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COMMENTARY
Dec 22, 2003

Time to revise unequal SOFA

A group of lawmakers of the governing Liberal Democratic Party is campaigning for the drastic revision of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement. The group, headed by Lower House member Toshio Kojima, has come up with a proposal for revising SOFA in cooperation with a council of governors of 14 prefectures,...
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 22, 2003

Is Kim sweating over dictator's capture?

HONOLULU -- Intelligence agencies from Seoul to Singapore would pay dearly for the answer to perhaps the most intriguing question in Asia arising from the capture of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein: What does the "Dear Leader" of North Korea, Kim Jong Il, who, like Hussein, is a charter member...
COMMENTARY
Dec 22, 2003

Courageous decision on Iraq

LONDON -- The Japanese government's decision to send members of the Self-Defense Forces to take part in humanitarian efforts in Iraq was a courageous one.
COMMENTARY
Dec 22, 2003

Beijing's Taiwan policy costly for China

HONG KONG -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has asserted that China would "pay any price to safeguard the unity of the motherland," clearly implying that Beijing would not shrink from the war option against Taiwan.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 22, 2003

Cutting a deal with Hussein makes sense

WASHINGTON -- The capture of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein should, in and of itself, make a major difference in the U.S.-led operation to bring peace and stability to Iraq. But it is also important to seize this opportunity and go even further. As unpalatable as it may sound, we should consider...
EDITORIALS
Dec 21, 2003

A crisis in Europe

The European Union's failure last week to agree on a new constitution raises crucial questions about the future of the union. Negotiations will resume next year, but the odds of success then are not likely to be much better. Although the consequences of failure may be the best incentive for a deal, that...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 21, 2003

Snowstorm strikes north, west Japan

A snowstorm pummeled northern and western Japan on Saturday due to a rapidly developing low-pressure zone, and the wintry weather is expected to continue through Sunday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
JAPAN
Dec 21, 2003

Defense Agency ready to treat troops suffering PTSD in Iraq

The Defense Agency is planning to take comprehensive mental health measures for Self-Defense Forces troops who are dispatched to Iraq to help them deal with possible psychological problems such as posttraumatic stress disorder, agency sources said Saturday.
JAPAN
Dec 21, 2003

New Komeito chief goes to Samawah

New Komeito leader Takenori Kanzaki arrived in the southeastern Iraqi city of Samawah on Saturday to examine the security situation ahead of the planned deployment of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force troops in the city, Dutch troops in Iraq said.
MORE SPORTS
Dec 21, 2003

Japanese stars try out

The European affiliate of the National Football League held an open tryout for Japanese players in Tokyo on Saturday with nearly 50 players taking part for a chance to play in NFL Europe next season.
SOCCER / J. League
Dec 21, 2003

JEF Utd hits Frontale for five

Midfielder Shinji Murai scored twice as JEF United Ichihara crushed Kawasaki Frontale 5-0 on an upset-free day in the fourth round of the Emperor's Cup on Saturday.
JAPAN
Dec 21, 2003

Honshu-Shikoku Bridge to merge with road firm

The government and ruling parties formulated a final proposal Saturday for the privatization of four road corporations, agreeing to merge the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority with another road company after fiscal 2005, by which time the authority's business should be back on track, government sources...
BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 21, 2003

Kobayashi ties record

Right-hander Masahide Kobayashi matched a Pacific League high among Japanese players in re-signing with the Chiba Lotte Marines for an annual salary of 230 million yen for next season, baseball officials said Saturday.
CULTURE / Music
Dec 21, 2003

Atomosphere: "Seven's Travel"

Which makes you more uncomfortable, the cartoon gangsta MC who treats women like pieces of meat, or the rapper who spews invective at the women he thinks made him suffer? Slug (Sean Daley), the MC who along with DJ-producer Ant make up the Minneapolis hip-hop group Atmosphere, first made a splash in...
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Dec 21, 2003

Year's top commercials 'ad' up to great Japanese TV

Anyone who reads this column regularly probably believes that I find Japanese television completely worthless. It's not true; or, at least, not completely true. I think Japanese TV commercials are very good and often more representative of the hopes and dreams of the nation than the programming is.
CULTURE / Music / JAZZNICITY
Dec 21, 2003

Big steps for Tokyo's little jazz labels

Independent labels have always been a mainstay of the Tokyo jazz scene, but this year saw a bumper crop of good music coming from small labels. While many of these artists' recordings can only be found at their shows, stacked up neatly on fold-up tables at the back of the club, a number of the larger...
CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF
Dec 21, 2003

Zen and the art of gardening

INSIDE JAPANESE GARDENS, by Shunmyo Masuno. Osaka: Commemorative Foundation for the International Garden & Greenery Exposition, 350 pp., 4,800 yen (cloth). In the formal Japanese garden -- a source of delight but also puzzlement to some visitors -- every element has a reason for being there, an ordained...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Dec 21, 2003

Moved by the spirit of song

It was shaping up to be a Japanese Christmas like any other.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Dec 21, 2003

Jazz clubs on New Year's Eve

Most evenings, jazz in Tokyo is squashed into a minuscule four hours, politely finishing early enough for customers to catch the last train home. By other countries' standards, the lack of a late-night set starting at 11 or midnight is almost unbelievable. On New Year's Eve, however, all that changes....
MORE SPORTS
Dec 21, 2003

Secom's escape is Sanix's heartbreak

Rugby fans in Tokyo found out on Saturday what Tongans and New Zealanders have known for years -- just how inspirational a player Inoke Afeaki is.
JAPAN
Dec 21, 2003

Draft 2004 budget relies heavily on bond issuance

Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki submitted on Saturday a draft budget for fiscal 2004 worth 82.11 trillion yen -- but is reliant on bond issuance as Japan faces growing social welfare costs due to the rapidly aging population.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Dec 21, 2003

Hot spots hear gospel

Christmas Gospel Concert by Fukuoka Community Gospel Choir -- at Izumi City Culture Center, Bunka-cho 23, Izumi, Kagoshima Pref. Takes place Dec.21 at 6 p.m.; 300 yen. For details, call (0996) 63-2106.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / NATURE TRAVEL
Dec 21, 2003

Of death and glories

The stench! That was what got me first as I pushed my bike up the steep, narrow lane: the reek of burning hair, bones, hooves and flesh.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Dec 21, 2003

Faye Wong: "It's My Style"

Fans of the Far East's most creative siren, Faye Wong, should know her latest album, "It's My Style," is worth the three-year wait. Due to a poetic reference to opium, the opener (and best track), "To Love," was banned in China. That means most mainlanders will miss hearing Wong trill through Middle-Eastern...
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE
Dec 21, 2003

Olympic champ really was the full Monti

The news that Eugenio Monti had committed suicide on Dec. 1 at the age of 75 (brought about by his battle with Parkinson's disease) probably didn't raise too many eyebrows, but for those in the know the Italian was the very epitome of sportsmanship.

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’