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Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Aug 1, 2009

Baseball expert lines up new book on mobsters in Japan

Robert Whiting is best known as an expert on baseball. But he's much more than that. He's also an expert on mobsters in Japan and the sound a radar site makes when it is "spotted" by a U2 spy plane.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 31, 2009

'Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian'

What to say about "Night At The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" (opening locally as "Night Museum 2"), the latest outbreak of Hollywood sequelitis? Well, I can tell you with all confidence that leading man Ben Stiller is just as funny here as he was in "Meet The Parents 2" or "Madagascar 2." Or that...
COMMENTARY
Jul 31, 2009

Next word on intervention

WATERLOO, Ontario — The 1990s was a decade of conscience-shocking atrocities in Rwanda, the Balkans and East Timor. Unilateral actions by India and Vietnam to end atrocities in the 1970s had drawn international opprobrium and condemnation. The crises of the 1990s provoked agonized soul-searching on...
JAPAN / PARTY POWERS
Jul 29, 2009

New Komeito chief slams DPJ policies, rules out alliance

Citing the Democratic Party of Japan's "unreliable" policies, New Komeito chief Akihiro Ota says joining hands with the DPJ is unlikely even if the largest opposition force wins the Aug. 30 election.
EDITORIALS
Jul 29, 2009

DPJ's election promises

The Democratic Party of Japan has announced its manifesto for the Aug. 30 Lower House election. It has two pillars: scheduled measures to directly help households and steps to end bureaucracy-led politics.
COMMENTARY
Jul 29, 2009

Don't waste good intentions

When I read former Vice Foreign Minister Ryohei Murata's remarks in the newspaper, disclosing a secret agreement on port visits by U.S. ships carrying nuclear weapons, I was excited and hopeful that there would be new developments on this issue.
EDITORIALS
Jul 29, 2009

New ambassador ready

When U.S. President Barack Obama nominated Mr. John V. Roos as the next American ambassador to Japan, some Japanese were apparently perplexed because the California-based lawyer was almost unknown to them and a Washington "Beltway" outsider.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 2009

Foreign reserves to stay in dollars: DPJ's Okada

The Democratic Party of Japan has no plans to diversify the country's foreign reserves away from the dollar if it wins next month's election, DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada said.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jul 28, 2009

Japan's funerals deep-rooted mix of ritual, form

Funerals in Japan incorporate a unique mixture of religion, tradition, culture, ritual and geography that to the outsider may appear perplexing.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Jul 27, 2009

Dollar beauty may be fading but it still tops currency pageant list

The Group of Eight countries and the outreach participants in the July 8-10 summit in L'Aquila, Italy, discussed promotion of an international currency system that is stable and functions well. But it remains an elusive goal to find concrete ways of reforming the system.
Japan Times
LIFE
Jul 26, 2009

China vets shock archivist with 'horrible things they did'

In 1999, Sinitirou Kumagai dropped out of university, got on his motorbike and set out to begin what he now calls his "life work" — traveling from one end of Japan to the other to record the testimonies of former soldiers stationed in China between the 1930s and the end of World War II in 1945.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 25, 2009

Obama jeopardizing nuclear deal with India

LONDON — Even as all eyes were focused on the issues of global economic revival, world trade and climate change, the Group of Eight sprung a major surprise on India during its summit at L'Aquila. The G8 statement on nonproliferation committed the advanced industrial world to implement on a national...
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jul 24, 2009

Dinosaurs to invade the nation

Makuhari Messe International Convention Complex in Chiba will be home to a replica of the world's largest dinosaur skeleton until Sept. 27. The Giant Mamenchisaurus, which is an impressive 35 meters long, is one of the main attractions of Dinosaur Expo 2009 — The Miracle of Deserts. While the mammoth...
JAPAN
Jul 22, 2009

Aso pulls plug on Lower House

Prime Minister Taro Aso played his ultimate trump card Tuesday and dissolved the Lower House, turning a deaf ear to vociferous opponents of the move from within his own party.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 22, 2009

The world's best one-stop shop for Nihongo

"The number of people learning Japanese has increased and is currently estimated to be more than 3 million worldwide," says Nobuyuki Suzuki, deputy manager of a very special store in Tokyo.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Jul 19, 2009

Famous sports rivalries, cats' irresistible cuteness, and a handy locksmith

The annals of sports are filled with great rivalries, usually between athletes on opposing sides, but sometimes the competition is intramural. This week, a special two-hour edition of "Yume wo Katachi ni" ("Making Shapes of Dreams"; TBS, Mon., 9 p.m.) will look at famous rivalries in Japanese sports....
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.
EDITORIALS
Jul 18, 2009

Expanded relief inadequate

The Diet on July 8 enacted a special law offering financial relief to more sufferers of Minamata disease, with the support of the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito as well as the opposition Democratic Party of Japan. Under the law, anyone showing one or more of the following...
JAPAN
Jul 18, 2009

Aso ducks ouster bid: dissolution Tuesday

After days of chaos within the Liberal Democratic Party, the movement to oust Prime Minister Taro Aso as party president effectively failed Friday, setting the stage for a Lower House dissolution Tuesday and a general election Aug. 30.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jul 18, 2009

Tigers' bats heat up in ninth vs. Giants

Takashi Toritani and the Hanshin Tigers taught Yomiuri Giants fans a valuable lesson during their most recent meeting.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 18, 2009

German genetics law a double-edged sword

MELBOURNE — In April, Germany's parliament placed limits on the use of genetic diagnosis. Is the new German law a model for other countries to follow as we grapple with the ethical issues posed by our growing knowledge of human genetics?

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