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Reader Mail
Jun 26, 2008

A name for indentured servitude

Why are letters like Brian Clacey's on June 22, "Give guest workers a set contract," even published? Xenophobe Clacey does not live in Japan and his ideas are appallingly ignorant and selfish. Why not just call "fixed contracts" indentured servitude coupled with expulsion — should the foreign worker...
CULTURE / Art / INSIDE ART
Jun 26, 2008

Few grab the reins that government set free

Rarely has a law with such potentially far-reaching consequences been greeted with such indifference and, apparently, had so little effect.
Reader Mail
Jun 26, 2008

Military ships 'safer' than tankers

Kiroku Hanai's June 23 article, "Flattop can forget about a haven from controversy," is another example of selective journalism attempting to discredit the U.S. military or unreasonably worry citizens here.
EDITORIALS
Jun 26, 2008

Social security is calling

The People's Conference on Social Security, established on Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's initiative, has handed him an interim report on how to reform Japan's social security system. The group, composed of 15 members including business and labor leaders, academicians and social welfare experts, is expected...
BUSINESS
Jun 26, 2008

Unhappy shareholders start gunning for underperforming managers

A year ago, executives at publicly traded companies defeated all 85 proposals put forward at general shareholders' meetings by investors seeking higher returns. Shareholders are going after the managers themselves this year.
COMMENTARY
Jun 25, 2008

Zimbabwe: opposition right to cut its losses

Morgan Tsvangirai was right to withdraw from the runoff presidential "election" in Zimbabwe on Sunday. Thousands of his supporters have been kidnapped and tortured by President Robert Mugabe's thugs since the campaign started, and 86 have been murdered already.
COMMENTARY
Jun 25, 2008

What to expect from North Korea

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently announced that North Korea will soon release its much anticipated (and long overdue) "complete and correct declaration" of all its nuclear activities. In return, the Bush administration will remove Pyongyang from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list and...
BUSINESS
Jun 25, 2008

JT execs face shareholders' ire over food poisonings, tax talk

Shareholders of Japan Tobacco Inc. peppered management with questions Tuesday over the food-poisoning scandal involving pesticide-tainted frozen "gyoza" dumplings made in China.
JAPAN
Jun 25, 2008

'Beni' maker aims to revive rare lipstick

It's a traditional lip paint made from 1 percent beauty painstakingly polished to an iridescent shine.
EDITORIALS
Jun 25, 2008

More doctors needed

A private advisory body for health minister Yoichi Masuzoe has urged the government to increase its quota for medical students. The recommendation comes amid reports that pregnant women, children and rural residents are having difficulties getting medical treatment. The government should implement this...

Longform

Bear attacks have dominated Japanese news headlines in recent months, with 13 people so far having been killed by the animals.
Japan’s bears have been on their killing spree for more than 100 years