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JAPAN
Dec 22, 2008

Site started for European researchers

The Network of European Researchers in Japan has launched a Web site to provide information to European researchers based here.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Dec 22, 2008

Dollar must be more than convenient to run global economy

The dollar is strengthening against all major currencies except the yen. That the currency of the nation where the subprime crisis originated — and where the Big Three automakers are begging for federal help to survive — should get stronger appears strange.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Dec 22, 2008

WBC organizers happy with event's progress

There's talk of revenge ahead of the 2009 World Baseball Classic and it's music to the organizers' ears.
BASKETBALL
Dec 22, 2008

Camara, Grouses complete series sweep over mercurial Broncos

The Toyama Grouses recorded their first back-to-back wins of the season on Sunday, posting a 78-69 victory over host Saitama Broncos.
EDITORIALS
Dec 21, 2008

Walking the body electric

At long last, scientific researchers in Tokyo are looking into the city's greatest surplus — pedestrians. Panels installed at Tokyo station and in Shibuya have started to generate electricity from human steps, enough energy in its research phase to illuminate Christmas lights and display boards. These...
COMMENTARY
Dec 21, 2008

Nail a North Korea deal by going to the top

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — In a few months a former U.S. president — Jimmy Carter or Bill Clinton — may be asked to travel to North Korea in pursuit of military denuclearization. Or it will be new President Barack Obama.
SOCCER / World cup
Dec 21, 2008

Blatter lauds England 2018 World Cup bid

FIFA president Sepp Blatter praised England as a strong candidate to host the 2018 World Cup, adding he expects a competitive bidding process.
EDITORIALS
Dec 21, 2008

Does a cell-phone ban educate?

A newly proposed regulation from the Osaka prefectural government would ban students from using cell phones at primary, middle and high schools. The draft proposal of the government's Education Resuscitation Council, established by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, also recommends banning cell phones,...
Reader Mail
Dec 21, 2008

Making criminals think twice

Darryl McGarry's Dec. 14 letter, "Less paranoia about government," made for an amusing read. McGarry seems to believe that banning guns leads to less crime. The reverse appears to be true in cities like Chicago and Washington. Britain has far more gun restrictions than America, yet London is now a more...
SOCCER
Dec 21, 2008

United ready for final push

YOKOHAMA — Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is bracing for a bruising Club World Cup final encounter with Ecuador's LDU Quito on Sunday, but is confident his side can bring the world title back to Old Trafford for the second time in the club's history.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 21, 2008

European left is sidelined by contradictions

PARIS — The riots that have rampaged across Greece may have many causes, but one that is rarely mentioned is the fracturing of the Greek left into George Papandreou's traditional socialist party, PASOK, and an increasingly radicalized faction that refuses all accommodation with either the European...
Reader Mail
Dec 21, 2008

Give cannabis room to grow

Regarding the Nov. 28 article "Cops target online weed seed ads": The cannabis plant is the single most usable plant known to mankind. The fiber of the cannabis plant makes an extraordinarily tough fabric, as for sailcloth, or it can be made into all sorts of garments, some surprisingly soft and others...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 21, 2008

Toy company CEOs dress up to play Santa

To help boost the sagging toy market, toy company executives transformed themselves into one-day Santa Clauses on Saturday to promote their products for Christmas.
Reader Mail
Dec 21, 2008

Language skills needed at stations

Articles this fall have suggested that Japan needs to work harder to become one of the top tourist countries. One report said Japan needs to focus on language and "consider how to present itself" to reach the top. I agree, but I still believe that Japan's tourism agency is progressing.

Longform

An illustration features the Japanese signs for "ganbare" (good luck) and the Deaflympics, which will be held between Nov. 15 and 26.
A century of Deaf sport finds its moment in Tokyo