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Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
May 18, 2007

In thrall to a craggy coast

Hopping on the train at Tokyo Station after the morning rush hour still gets you to south Izu for lunch. So, with a promise of stunning views of the sea and more fresh fish sashimi than you could throw a wasabi tube at, we relaxed on the Super View "Odoriko" train to Izukyu Shimoda Station — later...
BASKETBALL
May 17, 2007

Japanese shoot for dreams

This was no leisurely way to spend a weekend.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
May 17, 2007

Parodies in pottery

At first glance, the colorful, classically shaped vase adorned with flower prints and pictures of doll-like young girls seems harmless enough. It's the second look that throws you.
BUSINESS
May 17, 2007

Sony logs 68% slump in operating profit

Sony Corp. announced Wednesday that its operating profit plunged 68.3 percent to 71.75 billion yen in the 2006 business year because of price cuts on the PlayStation 3 and the cost of recalling lithium-ion batteries.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
May 17, 2007

Changes of note

She has quietly become one of the decade's best-selling artists, has a third No.1 album in the charts — and debuts as an actor in the film opening this week's Cannes Film Festival
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 16, 2007

Documentary traces 'ritual' of Japan election campaign

In Japan, candidates who run for office generally don't rise naturally from the grass roots. Many are molded into politicians by extremely organized election campaigns.
JAPAN / Q&A
May 15, 2007

What follows from passage of Constitution referendum bill?

The Diet on Monday passed a bill to establish procedures for a national referendum to revise the Constitution. The bill was a key agenda item for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a conservative who has repeatedly stressed his intention to revise the Constitution, which was drafted in 1947 under the Allied...
COMMENTARY / World
May 15, 2007

Helping the free-trade losers

PARIS — On both sides of the Atlantic, many view economic globalization as a threat to below-average earners.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
May 15, 2007

Citizen-journalism Web sites struggle to attract reporters

Most people would probably consider park benches an unusual target for journalistic scrutiny, but Yumiko Hayakawa was determined to get to the bottom of the matter. She interviewed over 100 people, spoke to park officials, gave out a questionnaire and took photos in parks around Tokyo.
SUMO
May 13, 2007

Asashoryu a major obstacle to Hakuho's hopes for promotion

After losing to ozeki Hakuho by a sneaky sidestep maneuver in a playoff in the spring, you can bet your bottom dollar yokozuna Asashoryu is ready to put his countryman through the proverbial wringer at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
May 13, 2007

5,000 victories, throwback uniforms and the oiribukuro

In commemoration of their 5,000th victory in the history of the franchise, the Yomiuri Giants will wear throwback uniforms during some interleague games next month.
Reader Mail
May 13, 2007

Whitlam era far from perfect

Owen Eather is entitled to claim that Chinese commentators are happy with recent Australia's military pact with Japan ("Australia-Japan pact welcome," April 22). I just hope he tells us who they are. But he is not entitled totally to distort my views in the process.
Japan Times
LIFE
May 13, 2007

Daisuke's graduation

The first two e-mails that I sent to my ex-wife went unanswered. That came as no surprise. I had become used to the silent treatment from her since our return from our honeymoon in Hawaii 12 years ago. But this time I was not about to put up with being ignored.
EDITORIALS
May 12, 2007

Auditing accountability

A series of accounting irregularities at large companies have deepened public distrust of both accounting and auditing firms. It is hoped that a bill to revise the Certified Public Accountant Law, now on the Diet floor, will remind CPAs and auditing corporations of the weight of their social responsibility...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
May 12, 2007

Art activist works toward helping spirits flourish

Several years ago, I was privileged to hear the Nubian musician Hamza El Din play at Enkaku-ji temple in Kita Kamakura. The space in which he played was open to the elements, and the sound of rain falling provided an accompaniment to the notes of his instrument, the oud, in a way that still resonates....
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / PERSONALITY PROFILE
May 12, 2007

Kylie Schuyler

"My interest in the M.S. Swaminathan Foundation stems from the vision of humanist and scientist Professor Swaminathan himself. His ideas and projects appeal to me greatly because by empowering people they are all aimed at the elimination of poverty. Swaminathan's focus has the potential to bring about...
COMMENTARY / World
May 12, 2007

A war of nerves in Turkey

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — With the political standoff surrounding the selection of a new president intensifying, Turkey is entering a critical period that could have a profound effect on both the country's internal evolution as a secular democracy and its relations with the West. The presidential candidacy...
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
May 11, 2007

Peace is found in a historic town

Not since my Adidas-donning days in my hometown Croydon (famous as the breeding ground of chavs) in southeast London, have I ridden trams around town, and even then it was only to pick up a Chinese take-away and buy the odd large hoop earring. So, when I visited Nagasaki with a couple of friends, touring...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
May 11, 2007

An ear-rattling unholy alliance

Although virtually unknown at home, in 2005 the international release of "Pink" turned Tokyo's Boris into one of Japan's biggest underground exports in the new millennium.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
May 10, 2007

Muscling in on the world of showbiz

Some of Japan's top athletes are using their talents to carve out new careers in the theater spotlight — and they have created one of the nation's most successful entertainment exports along the way
Reader Mail
May 9, 2007

Impressive feature on India

I was very much impressed by the two-page feature in the Time Out section of the April 22 Japan Times about the large Indian diaspora in Japan. The trade between the two countries is now growing, and such articles provide and insight into the Indian mind.
SOCCER
May 9, 2007

Becks buys posh Beverly Hills pad

LOS ANGELES (AP) David Beckham and his wife Victoria are moving to Beverly Hills.
BUSINESS
May 9, 2007

Nippon Steel eyes India tieups as sector girds against takeovers

In late March, Nippon Steel Corp. President Akio Mimura was in New Delhi to attend a board meeting for the International Iron & Steel Institute.
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
May 9, 2007

OK computer, is that person's face happy or sad?

Afriend of mine told me the other day about the time she was teaching special needs children in Miyazaki Prefecture. One boy had autism, and threw terrible tantrums the first few times my friend came to teach.

Longform

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