
MORE SPORTS
Dec 1, 2008

Defending champ Impulse crushes Oaks to advance to Japan X Bowl

The reigning X League champion Panasonic Electric Works Impulse came through at both sides of the ball as it crushed the Onward Oaks 44-17 in the second round of the Final 6 playoffs in front of a crowd of 4,267 fans at Yokohama Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
MORE SPORTS / ICE TIME
Nov 15, 2008

Mao begins defense of world crown in Paris

With the Grand Prix season at the halfway mark, and top rival Kim Yu Na of South Korea already having two victories in the bag, world champion Mao Asada finally takes to the ice for the first time in the new campaign when she skates at the Trophee Bompard in Paris this weekend.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Nov 13, 2008

Modern maki-e

I don't express otaku culture," says Tomotaka Yasui at the Megumi Ogita gallery in Ginza, where he is having a solo exhibition of three new works. "Now in foreign countries, all people hear about is otaku culture. I want to introduce other aspects of Japanese culture to other countries — Japanese style,...
SOCCER / J. League
Nov 9, 2008

Suganuma, Popo trigger Reysol rally against Grampus

KASHIWA, Chiba Pref. — A late two-goal salvo from Minoru Suganuma and Popo put a huge dent in Nagoya Grampus' J. League championship aspirations as Kashiwa Reysol came from behind to beat Dragan Stojkovic's title-chasing side 2-1 on Saturday.
CULTURE / Books
Oct 19, 2008

Paul Theroux backtracks through the world

GHOST TRAIN TO THE EASTERN STAR: On the Tracks of the Great Railway Bazaar, by Paul Theroux. Hamish Hamilton, 2008, 496 pp., £20 (cloth) Books about traveling in other people's footsteps are commonplace. We have Lesley Downer's "On the Road to the Deep North" and Patrick Symmes' motorbike journey through...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Oct 16, 2008

'Kunst Oktoberfest'

Central Tokyo

Longform

Rock group The Yellow Monkey played K-Arena Yokohama in June as part of a nationwide tour. Concerts are increasingly popular in the age of social media as users value in-person experiences.
Inside Japan’s arena boom: Sports, sound and city-building