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LIFE
May 10, 2009

Toilet trend gets political correctness down to a 'p'

Nothing reflects the balance of power between the sexes quite like toilet politics.
COMMENTARY / World
May 4, 2009

Indonesian Islamic politics sees changing of the guard

SINGAPORE, OPINION ASIA — The current spotlight is on the search for a future coalition in Indonesia, but attention should also be given to the fact that the polls have led to a historical change of guard among the ranks of Islamist parties. This change concerns not only the Unity Development Party...
Reader Mail
Apr 26, 2009

Who thinks of these regulations?

I have often wondered about the origin of the odious, increasingly intrusive immigration-control regulations in Japan. Whether it be the airport biometric screening and fingerprinting, the fines and detentions for failure to carry passports or alien registration cards even when jogging or taking out...
Reader Mail
Apr 23, 2009

Right way to treat people

With reference to Ian McClumpha's April 12 letter "Wrong way to treat people," concerning Japan's paying redundant South American workers to return home, may I say I think this is an excellent idea, as this will nip possible future social problems in the bud: It is far better for such people to be unemployed...
CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF
Apr 19, 2009

Finding the exotic, alien other

The subject of the exotic and alien other is a perennial. In Japanese literature the foreign influence is usually traced to its reappearance in a native product and the results are appraised.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Apr 16, 2009

Clemens en August's high-flying sales tour touches down in Tokyo

Our events are a happening — part social, part business, part elegance," says retail revolutionary Alexander Brenninkmeijer.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHO'S WHO
Apr 14, 2009

Job firing launched labor activist on career

You may have seen him on TV, commenting on Nova teachers who lost their income and housing when the language school went bankrupt in November 2007. Or you may have seen him marching through Shibuya, leading a chant of "Tatakau zo! (We'll fight!)" and calling for solidarity and action among workers. Or...
EDITORIALS
Apr 1, 2009

Poor economy impacts land prices

A survey of land prices by the land and infrastructure ministry made public March 23 shows that the global recession has caused a general decline in demand for land throughout Japan. As of Jan. 1, commercial land prices fell by an average 4.7 percent and residential land prices by an average 3.2 percent...
Reader Mail
Mar 29, 2009

Atheist's perspective on Zionism

In reference to the Los Angeles Times opinion article printed in The Japan Times on March 22, "Anti-Zionism: greater threat to Jewish lives": Writer Judea Pearl has lived through my worst nightmare, losing a son. In this, Pearl has my deepest sympathies, but the idea that anti-Zionism is "discriminatory...
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Mar 27, 2009

Film exposes struggles of Japan's 'hidden' workers

"They said: 'If you get injured, you will be fired immediately.' 'What kind of law is this?' I asked. They said: 'The Company's law.' "
Reader Mail
Mar 22, 2009

Questions remain in murky case

Regarding a reader's response to my March 3 article, "Rape victim fights for justice against U.S. military, Japan": It's generally a bad idea to get involved in spats with anonymous letter writers, but the March 12 letter "Questions about an alleged rape" contains such a litany of accusations, I feel...
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 15, 2009

France's aims with NATO

PARIS — What will be the consequences of France's return — announced by President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday — to the integrated military structure of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization?
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Mar 13, 2009

Fans of GEISAI enjoy the opportunities

Held on Sunday, March 8, at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition center, GEISAI #12 marked the latest installment of the ongoing series of open-application, competitive one-day festivals organized since 2001 by pop artist and cultural promoter Takashi Murakami. Part exhibition, flea market and spectacle, punctuated...
MULTIMEDIA
Mar 13, 2009

Fans of GEISAI enjoy the opportunities

Held on Sunday, March 8, at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition center, GEISAI #12 marked the latest installment of the ongoing series of open-application, competitive one-day festivals organized since 2001 by pop artist and cultural promoter Takashi Murakami. Part exhibition, flea market and spectacle, punctuated...
JAPAN
Mar 12, 2009

Annual language test to turn twice-yearly

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test has long been a recognized way to measure one's Japanese ability.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / GLOBAL ECONOMY SYMPOSIUM
Mar 3, 2009

Falling U.S. demand, investment challenges export-driven Asia

Asia will need to brace for sharply reduced consumption in the United States over an extended period following the global financial crisis, and change the export-dependent structure of its economies and create more regional demand to drive their growth, experts told a recent symposium in Tokyo.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Feb 20, 2009

Worst Taste: as stupid as they wanna be

"I like bands that are energetic and stupid. And with no sense of fashion. We hate fashionable bands whose music is no good."
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 18, 2009

A rainbow of kanji brightens Japan's palette of colors

Guys who received Valentine's chocolates from female friends or coworkers last Friday are expected to reciprocate with small gifts on ホワイトデー (howaitodē, White Day) on March 14. ホワイトデー is one of many color-related gairaigo (foreign loan-words, mostly English, written in katakana)...

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?