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EDITORIALS
Aug 8, 2007

Opportunities for baby boomers

The first group of 6.7 million baby boomers, born in the years 1947-49, have reached or will reach the retirement age of 60 this year. About 3.6 million of them — almost equivalent to the population of Yokohama — are expected to retire as salaried workers in 2007-09. As they reach the age of 60,...
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 8, 2007

Should Abe stay or go? Japan debates the LDP's electoral defeat

WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has told the Japanese public that despite his ruling coalition government's devastating defeat in the July 29 Upper House elections, he will do "the responsible thing": He will stay on as the party's leader and as Japan's prime minister.
Reader Mail
Aug 8, 2007

Japan, U.S. natural allies

Chan Chang Eng's July 25 letter, "U.S.- Japan ties of convenience," is a typical outpouring from a citizen of Singapore. Safe in the prosperity that the U.S. security umbrella has provided since World War II, Eng spouts the Sino-apologia sanctioned by Singapore's patriarchal government.
Reader Mail
Aug 8, 2007

Another quack therapy let loose

The July 31 article "Lymph-drainage therapy uses massage to cleanse the body" promotes a "therapy" that does not have one shred of scientific evidence behind it. It is practiced by people who "listen to the flow of lymph" as if it can actually be heard.
JAPAN
Aug 8, 2007

Eda takes helm of Upper House

For the first time in nearly half a century, the House of Councilors has an opposition lawmaker as its president.
EDITORIALS
Aug 8, 2007

Strengthening the Antimonopoly Law

A private advisory body to the chief Cabinet secretary has recommended strengthening the Antimonopoly Law. Such a move that will benefit consumers and businesses — by assuring the supply of good-quality products and services at reasonable prices — is welcome. The Fair Trade Commission and the ruling...
BUSINESS
Aug 8, 2007

Balancing the budget by 2011 'difficult': Omi

Finance Minister Koji Omi said Tuesday it will be difficult to balance the budget by 2011, but the government will continue to reduce spending.
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Aug 8, 2007

How is it our time seems to speed up?

"I never think of the future; I find it comes soon enough."
LIFE / Digital / IGADGET
Aug 8, 2007

Cell phones may turn into boomboxes

Batteries just don't generate the respect they deserve. Imagine how much poorer your lifestyle would be if all of the miniature power cells you use just up and disappeared. Panasonic, as one of the many companies whose profit margins very much rest on these humble gadgets, knows their value and often...
BUSINESS
Aug 8, 2007

191,200 join KDDI

KDDI Corp. added 16 percent more customers in July, led by subscriptions to its high-speed network offering digital television and music downloads.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 8, 2007

A weak U.S. means a weakened Europe

PRAGUE — America's power has been so overwhelming for so long that many think it has survived George W. Bush's presidency unscathed. That this is untrue is demonstrated by those, from Russia's Vladimir Putin and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez to Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, who...
BUSINESS
Aug 8, 2007

Interest rates fine, IMF says

Interest rates in Japan, the lowest among the major economies, are appropriate and the central bank needn't rush to raise them because inflation isn't a threat, the International Monetary Fund said.
BUSINESS
Aug 8, 2007

Supreme Court backs Bull-Dog in Steel appeal

Warren Lichtenstein's Japanese fund on Tuesday lost its appeal against a Tokyo High Court ruling that said Bull-Dog Sauce Co.'s takeover defense was lawful, according to Kenichi Sadaka, the Andersen Mori lawyer representing the fund.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Aug 8, 2007

Mountain slug

* Japanese name: Yamanamekuji * Scientific name: Incilaria fruhstorferi * Description: Growing up to 20 cm long — bigger than a baby's arm — this is surely no slug, but a monster; a specter from a Hayao Miyazaki movie come to life. If you see one, be prepared to photograph it next to your hand,...

Longform

Mamoru Iwai, stationmaster of Keisei Ueno Station, says that, other than earthquake-proofing, the former Hakubutsukan-Dobutsuen (Museum-Zoo) Station has remained untouched.
Inside Tokyo's 'phantom' stations — and the stories they tell