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JAPAN
Jan 11, 2008

Illness, not policies, ended my time in office: Abe

The abrupt and, at the time, inexplicable resignation of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in September stunned the nation, prompting criticism that he was an irresponsible and immature politician who couldn't even offer a convincing explanation as to why he quit the nation's top post.
JAPAN
Jan 11, 2008

Reaching a resolution on 'balance billing' won't come soon

The government's ban on health insurance coverage of medical treatment provided in combination with uninsured therapy creates unnecessary financial problems for patients who need the uninsured but advanced treatment, critics charge.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 9, 2008

Day-care centers for sick kids few, strapped

It's a dilemma many working parents face when their children fall ill.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jan 6, 2008

Hara, Giants should have it easy with stacked roster in 2008

A Happy New Year to all readers of the "Baseball Bullet-In."
BUSINESS
Jan 5, 2008

Rice cookers go upscale to bring male retirees traditional flavor

For the average Japanese, no day starts out right without a bowl of steaming, glistening white rice.
COMMENTARY
Jan 4, 2008

Global 'war' waged in vain

LONDON — The tragic killing of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan has sent a raft of shock-wave messages round the world. Most of these have been carefully and lengthily noted and analyzed — such as the concern that Pakistan, labeled a frontline state in the fight against terrorism, could now collapse into...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 4, 2008

Waseda grad school to groom true newshounds

There is no doubt that Japan has produced its share of top-notch journalists: noted political writer Takashi Tachibana, war photographer Ryuichi Hirokawa and videographer Kenji Nagai, who was shot dead in September while reporting close up on the unrest in Myanmar, to cite but a few.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2008

NGOs gearing up for Lake Toya blitz

OSAKA — While officials of the Group of Eight countries are busy preparing for this year's summit in Japan, the country's major nongovernmental organizations are also gearing up for the event, which will culminate when world leaders meet in Lake Toya, Hokkaido, in early July.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 28, 2007

LDP 'forced' to propose sales tax hike: Yosano

Ballooning social security costs will force the Liberal Democratic Party to propose a consumption tax hike in the coming year so the new rate can take effect in 2009, according to LDP heavyweight Kaoru Yosano, who is versed in financial matters and a strong advocate of raising the levy.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 27, 2007

A last hurrah at some of the year's political howlers

Inasmuch as newspapers routinely wrap up their year with top-10 news, sports and other stories, perhaps it would also be a good time to hark back on, say, roughly 10 memorable moments in blunder-speak, when political figures funded by the taxpayer blurt out nuggets guaranteed to show how not to earn...
BUSINESS
Dec 27, 2007

Growth slowing: BOJ's Kamezaki

YOKOHAMA (Kyodo) Economic growth has recently been slowing on sharp falls in domestic housing investment at a time when uncertainties surrounding the global economy are increasing, Bank of Japan Policy Board member Hidetoshi Kamezaki said Wednesday.
EDITORIALS
Dec 25, 2007

U.S. lightens Japan's burden

The United States has agreed to Japan slightly reducing its burden-sharing costs for maintaining U.S. military facilities in the country over three years starting in April — after the current two-year accord expires in March. In the talks, Japan sought a substantial cut due to its massive national...

Longform

After the asset-price bubble crash of the early 1990s, employment at a Japanese company was no longer necessarily for life. As a result, a new generation is less willing to endure a toxic work culture —life’s too short, after all.
How Japan's youth are slowly changing the country's work ethic