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COMMENTARY / World
May 27, 2009

What the Tigers taught al-Qaida

WASHINGTON, THE WASHINGTON POST — It took a pitched two-hour gun battle with Sri Lankan special forces. Then a rocket launched into his armor-plated ambulance. But on May 18, death finally came to Velupillai Prabhakaran, leader of the Tamil Tigers separatist group.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 27, 2009

DPJ won't hike tax, Okada says

The consumption tax would likely not be raised for the next four years if the Democratic Party of Japan wins the upcoming general election, DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada declared in an interview Tuesday.
COMMENTARY
May 27, 2009

Cross-strait gap narrows

Two things became apparent during a recent visit to China. One was the vitality of the economy; the critics who fussed over China's recent export downturn overlooked Beijing's ability to shift to a domestic demand-oriented economy. The other was the importance of Taiwan in Beijing's thinking.
Japan Times
JAPAN / YOKOHAMA AT 150
May 26, 2009

The rise of Japan's No. 1 gateway

First in a series
MORE SPORTS
May 25, 2009

Buena Vista thrills in heart-pounding finish in 70th running of Oaks

Even the coolest racing fan, the most laid-back racing fan, even fans who are super athletes with resting heartbeats under 40 bpm, would have gotten a tremendous adrenaline rush and a workout watching the 70th running of the Oaks.
Reader Mail
May 24, 2009

Citizen Obama will be welcome

I support the view expressed by Naoshi Koriyama in his May 17 letter, "Real effects of an atomic bomb" (which was a response to my May 10 letter, "Obama should not visit Hiroshima"). Koriyama suggested a summit of U.S., Russian and other world leaders in Hiroshima to establish an international consensus...
Japan Times
LIFE
May 24, 2009

The beat goes on in Japan's jazz hub

As one of Japan's longest-standing maritime gateways to the world, Yokohama has absorbed many cultures from the West over the last 150 years — not least its abiding love of jazz.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
May 23, 2009

The sea whisperer

At 8:58 in the morning, I jump into my truck and head toward the beach, hoping I won't be late. On the way, a fisherman hails me. He jumps into the bed of my truck.
JAPAN
May 22, 2009

Principal apologizes for letting students go to New York

Takayoshi Maeda, principal of Senzoku Gakuen's junior and senior high schools, apologized Thursday for letting a group of students go to New York, where two of them contracted swine flu, but said he thought he lacked the authority to cancel the special trip.
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
May 22, 2009

Finn fest comes to town again

Over the last few years, a Finnish rock event has come to be a fixture on the May calendar in Tokyo. This time the event, supported by the Finnish Institute in Tokyo and put together by the music agency Creativeman, will be held on May 29 at Liquid Room in Ebisu.
COMMENTARY / World
May 22, 2009

Life of coalition extended

DELHI, OPINION ASIA — The outcome of the just-concluded 2009 national poll in India reflect continuity because the verdict was clearly in favor of an incumbent coalition government that presages political stability. Equally, the results are indicative of change because voters rejected regional parties,...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
May 22, 2009

Taico Club

Although it's gearing up to be a bonanza year for Japan's two main outdoor summer showcases, with Fuji Rock looking set to bounce back triumphantly after last year's lineup fiasco, where Primal Scream ended up playing two nights on the mainstage, and Summer Sonic celebrating it's 10th anniversary by...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
May 22, 2009

'Instant Numa'

Comedy is big box office in Hollywood now, with such comic odes to male immaturity as "Knocked Up" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" grossing north of $100 million. In Japan, on the other hand, making the locals laugh in a movie theater is still the hardest job in the industry — and the returns for comedies...
BUSINESS
May 22, 2009

Traders can get out of lay judge duty

Traders may be able to call upon guidelines from the Supreme Court to be excused from the new lay judge system, on grounds that they are critical to the functioning of financial markets.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / JAPAN TIMES BLOGROLL
May 20, 2009

Tokyo Photojournalist

Journalists everywhere are facing the twin challenges of recession and rapidly changing technology. With his blog, Tokyo Photojournalist, Tony McNicol showcases his work as a Japan-based freelance journalist and discusses photojournalism in the age of Flickr and Twitter. In this interview with The Japan...
COMMENTARY / World
May 19, 2009

Misguided standards of global governance

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — In the wake of last year's global financial meltdown, there is now widespread recognition that inadequate investor protection can significantly affect how stock markets and economies develop, as well as how individual firms perform.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHO'S WHO
May 19, 2009

Veteran Tokyo journalist convinced some things just never change

Having lived in Japan for 45 years, 70-year-old British journalist Henry Scott Stokes has seen Japan go through more changes than virtually any other foreign resident has.
JAPAN
May 19, 2009

H1N1 flu surges in Kansai

KOBE — The number of domestic swine flu cases reached 140 in Hyogo and Osaka as of Monday evening, prompting fears of an epidemic and leading to calls from the two governors to shut down all schools in the prefectures and for the central government to do more.
EDITORIALS
May 18, 2009

Another outrage in Myanmar

It was always a safe bet that the military junta that rules Myanmar was going to come up with some way to extend the house arrest of Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and leader of the prodemocracy forces in her country. The absurd charges leveled against her last week is proof yet again...
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
May 18, 2009

Another year, another title for Kings' Newton

Jeff Newton is a perfect 4-for-4.
JAPAN
May 18, 2009

Domestic H1N1 flu cases increase to 42

The number of domestic swine flu cases hit 42 on Sunday after 34 high school and college students as well as their family members and teachers in Osaka and Hyogo prefectures were confirmed to have been infected.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
May 17, 2009

Lay-judge drama, exotic real estate, and Kimutaku's 'Mr. Brain'

The new lay judge system starts on May 21, so it's not surprising that somebody decided to make a two-hour suspense drama to mark the occasion. However, the subtitle of "Hotei Suspense" ("Trial Suspense"; TBS, Mon., 9 p.m.) sounds like this might not be the best way to promote the new system: "Do you...
JAPAN
May 17, 2009

Kobe officials start limited measures to halt flu spread

KOBE — As Kobe confirmed the nation's first domestic swine flu infections, city officials instituted a limited number of measures to prevent further infections from developing, prompting Kansai-area residents to prepare for further possible outbreaks.
LIFE / Travel
May 17, 2009

Do's and don'ts when you hitch in the backside of Japan

Backpack: check. Thumbs: check. Sense of adventure: check.
Japan Times
JAPAN / MIXED MATCHES
May 16, 2009

Diplomacy in love, life and work

Aiko Tanaka, 27, met Olegs Orlovs, 27, for the first time when she visited his home country, Latvia, as a tourist with her family in 2002. Olegs was her tour guide.
EDITORIALS
May 15, 2009

Sign of weakness in Pyongyang?

North Korea, which was condemned in a statement by the United Nations Security Council's president for its April 5 launch of a long-range rocket, has taken a provocative attitude of late. It has announced its withdrawal from the six-party talks for the denuclearization of the country and kicked out International...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
May 15, 2009

Japan embraces the big cheese

Ask the experts what makes a good cheese, and at some point the conversation is going to get down to grass. After all, cheese comes from milk, and the best milk comes from animals raised on grass.

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