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JAPAN
Jul 6, 2007

First missile interceptor test planned for yearend

Japan will conduct its first test of the U.S.-developed SM-3 missile interceptor from a destroyer later this year, a Defense Ministry official said Thursday.
EDITORIALS
Jul 6, 2007

Lessons from the '97 crash

Ten years ago Monday, Asia was hit by an economic "bug" that wiped out billions of dollars of wealth, cost millions of jobs and shattered the confidence of a region. Those losses have largely been made up, and Asia today is in many ways stronger than it was in 1997. Although lessons have been learned,...
EDITORIALS
Jul 6, 2007

Hong Kong, 10 years later

It has been a decade since the British rolled up their flags and headed home, returning control of Hong Kong to the Chinese government on the mainland. The Special Administration Region, as Hong Kong is officially known, has shown resilience, weathering two crises, while its citizens have maintained...
Japan Times
JAPAN / PARTY LINE
Jul 6, 2007

Ozawa vows to exit if opposition camp fails to win majority

Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa declared Thursday that he would resign if the opposition camp fails to win a majority in the Upper House election July 29.
JAPAN
Jul 6, 2007

Abe advances pension cleanup dates as public fumes

Embattled Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced Thursday that he would move up the timetable for taking care of the public pension record-keeping debacle as public fury builds ahead of the crucial House of Councilors election later this month.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 6, 2007

'Koi Suru Nichiyobi Watashi Koi Shita'

In the 1990s the WOWOW satellite station financed a series of films under the banner J Movie Wars. With producer Takenori Sento at the helm, J Movies Wars became a fertile breeding ground for young directing talent, including Naomi Kawase, who won the Cannes Camera d'Or prize in 1997 for her debut feature...
BUSINESS
Jul 6, 2007

France deadline set for GFI: Fujitsu

Fujitsu Ltd., Japan's biggest computer-services provider, said France's financial regulator imposed an Aug. 8 deadline for its bid to take over GFI Informatique SA.
CULTURE / Music
Jul 6, 2007

Live Earth

"Eco-cute!" was 24-year-old J-pop superidol Kumi Koda's response, according to organizers, when asked to perform at the Tokyo leg of Live Earth, a series of concerts taking place at nine cities around the world on July 7 to encourage music fans to take action against global warming. As a rallying cry,...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jul 6, 2007

Crystal Kay is all yours

"I've been on the Crystal Kay train," says the R&B diva sitting across the table. Twenty-one-year-old Crystal Kay isn't speaking figuratively, or in some sort of existential code; she's referring instead to Tokyo's Yamanote Line, whose carriages were recently plastered inside and out with her visage...
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / WALKING THE WARDS
Jul 6, 2007

A very red-light district

You won't find many red lights larger than the enormous paper lantern at Taito Ward's Sensoji, or Asakusa Kannon Temple.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film / SHORT TAKES
Jul 6, 2007

James' Journey to Jerusalem

Director: Ra'anan Alexandrowicz Language: Hebrew, English and Zulu
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film / SHORT TAKES
Jul 6, 2007

La Demoiselle D'honneur (The Bridesmaid)

Director: Claude Chabrol Language: French
BUSINESS
Jul 6, 2007

Hostile bids likely to up MBOs: Carlyle exec

Management buyouts in Japan may increase as companies rush to fend off hostile takeovers, Carlyle Group's top executive in the nation said.
CULTURE / Music
Jul 6, 2007

The White Stripes "Icky Thump"

With his penchant for meaningless self-indulgence and fickle obsession with all that's elemental about pop music, Jack White maintains a certain distance from even his most ardent fans. I have less of a problem with Meg White's limited drumming than I do with The White Stripes' lack of bass guitar, but...
CULTURE / Film
Jul 6, 2007

Harry Potter flies into Tokyo

Last week 17-year-old Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe was in Roppongi Hills in Tokyo for the premiere of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" and during a news conference he chatted — with producer David Heyman — about the new movie, which opens July 20 in Japan.
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jul 6, 2007

Six things you must do this summer

Summer heat getting you down? Don't sweat it. Whether the weather is friend or foe, there are plenty of ways to add some variety to the coming months.
CULTURE / Music
Jul 6, 2007

Ohta-san "Ukulele Bossa Nova"

The man who helped make the ukulele more than a Hawaiian curiosity continues to show listeners what the four-stringed instrument can do on his latest album. Here, Ohta-san — the stage name of 72-year-old, Honolulu-born Herb Ohta — covers Antonio Carlos Jobim songs, in tribute to the late Brazilian...
BUSINESS
Jul 6, 2007

Inpex receives Aboriginal consent to build Aussie LNG plant

Inpex Holdings Inc., Japan's largest oil explorer, won the consent of Aboriginal landowners in Australia's northwest to proceed with plans for a liquefied natural gas plant.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 6, 2007

Mazda revamps mainstay Demio

Mazda Motor Corp. rolled out its fully revamped Demio compact Thursday, hoping that its best-selling car, remodeled for the first time in five years, will put the brakes on plunging domestic car sales.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 6, 2007

'Confession of Pain'

There are some things at which the Asian male excels and that includes looking exceptionally fatigued. Not attractively or glamorously so but plain, I-just-got-off-a-16-hour-shift fatigue enhanced by the discomfort of public transportation and too much nicotine.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 6, 2007

'Glastonbury'

As the summer festival season draws closer in Japan, now is a good time to take a moment and recall the festival that has served as an inspiration for so many others (including Fuji Rock Festival). No, I'm not talking about Woodstock, which is a great example of how to run a nonsustainable event in which...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Jul 6, 2007

Eating your way along the coast

The ocean sparkles; the beach beckons; a breeze stirs the appetite. And the Shonan coast — an hour or so south of Tokyo by train — looks mighty appealing, especially the secluded inlets down the peninsula in genteel Hayama. That's where you'll find the Food File.
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jul 6, 2007

Japan's favorite violinist

Kyoko Takezawa, one of today's foremost violinists, celebrates 20 years since making her concert debut with a series of recitals featuring an all-romantic, modern program. Titled "A Trip Around the World on the Violin," the tour takes in Nagano, Osaka and Tokyo from July 8-13.
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jul 6, 2007

An American Idol takes direct action for charity

Taking place this weekend in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, International Heart Expo 2007 is a charity event that aims to take "direct action" to support children in developing countries. Volunteers from Japan and abroad will participate.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji