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EDITORIALS
May 13, 2008

Yet more tragedy for Myanmar

The tragedy that is Myanmar worsens. A country that was once Southeast Asia's richest and most promising has steadily deteriorated. It is now a corrupt military-run tyranny, an economic basket case and an international pariah. The man-made disaster in Myanmar was horribly compounded this month when cyclone...
COMMENTARY
May 12, 2008

Neglect of sex education threatens Indians

MADRAS,, India — India is a land of strange contradictions. It is where the "Kama Sutra" was written centuries ago. It is also where some of world's most renowned erotic sculptures are found in sacred Hindu temples. Yet, kissing is frowned upon in cinema, and any form of man-woman intimacy is discouraged...
EDITORIALS
May 12, 2008

Smaller enterprises falling behind

The fiscal 2007 government white paper on small and medium-size enterprises points to hard times. While the expansion of the Japanese economy slowly pushes up their profitability, the gap between them and large enterprises is widening. Largely dependent on domestic demand and public works, they suffer...
Reader Mail
May 11, 2008

Measure of Christian influence

I read with great interest Florian Coulmas' May 4 article, "Japan as a land of many religions," which was a review of the book "Prophet Motive" -- about the important role played by Oomoto founder Deguchi Onisaburo, founder of the "highly successful syncretistic sect" Oomoto.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
May 11, 2008

Minchey comes back to Japan as scout for Indians

One-time Hiroshima Carp and Chiba Lotte Marines pitcher Nate Minchey was back in the country this week in his current capacity as a scout for the Cleveland Indians.
COMMENTARY
May 10, 2008

Japan needs a dose of Koizumi's old magic

I wish more people understood Japan better. I wish I understood Japan better.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
May 10, 2008

Washington helped Evessa down stretch, but did not deserve MVP

The bj-league is working tirelessly around the clock to make itself a recognizable product — a collection of teams, coaches and players that is identifiable and popular — in a nation where basketball plays second fiddle to almost every other sport. And it deserves credit for elevating the profile...
COMMENTARY
May 9, 2008

How to succeed in Burma with a practical approach

NEW DELHI — Such is the tragedy that Burma symbolizes that, in one week, it has been hit by new U.S. sanctions and by a tropical cyclone that left thousands dead.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
May 9, 2008

The Breeders: 'What took you so long?'

Despite being the indie buff's band of choice for the best part of two decades, you wouldn't call The Breeders prolific. "Mountain Battles," released this month, will be only the band's fourth album since it formed in Dayton, Ohio, in 1988, and its first since 2002's "Title TK." With a history dogged...
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
May 9, 2008

Festival to serve up tastes, sounds of Thailand

Spicy tom yam kung (spicy shrimp soup) blende with Singha beer, beautiful Thai silk and traditional dancing.
EDITORIALS
May 9, 2008

Smoother path between rivals

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Chinese President Hu Jintao, in their meeting in Tokyo this week, reconfirmed the importance of the Japan-China relationship and showed their determination to put it on a smooth path through dialogue and cooperation by "looking toward the future." Mr. Hu's visit to Japan,...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 8, 2008

Market promising if MHI gets regional jet off ground

Backed by growing global demand for small, energy-efficient aircraft, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. officially decided last month to enter the promising market.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
May 8, 2008

Saskia Olde Wolbers: deceptive images, deceptive tales

If only every piece of video art started with the line: "Here I am lying next to my lover Jean, in intensive care."
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
May 6, 2008

Activism vs. academia

Back in January, I was a panelist at Waseda University's Global Institute for Asian Regional Integration, invited to give an "activist's perspective" to an academic crowd.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
May 5, 2008

Evessa turn back Tokyo

Matt Lottich, Mikey Marshall, Jeff Newton and Lynn Washington combined for 62 of the Evessa's 66 points in their 66-56 win over the Tokyo Apache in the bj-league championship game on Sunday at Ariake Colosseum.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
May 4, 2008

Evessa rise to occasion

The Osaka Evessa booked a spot in the bj-league championship game for a third consecutive season, routing the upstart Rizing Fukuoka 100-73 in Saturday's first semifinal game at Ariake Colosseum.
BASKETBALL
May 4, 2008

Apache join Osaka in bj-league's title game

The Tokyo Apache's remarkable 2007-08 turnaround catapulted the team into the bj-league playoff semifinals. And a gritty, mettle-revealing performance on Saturday night pushed the team into the championship game against the Osaka Evessa.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 4, 2008

Hundreds flock to see 'Yasukuni'

A Tokyo movie theater on Saturday became the first in the nation to screen the controversial documentary "Yasukuni," drawing hundreds of viewers throughout the day despite drizzling rain.
Reader Mail
May 4, 2008

Nuclear attack would be disastrous

Asked what she would do if Iran carried out a nuclear attack on Israel, U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton replied: "If I'm president, we (would) attack Iran. . . . We would be able to totally obliterate them."
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / CLOSE-UP
May 4, 2008

Hideki Noda: Acting with joy in his soul

Even in today's theater world in Japan, which tends to venerate age, at just 52 Hideki Noda is already a towering, legendary figure.
CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF
May 4, 2008

Bringing beauty to all through surprisingly unrefined language

BASHO: The Complete Haiku, translated, annotated and with an introduction by Jane Reichhold; artwork by Shiro Tsujimura. Kodansha International, 2008, 432 pp., ¥2,600 (cloth) Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) is not only Japan's most revered poet, he is also the one most translated into other languages. Yet,...
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
May 4, 2008

Japan's media plays nursemaid to nation's immature democracy

A major Japanese newspaper publishes an article denouncing the prime minister. Reporters hold a rally to criticize his Cabinet. The government responds by banning sales of the edition of the newspaper that carried the article, indicting its author for violation of the Newspaper Law. Rightwing agitators...
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
May 3, 2008

Some Japanese referees just don't get it

The referee is never the most popular person on a soccer pitch, but the man in charge of Tuesday's J. League clash between Oita Trinita and FC Tokyo certainly didn't do himself any favors.
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
May 3, 2008

English clubs continue to flex muscles in Europe

LONDON — England's national team may not be traveling anywhere in Europe this summer, but the two best teams in the Premier League will meet in an English derby in the Champions League final in Moscow on May 21.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
May 3, 2008

To Gaijin Hell you'll go!

In Christian-predominant Western society, even if you don't grow up in a religious household, you have likely grown up hearing the common threat "You're going to go to hell if you do that!" For example, if you try to play a trick on your neighbor, your mother might say, "You'll go to hell for that!"...

Longform

Totopa in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward was picked by consultants TTNE as the best sauna of the year.
Japan’s sauna movement: Relax, refresh, repeat