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COMMENTARY
Dec 11, 2007

The graduate school fiasco

Amid the controversy over Japanese students' falling scholastic standards, the most serious concern stems from the poor abilities of graduate students. This problem arose from the mistaken policy, introduced in 1990, of expanding graduate-school education.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Dec 11, 2007

Enlightened kimono and haute couture gone pop

Enlightened traditions The changing face of Roppongi — from sleaze capital to cultural center — continues with the opening of Shikunshi, a brand new gallery and contemporary kimono shop.
EDITORIALS
Dec 11, 2007

Strengthening civilian control of SDF

A panel consisting of the chief Cabinet secretary, the defense minister and experts has started discussions on reform of the Defense Ministry. It is to issue an interim report in February. Its establishment was preceded by two serious incidents: the Nov. 28 arrest of former Vice Defense Minister Takemasa...
Reader Mail
Dec 11, 2007

Baptized in the new ID system

As a long-term American resident, I thought I'd report on my experience with the new automated fingerprint recognition system at Narita airport for leaving and re-entering Japan.
JAPAN
Dec 11, 2007

Osaka governor candidates slow to emerge

OSAKA — Position Wanted: Popular and well-known public figure with an interest in local politics. Must have the ability to skillfully negotiate with central government bureaucrats and have good relations with the local business community.
JAPAN
Dec 11, 2007

Hawker's friends try new appeal

hands out leaflets Sunday in Tokyo's Harajuku district, urging people to come forward with any information that could lead to the arrest of Tatsuya Ichihashi, who is wanted in the March slaying of Lindsay Ann Hawker. YOSHIAKI MIURA PHOTO
Reader Mail
Dec 11, 2007

Oh's record viewed as tarnished

Regarding the Dec. 5 article "Oh honored by FSAJ for lifetime achievement": I was surprised to see that baseball great Sadaharu Oh was bestowed such an award by the Foreign Sportswriters Association of Japan without any apparent dissent. It's ironic -- given the unfairness that his teams perpetrated...
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Dec 11, 2007

Hemp OK as rope, not as dope

A Justice Ministry report released last month says the number of Cannabis Control Law violations set a record in 2006, while the amount of marijuana seized dropped to half from the previous year.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Dec 11, 2007

What was the biggest domestic news story of 2007?

Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WORDS TO LIVE BY
Dec 11, 2007

Tamegoro Sudo

Tamegoro Sudo, 50, is a movie producer and actor whose many friends in Tokyo's downtown Asakusa area provide him with the hilarious characters and plots in his movies. His five "Dekotora no Shu (Shu, the Dekotora Man)" movies star his favorite decorated trucks and his buddies, actors Sho Aikawa and Shingo...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Dec 11, 2007

'Eikaiwa' firms face Nova fallout

Too big, too fast, and with too little quality — that's the consensus view of many industry analysts on former language-school market leader Nova Corp., whose collapse left over 420,000 students and 4,000 non-Japanese instructors without an "eikaiwa" home.
BUSINESS
Dec 11, 2007

Machinery orders rise at double the expected pace

Machinery orders rebounded in October, rising at twice the pace economists had forecast, suggesting companies are confident sales in Asia and Europe will compensate for waning demand from the U.S.
BUSINESS
Dec 11, 2007

Merchants most pessimistic in four years: survey

Merchants in November became the most pessimistic they've been in four years as stagnant wages and record gasoline prices prompt consumers to pare spending.
BUSINESS
Dec 11, 2007

Lending growth slowdown continues

Bank lending failed to pick up in November even after machinery orders rose at twice the pace forecast by economists, suggesting companies may continue to shun debt for financing expansion.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 11, 2007

Cabinet pair issue car-top plea to horde at Shibuya

In a rare show of desperation, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura and Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba stood atop a van Sunday in the crowded main intersection of Tokyo's Shibuya district, urging public support to pass the special antiterrorism bill now stranded in the Upper House.
EDITORIALS
Dec 11, 2007

'Student' comes before 'athlete'

Sports are supposed to build a sound mind and a sound spirit. But recent marijuana incidents involving rugby players at Kanto Gakuin University raise the suspicion that many student athletes have forgotten the true meaning of sports. Rugby fans may ask: Where is the pride of rugby players whose tenets...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Dec 11, 2007

Shipping, martial arts, health costs

Heading home HB has been teaching English in Aomori Prefecture for over 20 years and is planning to retire in the U.S.
LIFE / Language
Dec 11, 2007

Yearend love stories cap a yucky 2007 for girls

Here's a toshinose renai hora banashi (yearend love relationship horror story) -- always a favorite topic of conversation during the season's more casual nomikai (drinking parties).

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’