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CULTURE / Music
Jan 26, 2007

The Good, The Bad and The Queen "The Good, The Bad and The Queen"

Just shy of 40, Blur/Gorillaz vocalist Damon Albarn has ticked most of the boxes of middle-age rock star cliches: He's done film scores ("Ravenous"), got "down" with ethnic music (2002's "Mali Music") and he's flirted with politics (he's a prominent antiwar activist). The Good, The Bad and The Queen...
BUSINESS
Jan 26, 2007

Trade surplus soars 22.8% on exports, cheaper oil

The merchandise trade surplus expanded 22.8 percent in December to 1.11 trillion yen from the previous year, the Finance Ministry said Thursday, citing growing exports led by cars and declining crude oil prices.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 26, 2007

Empathizing with an enemy

LOS ANGELES -- In a resonant scene from film director Clint Eastwood's "Letters From Iwo Jima," soldiers find a letter on the person of a just-deceased enemy. Upon learning that the letter is from his mother, sharing her hopes and fears and wisdom, they are haunted by their shared humanity with this...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 26, 2007

'Ai no Rukeichi'

Japan, it has often been noted, has traditionally been a paradise for men. Boys could once look forward to a life of being waited on by self-sacrificing women -- first mothers, then wives and, at the enfeebled end, daughters-in-law, while enjoying the varied erotic pleasures of the mizushobai (water...
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Jan 26, 2007

Jewel of the north country

At its northern tip, Japan's main island of Honshu sprouts what looks like a massive pair of pincers that reach up into the Tsugaru Strait toward Hokkaido. The point at the southern end of Hokkaido that the twin peninsulas seem to be homing in on is the port of Hakodate.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 26, 2007

'Election'

"Election" is so hard-boiled you'll need a shovel to crack its surface. It's so male they should have a warning sign for female audiences. And not just any male either, but the silent, unexpressive, tradition-entrenched ASIAN male. Directed by Hong Kong actionmeister Johnny To, "Election" reveals the...
EDITORIALS
Jan 26, 2007

Mr. Abe's real test

The regular Diet session, which started Thursday, will be an important test for both Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa. It is a prelude to local elections set for many parts of the country in April and to a watershed Upper House election in July.
MORE SPORTS
Jan 25, 2007

NFL Japan raising level of play

A quarterback throws the ball, but it doesn't necessarily have a beautiful spiral and barely reaches a wide receiver who is 25 yards away.
JAPAN
Jan 25, 2007

Kyuma: U.S. invasion of Iraq a mistake

The U.S. invasion of Iraq was a mistake based on a faulty assumption, Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma said Wednesday in a rare criticism from Washington's closest Asian ally.
COMMENTARY
Jan 25, 2007

Abe's aggressive agenda

HONOLULU -- There is no mistaking Prime Minister Abe Shinzo's determination to transform Japan's foreign and security policies, and reassert itself in the world. Yet while he must seize opportunities as he forges this new role, he must also reassure doubters both at home and abroad that Japan will act...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / NEW ART SEEN
Jan 25, 2007

A great space waiting to be filled

Wow. It's huge.
EDITORIALS
Jan 25, 2007

Latin America makes a left turn

Upon winning a third term in office, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez made a sharp left turn in his policies. Pledging to "devote my days, nights and entire life to the construction of socialism in Venezuela," the fiery nationalist has called on the legislature to give him authority to rule by decree,...

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