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Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jun 9, 2011

Laszlo Moholy-Nagy: ahead of his time

The profound influence of the Bauhaus School, which included training in crafts and fine arts, is inestimable. Over a 14-year period, its innovative methods, utilitarian philosophy and utopian social vision transformed art, architecture and design for the modern age.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 9, 2011

Cinema Staff "Cinema Staff"

Now based in Tokyo, Gifu Prefecture-bred Cinema Staff played at the 2009 editions of both the Summer Sonic and Rock in Japan festivals. Formed in 2003, the indie-rock quartet issued three EPs prior to the release of their eponymous full-length debut.
JAPAN
Jun 8, 2011

Nuke plant was unprepared for crisis, government admits

The government on Tuesday compiled a report on the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 plant for submission to the International Atomic Energy Agency, underlining the need to reinforce measures against earthquakes, tsunami and other calamities.
COMMUNITY / Voices / HAVE YOUR SAY
Jun 7, 2011

'Flyjin,' 'sheeple,' angry people: readers' views

Debito Arudou's May 3 Just Be Cause column, headlined " Better to be branded a 'flyjin' than a man of the 'sheeple,'" provoked an online skirmish between contributors to the columnist's blog, Debito.org, and its self-proclaimed "debunker" site. Here are just some of the mails received at The Japan Times...
Japan Times
Events / WHERE IT'S AT
Jun 7, 2011

Book readings for children capture kids' imaginations

"Let me read you a picture book in Dutch," said Rudie Filon, the Dutch counselor of the Delegation of the European Union to Japan as he began reading the popular picture book "Jip and Janneke" in Dutch. Children and their parents' eyes lit up, and even the smallest of the kids listened attentively to...
EDITORIALS
Jun 6, 2011

Child abduction convention

The Kan Cabinet on May 20 endorsed a policy of Japan joining the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, which sets procedures for settling cross-border child custody disputes.
EDITORIALS
Jun 5, 2011

Tripartite consensus

Japan, China and South Korea may have many differences, but late last month they managed to agree on one thing -tourism. At a meeting of tourism ministers from the three countries, an agreement was forged about guidelines to promote tourism. When agreement on so many other issues in the region has long...
EDITORIALS
Jun 3, 2011

Back to basics with Russia

Prime Minister Naoto Kan met with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on May 27 in the French seaside resort of Deauville shortly after a two-day Group of Eight summit held there. No substantive development came out of the meeting concerning a long-standing bilateral territorial dispute, except that Mr....
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jun 3, 2011

Yokohama marks the opening of its port with weekend party

Yokohama is a city steeped in its own distinct history, despite its proximity to the capital. The key difference between Yokohama and Tokyo historically, is the port, which was opened on June 2, 1859.
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jun 3, 2011

'Bedge Pardon' rethinks famed Soseki sojourn

"Bedge pardon?" Was a phrase that literary giant Natsume Soseki (1867-1916) scribbled into his diary while studying in London. He was describing how it sounded when a servant woman said "I beg your pardon" to him. But far from mocking the woman he nicknamed "Miss Bedge Pardon," Soseki's descriptions...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jun 3, 2011

"Making of Tokyo Sky Tree — Construction Site In The Sky"

In preparation for the 2012 completion of the Sky Tree, the world's tallest communications tower, this exhibition offers an understanding behind the construction's planning and building.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 3, 2011

Decade of fine tuning yields gold for capsule

"I see capsule as a J-pop group, but then again, I don't think J-pop should be made into a particular genre with its own rules," says Yasutaka Nakata of electro unit capsule and producer of idol sensations Perfume. "There are professional producers who try to create 'J-pop music,' but really any pop...
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jun 3, 2011

The Met tours Nagoya, Tokyo

After cancellations by two of its singers, the Metropolitan Opera has found replacements, so that it can carry out performances in Nagoya and Tokyo from June 4 to 19.
JAPAN
Jun 2, 2011

No-confidence vote set for Kan Cabinet

The Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and Tachiagare Nippon (Sunrise Party of Japan) submitted a binding no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Wednesday evening, shaking the administration to the core as discontented members of the Democratic Party of Japan, including Cabinet appointees,...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 2, 2011

Risk of tsunami underestimated: IAEA

Japan underestimated the risks of tsunami that led to the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a preliminary summary Wednesday, while pointing out the need to reinforce the independence of its nuclear regulators.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 2, 2011

Thee Phantom's genre-blending screams 'Rap Me Amadeus!'

Many hip-hop artists spend their days scouring record bins for choice samples to rap over, but rarely do they go out and find an actual orchestra. As rapper Thee Phantom, Jeff McNeill is doing just that.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 2, 2011

Festival season kicks into gear with Taico Club

This weekend's Taico Club in Nagano Prefecture will be the first of four summer-festival appearances for Tokyo synth-pop/postpunk act Kimonos. Formed only last year, the duo of Leo Imai and Zazen Boys' Shutoku Mukai will also play at Fuji Rock (July 30), World Happiness (Aug. 7) and the Rising Sun Rock...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 2, 2011

Nisennenmondai "Nisennenmondai Live!!!"

Tokyo instrumental trio Nisennenmondai (which translates to "year 2000 problem") have always seemed to struggle between an unwillingness — or fear of — compromising their scratchy, lo-fi sound and the problem of transferring the immediacy and sometimes breathtaking energy of their live performances...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jun 2, 2011

Fired-up tales of ceramics in wonderland

Craft was maligned in Japan's Meiji Era (1868-1912) as the transposition of Western aesthetic theory denigrated it in relation to grand ideas of "fine art." All the while, though, it was an important export industry and a core component of Japan's contributions to various world expositions. It became...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jun 2, 2011

Sumptuary laws inspired Korean artisans to innovate

The Koryo Museum of Art's recently launched exhibition, "Korean Decorative Objects and Containers," features more than 150 folk works — including ceramics, paper crafts, furniture, silverware and wooden crafts — all of which were once utensils of some kind. These stunning examples of craftsmanship...
JAPAN
Jun 1, 2011

Kan's foes readying no-confidence vote

The opposition camp stepped up efforts Tuesday to bring down Prime Minister Naoto Kan, preparing to submit a vote of no confidence against him as early as Wednesday.
EDITORIALS
Jun 1, 2011

Communication breakdown

Confusion over the information on the injection of sea water into the No. 1 reactor at the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant highlights the communication problems plaguing the prime minister's headquarters and Tokyo Electric Power Co.

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