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BUSINESS
May 27, 2008

Daiwa to sell Shariah-compliant fund

SINGAPORE (Kyodo) Singapore's stock and derivatives exchange has teamed up with the Daiwa securities house to offer an investment fund based on Japan's top 100 companies whose activities comply with Islamic laws, the two sides announced Monday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WORDS TO LIVE BY
May 27, 2008

Osamu Miyawaki

Osamu Miyawaki 80, is the founder of Kaiyodo, a world-famous maker of collectable figures and tiny statues that are the epitome of Japanese monozukuri ("making things," signifying superb manufacturing). Kaiyodo's super-deformed characters, many from manga and anime, are easily recognizable for their...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
May 27, 2008

Arbitrary rulings equal bad PR

Getting to know Japan is hard work: a complicated language, cultural esoterica, mixed messages about prudent paths to take. People who find their way around and assimilate deserve kudos and respect.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
May 27, 2008

Is it easy for foreigners to integrate into Japanese society?

T. Mutoh Dentist, 49 I think it's easy; there's not much prejudice here. When you consider some places, where people of certain backgrounds won't even eat dinner together, Japan is almost like heaven, right?
JAPAN
May 27, 2008

Nuke flattop fight goes to high court

People seeking to block a nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier from being permanently based in Japan took their lawsuit to a high court Monday.
JAPAN / G8 SUMMIT 2008
May 27, 2008

Kobe meet fails to set 2020 goals

KOBE — Environment ministers from the Group of Eight industrialized nations ended a three-day meeting in Kobe on Monday united on the need for a long-term goal of at least halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
EDITORIALS
May 27, 2008

Sustainable rural municipalities

An internal affairs study panel has called for the creation of "autonomous permanent settlement areas" around core cities in the countryside. The idea, submitted in a report to internal affairs minister Hiroya Masuda, is aimed at stemming population outflows from rural areas.
EDITORIALS
May 27, 2008

Common sense on eating

The recently issued fiscal 2007 government white paper on agriculture conveys a strong sense of crisis over Japan's food supply, stating that "unprecedented changes are taking place." The government must take measures to increase domestic food production and stabilize food imports, and consumers should...
BUSINESS
May 27, 2008

MMC to cut workers in U.S. as sales drop

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. will eliminate 105 factory jobs by August at a U.S. plant as it cuts production on slowing sales there.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 27, 2008

Treasury exec: Calm returning

A U.S. Treasury official said Monday in Tokyo the global credit crunch is gradually easing following efforts by the Federal Reserve and other central banks.
BUSINESS
May 27, 2008

Kepco eyes Aussie uranium stake

A uranium mining venture led by Kansai Electric Power Co said it will buy stakes in two exploration blocks in Australia in a bid to boost supplies of the ore.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
May 27, 2008

Law bends over backward to allow 'fuzoku'

Some desires money can't gratify, but for appetites of the flesh, there are ways in Japan to legally sate one's carnal cravings.
COMMENTARY
May 26, 2008

Second wind for cigarette sales

At the initiative of the Finance Ministry, the government has introduced a system to verify the age of anyone using a cigarette vending machine. But the system reportedly is not widely used.
JAPAN / G8 COUNTDOWN
May 26, 2008

Eat less beef and help the planet, G8 is told

KOBE — Experts gathering for the Group of Eight environment ministers meeting in the city known for its high-quality beef have a suggestion on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: Eat less beef.
MORE SPORTS
May 26, 2008

Gutsy showing leads Tall Poppy to win in 69th running of the Oaks

Fans were kept waiting over a quarter of an hour for a decision on the Oaks on Sunday at Fuchu after Tall Poppy squeezed her way up the ranks to the top of the field with some 50 meters to go and held on for the eventually acknowledged win of the Oaks' 69th running.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
May 26, 2008

In a world lacking heroes against poverty and inflation, Don Quixote, where are you?

As surely as night follows day, credit crunches are followed by recessions, if not great depressions. Whether we are on the verge of a 21st century version of the 1930s, however, still remains to be seen.
EDITORIALS
May 26, 2008

An onion barely peeled

The Upper House Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee last week questioned a defense equipment trader under oath about his business and other ties. Mr. Motonobu Miyazaki, former managing director of Yamada Corp. and founder of Nihon Mirise Corp., has been indicted on a charge of bribing former Vice Defense...
JAPAN / G8 COUNTDOWN
May 26, 2008

G8 meet sidesteps midterm gas cuts

KOBE — Environment ministers from the Group of Eight countries meeting Sunday in Kobe apparently sidestepped the major issue of setting midterm greenhouse-gas reduction targets for 2020 due to a divide between developing and industrialized countries over specific targets.
COMMENTARY
May 26, 2008

A winner that Beijing would be wise to cheer

LOS ANGELES — Not every election has significant international repercussions, to be sure. Some are scarcely noteworthy even in the places where they occur. But in March there was a monster piece of an election in East Asia, and early last week the landslide winner was celebrated in happy parties all...
COMMENTARY / World
May 26, 2008

Can India and China dance?

TRIVANDRUM, India — It is fashionable these days, particularly in the West, to speak of India and China in the same breath. These are the two big countries said to be taking over the world, the new contenders for global eminence after centuries of Western domination, the Oriental answer to generations...
COMMENTARY / World
May 26, 2008

Israel eyes post-American multipolar world

Israel is one of the only places in the world where U.S. President Georges W. Bush can be greeted with real enthusiasm and even affection. The most unpopular American president in recent history thus relished his recent triumphal welcome in Jerusalem, where he was the guest of honor of the International...
EDITORIALS
May 26, 2008

Jammed door to Myanmar

More than three weeks since Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar, the military junta has finally decided to open its door to a larger international relief effort and to allow in aid experts "of all nationalities." More than 130,000 people are believed dead or missing because of the cyclone — compared...
JAPAN / AFRICA LIFELINE
May 26, 2008

Tokyo ready to shift foreign-aid focus from Asia to Africa

Japan is embarking on a diplomatic sea change.
SOCCER / World cup
May 25, 2008

Tamada's 21st-minute tally gives Japan victory over Cote d'Ivoire

Japan got its warm-up for next month's crucial World Cup qualifiers off to a successful start with an impressive 1-0 win over Cote d'Ivoire on Saturday.

Longform

Ichiro Suzuki, one of the most iconic players in NPB and MLB history, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame with 99.7% of the vote.
With Hall of Fame induction, Ichiro makes himself heard loud and clear