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COMMENTARY
Dec 13, 2007

Something's not quite right about Hillary

LOS ANGELES — Hillary Rodham Clinton may well prove to be a great president of the United States, who knows? But as a presidential candidate she has a lot to be desired, and it's getting worse.
EDITORIALS
Dec 13, 2007

Spotlight on troubled cities

The internal affairs ministry has introduced four indicators to gauge the financial health of local governments based on a law enacted in June to prevent bankruptcy of local governments. In view of financial problems at local governments, like the bankruptcy of the city of Yubari in Hokkaido, the new...
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 13, 2007

Tehran's 'less is more' nuclear policy

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The recent United States National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), which reports that Iran once had a "nuclear weapons program" but suspended it in 2003, means that there will probably be no American attack on Iran during the Bush administration. How could America's president explain...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Dec 13, 2007

The printer who wished to paint

Masuo Ikeda's polymath abilities in the arts — ranging from printmaking to writing and ceramics — is mirrored in his diverse depictions of feminine eroticism. Posed provocatively in Ikeda's works are his versions of Venus, virgins, brides, generic types and femme fatales, the Madonna of the Annunciation...
Reader Mail
Dec 13, 2007

Teachers should watch their visas

In response to Gavin Moore's Dec. 9 letter, "Picking up after the collapse": It is truly appreciated that Moore spends his time helping former Nova students and teachers get in contact with each other. But he should be careful not to do the former Nova teachers a disservice.
JAPAN
Dec 13, 2007

Somali pirates free tanker; crew safe

Pirates released a Japanese tanker loaded with benzene and its 22 crew members apparently unharmed off the Somali coast Wednesday, a U.S. Navy spokesman said.
Reader Mail
Dec 13, 2007

Japanese studies alive Down Under

Regarding Roger Pulvers' Dec. 9 article, "A moment of opportunity for Australia's new PM": Pulvers should have sought information on the relative strengths of Japanese studies and Chinese studies at all levels of education in Australia (from the Japanese Studies Association of Australia or from professor...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 13, 2007

'What is Hollywood anyway?'

Ken Watanabe's latest film opens with an image of a polar bear resurfacing into the brilliant spring sunlight after months living underground. It's tempting to see the scene as a metaphor for a career that has alternated between stretches of intense, highly acclaimed work and long periods of hibernation....
BUSINESS
Dec 13, 2007

Mizuho to set up Saudi bank

Mizuho Financial Group Inc. plans to set up an investment bank in Saudi Arabia, home to the world's best-performing stock market this quarter.
BUSINESS
Dec 13, 2007

HSBC to open seven branches in Japan, hire 270 people

HSBC Holdings PLC said Wednesday it plans to open seven branches and hire 270 people in Japan by the end of 2008.
BUSINESS
Dec 13, 2007

Sharp sues Samsung in Seoul over LCD patents

Sharp Corp. sued Samsung Electronics Co. of South Korea on Wednesday, alleging patent violations for liquid crystal displays. It demanded damages and a halt to manufacturing and sales of affected TVs and display panels.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Dec 13, 2007

Freed by the war

Nationalism — especially in the Japanese context — routinely gets a bad press.
BASKETBALL
Dec 12, 2007

89ers' Whearty earns accolade

Sendai 89ers center Patrick Whearty, who guided his first-place team to a pair of wins last weekend, is the Circle K Sunkus Player of the Week, the bj-league announced on Tuesday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Dec 12, 2007

Guts' salary to be same in '08

Yomiuri Giants third baseman Michihiro "Guts" Ogasawara re-signed with the Central League club on Tuesday for an estimated annual salary of ¥380 million unchanged from this year. The signing was for the second year of his four-year contract after Ogasawara became the first player in Japanese baseball...
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Dec 12, 2007

Knicks, Bobcats, Kings bid for Varejao

NEW YORK — The Knicks were among three teams who made infertile sign-and-trade proposals to the Cavaliers regarding Anderson Varejao in the dreary days leading up to the Brazilian Bouncer inking a 3-year, $17.35 million offer sheet with the Bobcats, which Cleveland promptly matched.

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