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Reader Mail
Jan 15, 2008

Out of time, out of place

Regarding the Jan. 9 article "Clear apology to sex slaves demanded": U.S. Rep. Mike Honda (California Democrat), who was in Tokyo on Jan. 8, once again belabored his favorite subject. Japan has periodically expressed regret over this issue. Their remorse is more than sufficient.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Jan 15, 2008

Whatever happened to Yamagishi?

Hideyuki Ikuhara's main responsibility at Yamagishi is feeding the pigs. It's a full-time job, but he expects no salary for his efforts. In fact, he quit his work developing high-tech televisions and gave up all his possessions for this lifestyle — and he couldn't be happier.
Reader Mail
Jan 15, 2008

Check on overseas phone charges

Are phone companies in the habit of failing to tell their customers about what charges they have to pay?
Reader Mail
Jan 15, 2008

Foot-dragging on smoking ban

Regarding the Jan. 8 article "Half of taxis now nonsmoking as 95 percent of Tokyo cabs join ban": If the effort really is "to prevent health damage from secondhand smoke," when will Japan join the rest of the civilized world and make all restaurants and bars 100 percent nonsmoking? How about protecting...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jan 15, 2008

In the wake of recent grisly crimes, is Japan still a safe place to live?

Japan Times
Reference / SO WHAT THE HECK IS THAT
Jan 15, 2008

Bento grass

Dear Alice,
LIFE / Language
Jan 15, 2008

Kyushu dialect, golf prince top 2007 buzzwords

The end of every year, publishers and other media organizations love to turn out lists of people, things and words that made the news. Back in 1984, publisher Jiyu Kokumin-sha organized a poll to recognize and award the Ryukogo Taisho (Buzzwords of the Year).
EDITORIALS
Jan 15, 2008

Taiwan votes for change

Legislative elections in Taiwan have given the opposition Nationalist (KMT) party a two-thirds majority and handed President Chen Shui-bian a stunning rejection. Voters turned their back on Mr. Chen's confrontational politics and his focus on national identity over practical measures to improve the lives...
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jan 15, 2008

Japan, Brazil mark a century of settlement, family ties

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of a Japanese migration to Brazil. In 1908, hundreds of farmers moved to the South American country, dreaming of making their fortunes there before returning to their hometowns.
BASKETBALL
Jan 14, 2008

Motivated Apache complete sweep

Never underestimate the power of motivation.
EDITORIALS
Jan 14, 2008

Refueling law enacted with regrets

By using a special provision in the Constitution, the ruling parties have voted into law a bill that enables the resumption of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean for antiterrorism operations in and around Afghanistan. The mission is expected to resume in mid-February....
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Jan 14, 2008

Business scandals teach lesson few in Japan learn

Without a doubt, 2007 will go down as an "annus horribilis" for many industries in Japan, particularly the food industry. The list of scandals and crises last year was long indeed, and began right in January with the discovery that crowd-pleasing confectioner Fujiya had been mislabeling products for...
COMMENTARY
Jan 14, 2008

Public's will to bear the cost

Most Japanese industry executives contend that the proposed environment tax should not be introduced on the grounds that it would slow the growth of gross domestic product. In my opinion, this argument is totally mistaken.

Longform

Once smoky, male-dominated spaces, today's net cafes, like Kaikatsu Club, are working to make their operations more attractive to women customers.
The second life of Japan's net cafes