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COMMENTARY / World
Jan 10, 2011

A plea to the prince for a practical way to Harmony

HONG KONG — Many years ago, on my second day working in London, I was invited to take tea with Prince Charles in Buckingham Palace. About half a dozen journalists met the young prince who was about to embark on his royal duties but who clearly hadn't a clue about how the rest of the world lived and...
EDITORIALS
Jan 9, 2011

An embarrassment of riches

Japan's rich past is of course a national treasure, but the sheer volume of items to be cared for and preserved for future generations can be overwhelming.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 8, 2011

The Kremlin plays with fire

MOSCOW — In Russia, 2010 ended with an unprecedented upsurge of ultranationalist violence. Images of rioting, fascist-minded thugs have dominated TV broadcasts.
JAPAN
Jan 8, 2011

Subculture inspires young male cross-dressing trend

He's a 52-year-old medical doctor who goes by the name Ayaka Ogawa when living out his cross-dressing fantasies of being a woman in her mid-40s.
EDITORIALS
Jan 7, 2011

Straits of local governments

Not only the central government but also the nation's local governments face financial difficulties. According to the former's local finance plan, the local governments' total revenue for fiscal 2011 will be ¥82.520 trillion, up 0.5 percent from fiscal 2010 or the first increase in three years.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Jan 7, 2011

Sasuga Bekkan: For a relaxed, stylish meal, use your noodle

Call us traditional, but when it comes to New Year it is not the Champagne and raucous party streamers we go for; it's the deep, clear fragrance of fine sake and the quiet tolling of ancient temple bells. Add some quality cuisine — Japanese, of course, with plenty of soba noodles — and we are ready...
COMMENTARY
Jan 5, 2011

Lost religious liberty worldwide

WASHINGTON — Many of us take religious liberty for granted. Unfortunately, this most fundamental freedom is not protected in many countries around the world.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Jan 5, 2011

The best of last year's games and looking forward to 2011

Last year was a rough one for Japan. China overtook the country as the world's second largest economy, yet another prime minister upped and resigned and the economy was stagnate as ever. Things weren't much better for the game industry.
COMMUNITY
Jan 4, 2011

Arudou's Alien Almanac: 2000-2010

No. 5: The Otaru onsen case ('99-2005)
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 4, 2011

The true nature of faith in a globalized age

LONDON — The number of people proclaiming their faith worldwide is growing. This is clearly so in the Islamic world. Whereas Europe's birthrate is stagnant, the Arab population is set to double in the coming decades, and the population will rise in many Asian Muslim-majority countries.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Jan 4, 2011

Arudou's Alien Almanac: 2010

No. 5: Renho joins Kan's Cabinet Japanese politicians with international roots are few but not unprecedented. But Taiwanese- Japanese Diet member Renho's ascension to the Cabinet as minister for administrative reforms has been historic. Requiring the bureaucrats to justify their budgets (famously asking...
JAPAN / AT JAPAN'S EXPENSE
Jan 3, 2011

Japan not alone in demographic conundrum

Second in a series
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Jan 1, 2011

Investigation of 'Japanese soul'; story behind 'Toire no Kamisama'; CM of the week: Shin Heparize Drink

The current movement toward a more insular society is believed to reflect a backlash against the postwar trend of opening up to the world. With economic growth a thing of the past, the Japanese are now more interested in Japan.
CULTURE / Music
Dec 31, 2010

Best Japanese/overseas albums of 2010: iLoud

Shinsei Kamattechan — "Tsumanne"
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 31, 2010

If U.S., China would listen

NEW YORK — In 2010, economic conflict between the United States and China became one of the most worrying global developments. The U.S. pressed China to revalue the renminbi, while China blamed the U.S. Federal Reserve policy of "quantitative easing" for currency market turmoil. The two sides are talking...
CULTURE / Music
Dec 31, 2010

'Kohaku' gig cements Arashi's star status

Wildly popular boy-band Arashi were in the eye of the storm at rehearsals for NHK's "Kohaku Uta Gassen" ("Red and White Song Battle"), the long-running "competition" that this year pits 22 popular male bands and singers against their female counterparts and will be broadcast live on New Year's Eve from...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 31, 2010

2010 top movies: 2-D vs. 3-D, actors vs. avatars

Even though it was released at the tail end of 2009, it was clearly "Avatar" that defined cinema in 2010. While this critic was lukewarm about it — "Dances With Wolves" in space, basically — plenty of nongeeky people I know truly loved it, so I've begun to reconsider my stance. One convincing argument...
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Dec 29, 2010

Fan friendly sumo — a step in the right direction for the NSK

As 2010 draws to a close, the world of sumo is changing, little by little. Step by step.
JAPAN
Dec 29, 2010

Prosecutors get case of deportee's death

Chiba police have turned over to prosecutors their case against 10 immigration officers suspected of being involved in the death of a Ghanaian deportee they had restrained and physically placed aboard a jetliner last March at Narita International Airport.
COMMUNITY
Dec 28, 2010

Teens give boost to volunteerism

American School in Japan alumnus Jonathan Higa and student Alex Heideman are setting an example for others interested in volunteerism by boosting the youth activities of Hands On Tokyo, a nonprofit organization offering community services.
EDITORIALS
Dec 27, 2010

Top prosecutor to resign

Mr. Hiroshi Obayashi, head of the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office, is to resign Monday over allegations that a member of the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office's special investigation squad tampered with evidence and that the Osaka prosecutor's two bosses tried to shield the prosecutor from accusations....
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Dec 26, 2010

Your money or your life: Where happiness lies

Year-end holidays always elevate hopes for happiness, but with expectations set high it is not surprising that they often seem to bring depression and loneliness instead.

Longform

After pandemic-era border regulations eased, Indian migrants began returning to Japan. Their population now stands at more than 50,000 across the country.
How remote work is rewriting the migrant experience in Japan