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COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Jan 24, 2006

Can Japan absorb foreign influx?

When discussing the recent ethnic riots in France, The Economist newsmagazine ("Minority Reports," Nov. 10, 2005) posed an important question: How come some countries assimilate immigrants more peacefully than others?
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2006

LDP to study boosting defense role in space quest, spy satellite abilities

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will study whether to relax restrictions on using spinoffs from space development efforts for purposes of defense.
SUMO
Jan 23, 2006

Tochiazuma captures third Emperor's Cup title

Ozeki Tochiazuma captured his third career title after overpowering yokozuna Asashoryu on the final day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday.
JAPAN
Jan 22, 2006

Digital shakeup leaves most traditional camera makers reeling

Business is booming at the camera shop managed by Hiroaki Kitahara, but he has a sense of emptiness regarding the past and is worried about the future.
Japan Times
Features
Jan 22, 2006

Bosses where they want to be

Born and raised in Yokohama, Nalin Advani, 40, never tires of extolling the virtues of his home town.
Japan Times
LIFE
Jan 22, 2006

Yokohama: model city for the nation?

'Change Japan -- from Yokohama."
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Jan 21, 2006

Con job on Eriksson illustrates hypocrisy of press, public

LONDON -- Sven-Goran Eriksson, the England head coach whose press conferences can be an exercise in pulling teeth, was only too happy to reveal stories about his players to a bunch of strangers.
JAPAN
Jan 20, 2006

Diet session no cakewalk for majority coalition

When the 2006 ordinary Diet session kicks off Friday, the Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling alliance will face several battles to reach its goals -- from within the coalition.
JAPAN
Jan 20, 2006

Prosecutors set to grill Livedoor execs

Prosecutors are poised to question top executives of Livedoor Co., including President Takafumi Horie, over alleged fraudulent practices apparently designed to expand the firm's business, investigative sources said Thursday.
COMMENTARY / THE VIEW FROM MOSCOW
Jan 20, 2006

Even a child knows better

MOSCOW -- Occasionally, we all get wrong ideas about ourselves. A middle-aged person starts dressing like Leonardo di Caprio, a pizza deliveryman begins emulating "The Godfather," a school teacher turns herself into a Gestapo interrogator.
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jan 20, 2006

Vienna-schooled musicianmarks special anniversary

Kotono Sakakura, who has studied cembalo for the last 10 years in Vienna, will give two concerts featuring an all-Mozart program on Jan. 27 and Feb. 1 in Tokyo. Born on Jan. 27, 1756, this year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of the Austrian composer. Sakakura will play a replica of an original...
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jan 20, 2006

Serfs up, say TIP

Written at a time when his country was faltering after the Crimean War but was still clinging to feudalism, Anton Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard" examines a Russia in the midst of social transformation. Tokyo International Players aim to give fresh impetus to this ageless play, to be performed from Jan....
CULTURE / Music
Jan 20, 2006

New Year Jazz Festival 2006

For 40 years, Shinjuku Pit Inn has offered the best in Tokyo jazz. From its obscure origins as a race-car-themed coffee shop, it has become perhaps the single most progressive jazz club in Asia. For its 40th anniversary, the club is offering two full days of jazz picked from among the many excellent...
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Jan 20, 2006

Hitting the ski slopes in class

For city-dwelling snow lovers, winter can be an especially bleak time of year. Bare, gray streets feel all the colder without a dusting of white. Outdoor fun is limited -- no beach parties, no beer gardens, no leisurely walks in the park. The initial glow of the after-work pub grows dim and so does going...
BUSINESS
Jan 19, 2006

Japan Post takes aim at 'tokutei' post office reform

Japan Post President Masaharu Ikuta unveiled measures Wednesday to reform small designated post offices that have often drawn criticism for their vested interests.
Japan Times
Features / WEEK 3
Jan 15, 2006

Go shop where it's Christmas every day of the year

As memories of festive fun fade and the world returns to its regular routine, spare a thought for the man behind the all-year-round Christmas shop in Takanawa, near JR Shinagawa Station in Tokyo.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jan 15, 2006

NHK has a public duty so how about free streaming from its library?

Since last August the National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan (NAB) has been running a nationwide TV ad campaign to promote television commercials.
SOCCER / World cup
Jan 14, 2006

World Cup tickets on sale Sunday

Tickets allotted for Japan's matches in the 2006 World Cup soccer finals in Germany will go on sale beginning Sunday, the Japan Football Association said Friday.
EDITORIALS
Jan 14, 2006

Catching the kabuki spirit

Kabuki, which dates back some 400 years to Izumo no Okuni, the leader of a women's theatrical troupe that caused a sensation in Kyoto, now appears to be riding an upsurge. Recently, the kabuki world saw a series of events that have caught people's attention and increased their interest.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 14, 2006

The Russians are coming

LONDON -- Analysts and journalists have been trying hard to find something interesting to say about the first East Asia Summit (EAS) held in Kuala Lumpur in mid-December. The most frequent comment is that China was prevented from hijacking the summit, but they have mostly got it wrong.
JAPAN
Jan 13, 2006

Compromised Kurds file again for safe haven

Six Kurdish asylum-seekers, whose identities were revealed to Turkish authorities in 2004 along with those of eight of their family members, reapplied for refugee status Thursday at the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau in Minato Ward.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / VINELAND
Jan 13, 2006

Perfect winter match: big reds and cassoulet

When the Imperial Palace moat begins to ice over, our thoughts invariably turn to the big red wines of southern France, and to the region's ultimate winter dish -- cassoulet.
COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE
Jan 12, 2006

Democrats taking aim at House control

WASHINGTON -- The American political landscape continues to be dominated by U.S. President George W. Bush. He had his ups and downs in 2005, and while he has gained about seven points in the various polls since he hit bottom in late November, his approval ratings remain in the low 40s, according to various...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / NEW ART SEEN
Jan 12, 2006

WONDER SITE: Strong words in Shibuya fail to bring a crowd

In 2001, a peculiar contemporary-art space called Tokyo Wonder Site opened in a disused building in Bunkyo Ward in Northeast Tokyo. Supported by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the project attracted a measure of initial interest, but never developed into anything like a hot spot for art. This is probably...
JAPAN
Jan 11, 2006

193 homes remain snowbound

About 500 people in 193 households remained cut off by deep snow Tuesday in an area straddling Nagano and Niigata prefectures after Ground Self-Defense Force units stopped snow removal work for the day.
JAPAN
Jan 11, 2006

Snow sapping small town funds, elderly

Record snow this season is starting to take its toll on small rural communities as they struggle to cope with the high costs of snow removal and to help elderly residents who are increasingly isolated.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Jan 11, 2006

Smoky brown cockroach

* Japanese name: Kuro-gokiburi * Scientific name: Periplaneta * Description: The smoky brown is similar to the more common American cockroach, but at 3-3.5 cm long it is slightly smaller. It is a rich mahogany brown color, and the thorax is dark and shiny, which distinguishes it from the lighter thorax...
COMMENTARY
Jan 10, 2006

Legions of bloggers, not so many readers

MANILA -- Hardly any other industry has developed as dynamically in recent years as the media sector. The impact of the so-called digital revolution is particularly evident in the way we communicate. Sending and receiving digitized data has become faster and faster; at the same time the costs have fallen...

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