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COMMENTARY / World
Jan 25, 2009

Thai pendulum swings to the Establishment

BANGKOK — Thailand's political pendulum has now swung all the way back to an era that existed before the rise of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2001. What transpired under Thaksin during 2001-2005 is being undone and redone. Whether the new Democrat Party-led government of Prime Minister...
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jan 25, 2009

Poking fun at the ¥12,000 handout

The opposition parties' objections to the extra fiscal 2008 budget, which was put together to deal with the unexpected seriousness of the economic downturn, center on the ¥2 trillion in cash handouts originally conceived by the LDP's coalition partner, New Komeito, last summer during the final days...
EDITORIALS
Jan 25, 2009

Economy down, stress up

The muted celebrations at the passing New Year have slipped from mind more quickly than in most years. The less-than-festive mood around the world was yet more evidence of how deeply and strongly the economic downturn has disrupted everyone's lives. Joblessness, homelessness and general discomfort are...
LIFE
Jan 25, 2009

What future for fish as Japan's daily fare?

When I first joined a commercial hook-and-line boat fishing for salmon off the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada, in 1976, we began our season in April, moved north through the summer months, and returned home at the end of October.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Jan 25, 2009

China tries English, cuddly but deadly animals, and best of bad-boy comedian Tamori

English-language teaching professionals know that the place to be right now is China. NHK's documentary program, "Chikyu Dramatic" ("Dramatic Earth") (NHK-E, Wednesday, 7 p.m.), looks at English-learning in the world's most populous country, particularly during its orgy of internationalization leading...
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Jan 24, 2009

Masters invitation excites Ishikawa

When he turned professional just over a year ago, Ryo Ishikawa listed winning the U.S. Masters as one of his goals in life. Now the 17-year-old high school student will get his first chance.
BUSINESS
Jan 24, 2009

Three nonlife insurers plan 2010 integration

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group Holdings, Inc., Aioi Insurance Co. and Nissay Dowa General Insurance Co. announced Friday they have agreed to merge in April 2010, in a move that will create Japan's largest nonlife insurance group.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
Jan 24, 2009

Neumann analyzes Curry, recalls Pistol Pete

Every dozen years or so, a young athlete arrives on the scene — Cristiano Ronaldo, Usain Bolt or LeBron James, for instance — with the demeanor, athleticism and poise beyond their years to be the next standard-bearer of excellence in that sport.
CULTURE / Film
Jan 23, 2009

'Le Silence de Lorna'

In the life-view of Belgian filmmakers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, hardship is a prerequisite; survival the main objective; love and beauty incidental — a freak extravagance that sometimes falls from the sky to land on the lap. Le Silence de Lorna Rating: (4.5 out of 5) Loveless:...
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jan 23, 2009

World-renowned Chicago orchestra to play in Japan

Classical music fans in Japan are set for a treat when the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, one of the most important orchestras in the United States, performs here under the baton of Bernard Haitink, one of the world's foremost maestros, on Jan. 31, Feb. 1, 3 and 4.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jan 23, 2009

Stuck on cellotape

Ryo Sehata is that often- mentioned but seldom- encountered individual, a truly unique artist. His art is so uncommon that his fame has now assumed viral form, spreading through the Internet via blogs, vlogs, Twitters, links, Diggs and other clickable whatchamacallits. The young artist and his unusual...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jan 23, 2009

Crossing borderlines of consciousness

Most of us have experienced waking up in a strange room, perhaps in a hotel or a friend's house, and, for a split second, not knowing where we are — that fuzzy, vague feeling in the twilight zone between waking and dreaming. Imagine having those same feelings when waking up in your own, usually familiar,...
CULTURE / Film
Jan 23, 2009

Broth in translation

Although she was born in 1977 (in Atlanta, Georgia), Brittany Murphy is a show-business veteran who grew up fast.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 23, 2009

Broth in translation

Although she was born in 1977 (in Atlanta, Georgia), Brittany Murphy is a show-business veteran who grew up fast.
BUSINESS
Jan 23, 2009

Citing high costs, Allianz to halt new insurance sales here

Allianz SE, Europe's biggest insurer by market value, will stop selling new insurance contracts in Japan less than a year after entering the market, saying the cost to cover guarantees is too high.
CULTURE / Music
Jan 23, 2009

Vienna's Arming strikes the right note

"During these five years, we have often tackled contemporary works," says Austrian conductor Christian Arming, music director of the New Japan Philharmonic (NJP) since 2003. "I believe that broadened our horizon."
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jan 23, 2009

Vienna's Arming strikes the right note

"During these five years, we have often tackled contemporary works," says Austrian conductor Christian Arming, music director of the New Japan Philharmonic (NJP) since 2003. "I believe that broadened our horizon."
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 22, 2009

America's exits also produce positive change

LOS ANGELES — As Barack Obama's administration debates the pace and consequences of withdrawal from Iraq, it would do well to examine the strategic impact of other American exits in the final decades of the 20th century. Although American commitments to Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam and Cambodia differed...
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / IGADGET
Jan 21, 2009

Olympus gets tough with new cameras

Playing hard to break: Olympus is taking advantage of the delicate nature of modern cameras to craft a niche market. It has produced a range of compact cameras sold as much on their claims to toughness as their ability to create a pleasing image. The latest additions to the ranks are the μTough-8000...
JAPAN
Jan 20, 2009

Temp support groups call for urgent steps

Support groups proposed several steps to the government and opposition on Monday to strengthen the safety net for laid-off temp workers ahead of an expected increase in their number at the end of March.
COMMUNITY / Voices / HOTLINE TO NAGATACHO
Jan 20, 2009

Shame over poor English level lies with education ministry

To the minister of education:
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 19, 2009

In vitro fertilization stands test of 30 years

MELBOURNE, Australia — Louise Brown, the first person to be conceived outside a human body, turned 30 last year. The birth of a "test-tube baby," as the headlines described in vitro fertilization, was highly controversial at the time.
Reader Mail
Jan 18, 2009

A 'right' that should be abhorred

I am very positive about my life in Japan, and came here to leave Britain behind, which is less comfortable both economically and socially. Every country has something minor that one can gripe about endlessly, be it the political system, bureaucracy or public transport. Griping about these things helps...
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Jan 18, 2009

Finding the fabled Snow Country

"The special delights of the hot spring are for the unaccompanied gentleman," states the introduction to Yasunari Kawabata's "Snow Country," instantly seizing the attention.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / WILD WATCH
Jan 18, 2009

Karori: A wildlife sanctuary for our times

A new year has begun, signs of change abound, and this column has migrated to a new page. The economic crises of 2008 are still with us and the nightmare of global climate shock is not one that we can awaken from. But among all this there are signs of hope.
EDITORIALS
Jan 18, 2009

Househusbands on the rise

A recent survey conducted by the Kaji Kentei Jikko Iinkai (Housework Aptitude Test Association) reveals a great deal about the aspirations inside Japanese homes. Apparently, a surprisingly large number of married Japanese men — nearly 30 percent — would not mind being househusbands. This may not...

Longform

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