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Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
May 7, 2010

Julian's stroke of genius

Fresh off the stage in Denver, Colorado, Julian Casablancas is contemplating the cyclical nature of his forthcoming Japanese shows. The release of his solo album "Phrazes for the Young," subsequent tour and news of The Strokes' recent reconciliation have ensured that the next six months will be busy....
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
May 7, 2010

Crime scene investigation: Edo

The original U.S. TV series "CSI (Crime Scene Investigation)," set in Las Vegas, has been so successful that it has almost grown into a franchise, with "CSI: Miami," "CSI: NY," and "CSI: Triology." After visiting the "Ryoma Den" exhibition at the Edo-Tokyo Museum, which looks at the life of the 19th-century...
COMMENTARY / World
May 6, 2010

Brand, but don't ban, credit default swaps

CHICAGO — The lawsuit filed last month by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission against Goldman Sachs for securities fraud, charging the bank with misrepresenting the way a collateralized debt obligations had been formed, has revived public disgust at credit default swaps (CDS), the instrument...
EDITORIALS
May 5, 2010

Mr. Hatoyama's rating in a spin

The Hatoyama Cabinet, which enjoyed an approval rating of 72 percent when it started in mid-September, is now writhing under an approval rating that has plummeted to 20.7 percent in an April 28-29 Kyodo News poll — a drop of 12.3 points from the previous poll on April 3 and 4. Meanwhile, the disapproval...
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
May 4, 2010

Nara marks its long history, but not without a few snags

Over the past few months, you may have noticed a cartoon character — a boy Buddha wearing deer antlers — appear on signs in stores, arcades and train stations. This is not a new attraction at Disneyland or an advertisement for some other theme park but Sento-kun, the official mascot of the Nara Heijo-kyo...
COMMENTARY / World
May 4, 2010

Rural Africa planting seeds for bigger payoffs

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — After decades of bad news, at least three major trends are turning Africa's way: agricultural policies, rural demography and farm productivity all promise improved opportunities for farm families across the continent.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
May 2, 2010

He's unusual, so why not just kill him

In a review of the book "Shikei de Ii desu" ("The Death Sentence Is OK With Me") that appears in the Feb. 26 issue of Kinyobi, critic Tatsunori Yagashiwa asks if a society that "disregards illness" can properly judge criminal suspects.
COMMENTARY
May 1, 2010

President Lee demonstrates cool in crisis

LOS ANGELES — It is true that there is not much that Lee Myung Bak could reasonably do, one way or the other, in response to the sinking of a South Korean naval patrol vessel in the Korean seas. But what little the president of that country has done, he has done near perfectly. This needs to be noted....
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS / ICE TIME
Apr 28, 2010

Mao's magnetism resonates on a global scale

Ever think you had a fairly good idea of the popularity of a public figure only to be completely blown away when you truly found out?
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Apr 28, 2010

Durant not backing down in duel with Kobe

NEW YORK — A casual acquaintance e-mailed me a couple days ago to complain about the Eastern Conference playoff mismatches, as if I had something to do with the short supply of competition.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Apr 27, 2010

Sakamoto, the man and the myth

Even though he was assassinated more than 140 years ago, the name of Sakamoto Ryoma continues to pop up today, most recently as an inspiration behind the NHK drama "Ryoma-den" and as the historical figure favored by lawmakers of all ideological stripes.
Japan Times
LIFE
Apr 25, 2010

Tending to the city's 'holy envoys of the gods'

A recent news report that a pregnant Nara Park deer was killed by a crossbow bolt fired by a restaurateur from Wakayama Prefecture who was strapped for cash and looking to sell the meat was a sobering reminder of just how vulnerable the 1,000-plus deer living in the park really are.

Longform

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