Tag - 2013

 
 

2013

Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 26, 2013
Second opinion: Our Top 3 films in cross-review
Regular JT film critics Mark Schilling, Kaori Shoji and Giovanni Fazio got together at the Uplink theater/restaurant in Shibuya to talk about each other's No. 1 films for 2013: "Cloud Atlas" (Fazio), "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (Shoji) and "Kaguya-hime no Monogatari (The Tale of Princess Kaguya)" (Schilling). The discussion was heated, but no crockery was thrown.
Japan Times
JAPAN / YEAR IN REVIEW 2013
Dec 25, 2013
A look back at the year's top 10 Japan news stories
Japan Times editors selected the following domestic stories as the most important in 2013.
Japan Times
WORLD / YEAR IN REVIEW 2013
Dec 25, 2013
A look back at the year's top 10 world news stories
Japan Times editors selected these world stories as the most important of 2013.
Japan Times
SPORTS / YEAR IN REVIEW 2013
Dec 25, 2013
A look back at the year's top 10 Japan sports stories
Japan Times editors selected these domestic sports stories as the most important of 2013.
Japan Times
SPORTS / YEAR IN REVIEW 2013
Dec 25, 2013
A look back at the year's top 10 world sports stories
Japan Times editors selected these international sports stories as the most important in 2013.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Dec 17, 2013
From Kyary to Yosi: The best Japanese albums of 2013
Overseas it was a year of big rollouts. There was a lot of hype behind releases by Lady Gaga, Kanye West and Miley Cyrus. But will these acts be remembered for paparazzi fights and "twerking" more than their music?
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Dec 17, 2013
The best Japanese albums of 2013: Melt-Banana, 'Fetch'
Back in June, I picked up on minimalist psychedelic postpunk trio Extruders' "Colors" as the album of the year so far. Six months later, it's still right up among the very best of the year. Its carefully unwinding songs, murmured vocals and understated yet affecting melodies interspersed with delicately poised deployments of feedback and noise are as gently thrilling now as they were then. When considered alongside the band's hypnotic live performances, "Colors" has cemented Extruders' position as one of the indie scene's most talked about bands of the year.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Dec 17, 2013
The best Japanese albums of 2013: Yosi Horikawa, 'Vapor'
Few albums this year rewarded repeat listens as generously as Yosi Horikawa's "Vapor." The Chiba-based producer makes fecund, wide-eyed electronica constructed from manipulated field recordings, percussion, ethnic chants and slightly new-age keyboards. If that sounds awful on paper, it's intoxicating in practice: each track teems with unexpected sonic details, to the extent that I seemed to find something new in the mix every time I listened to it on a different stereo. Horikawa took his hefty field microphone with him while touring overseas this year — I can't wait to hear what he comes up with next.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Dec 17, 2013
The best Japanese albums of 2013: Sapphire Slows, 'Allegoria'
If there's one thing I've taken out of 2013, it's that the kids are alright. Perhaps as a result of growing up Internet savvy, with easy access to decades of music and countless genres at their fingertips, Japan's young artists have spent the year pasting together aural collages that gleefully defy categorization.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Dec 17, 2013
The best Japanese albums of 2013: Church of Misery, ‘Thy Kingdom Scum’
This year, the Ozzy Osbourne-fronted Black Sabbath released its first studio album since 1978, and while it was a fine album, I think they may have been "out-Sabbathed" by Japan's very own doom-metal band, Church Of Misery, who released its fourth album, "Thy Kingdom Scum," in June.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LABOR PAINS
Dec 11, 2013
The year in labor: the Top 5 pains of 2013
For Japan's workers, the last 12 months have been a mixed bag. The Top 5 Labor Pains of 2013 will focus on what really shook things up in terms of labor relations and employment law.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / JAZZ NOTES
Dec 10, 2013
Ai Kuwabara tops favorites list for year in jazz
For the final Jazz Notes column of the year I met up with writer, blogger and presenter of InterFM's "OK Jazz" show James Catchpole to talk about the year in jazz at Eddie's Lounge in Tokyo's Arakawa Ward. It's run by our mutual friend, groove organist Eddie Landsberg.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital
Sep 24, 2013
Gamers' dilemma at this year's TGS: PS4 or Xbox One?
When each new generation of game hardware begins, gamers are presented with choices: Which console will they buy? Will they be satisfied with one company's machine or will they need to buy rival hardware too?
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Aug 24, 2013
Gay marriage in Japan? Only over the reactionary LDP's cadaver
Tokyo Disneyland is an odd place to make a political statement, but the theme park now hosts same-sex wedding ceremonies.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Aug 5, 2013
Ol' blue eyes isn't back: Tsurunen's tale offers lessons in microcosm for DPJ
Spare a thought for Marutei Tsurunen, Japan's first European-born naturalized immigrant parliamentarian, who was voted out in last month's House of Councilors election.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 22, 2013
LDP leaves opposition leadership in disarray
The LDP's victory has given the opposition's leaders a tough choice: whether to quit to clear the party's image or stick to their guns and stay in the fight.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 22, 2013
Lawyers sue to nullify Upper House poll results
Lawsuits are filed across the nation to nullify the House of Councilors election over an unconstitutional disparity in vote values that has lingered for too long.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 22, 2013
Independent vows effort for disaster-hit Iwate
Former reconstruction minister Tatsuo Hirano vowed Monday to do his best to act as a bridge between the government and disaster-hit communities in Iwate Prefecture and promote rebuilding, after winning his third term in the House of Councilors election the previous day.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 22, 2013
Defiant Nippon Ishin pauses on resignations
After an election that saw only eight of its 44 candidates win seats in Sunday's Upper House election, Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) leaders were stressing the need for a unified opposition against the Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling coalition.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 22, 2013
Abe cements power with LDP's sweeping victory in Upper House race
The ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Liberal Democratic Party secures a majority in the House of Councilor's election Sunday.

Longform

Rows of irises resemble a rice field at the Peter Walker-designed Toyota Municipal Museum of Art.
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