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Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Dec 4, 2013

Bunraku storyteller speaks out

During the early part of the Edo Period, when Japan was ruled by Tokugawa shoguns from 1603-1867, Osaka — the main city in the Kansai region of western Honshu — thrived as the country's cultural and economic center. It was during those heady days around 400 years ago that a kind of puppetry called...
JAPAN
Dec 3, 2013

Nation's kids top fields in PISA test

For the first time ever, Japanese 15-year-olds have topped the list in reading and science performance in an international academic survey covering 34 developed countries.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 1, 2013

Some illuminations on the red lantern

Last month, the chōchin (提灯, a Japanese traditional lantern) at Kaminarimon (雷門, the gate of Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, in Tokyo's Taito Ward) was replaced with a new one, the first time it has been renewed since 2003.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Nov 30, 2013

HIV: 'The fire across the river'

When 44-year-old Tokyo resident Isao was struck down by chronic diarrhea in June earlier this year, AIDS was the furthest thought from his mind. "I just thought I had a regular illness," said Isao, who asked for his surname to be withheld.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 29, 2013

Even Pope Francis waits for Putin

Being 50 minutes late for his first meeting with Pope Francis was nothing unusual for Russian President Vladimir Putin. That's just the way he is — a character trait that provides some insight into his attitude toward power.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 29, 2013

India and Vietnam add a punch to their ties

In accepting Vietnam's invitation to explore oil and gas in the South China Sea, India's state-owned oil company expressed New Delhi's desire to deepen its friendship with Vietnam as well as ignored China's warning to stay away.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Nov 29, 2013

Pro-democracy protest plan splits Hong Kong

After a decade of negotiations, sociology professor Chan Kin-man realized the Chinese government was not going to grant Hong Kong genuine democracy — not without a struggle, anyway.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Nov 28, 2013

'Moratorium Tamako (Tamako in Moratorium)'

Japanese college students may be the nation's leisure class, known more for their partying and playing than studying, but their seemingly carefree minds are often clouded by worries about a post-graduation job. Even serious students — yes, they do exist — have to sweat through arduous and frustrating...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Nov 28, 2013

'Liv & Ingmar'

Like Icarus, who flew too close to the sun, some actresses can get too close to their directors and go up in flames. This was certainly the case with Liv Ullmann (she was born in Tokyo, by the way), who met Ingmar Bergman in the mid 1960s on the set of "Persona." Bibi Anderson was the lead — at the...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Nov 25, 2013

WWII tunnels beneath Keio campus under threat

The Imperial Japanese Navy commanded some of the war's most destructive battles from tunnels under Keio University's Hiyoshi campus. After a section was destroyed in spring, concerned citizens worry that the tunnel network's days are numbered.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 24, 2013

The immigration question

Despite Japan's low birthrate and rapidly graying population, only one in seven Japanese support the idea of increased immigration.
BASKETBALL
Nov 22, 2013

Lyons embraces leadership position for Takamatsu

The Japan Times features periodic interviews with players in the bj-league. Dexter Lyons of the Takamatsu Five Arrows is the subject of this week's profile.
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Nov 22, 2013

U.S. Navy suspends another officer in bribery investigation

The U.S. Navy announced Thursday it has suspended another official — the seventh in two months — for his alleged ties to a major Singapore-based defense contractor accused of fraud and bribery in a scandal that continues to escalate.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 21, 2013

Kennedy showed how U.S. can contain Iran threat

The Cold War crises that U.S. President John F. Kennedy faced hold important lessons for the nuclear impasse with Iran.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Nov 21, 2013

'Gokudo Kyofu Dai-gekijo: Gozu (Gozu)'

Director: Takashi Miike
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Nov 20, 2013

'Jack the Ripper' strikes again

"I'm a huge Beumrae fan," the woman seated next to me gushed during the intermission, pointing to a glossy photo in my program. "His voice gives me chills."
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Nov 13, 2013

Brecht's 'Fatzer' underground in Kyoto

The term "metatheater" refers to devices in a play that break the so-called "fourth wall" — the illusion of theatrical reality — in order to involve the audience as critical participants in the production. Metatheatricality is a hallmark of early 20th-century Modernist drama, and is often associated...
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Nov 13, 2013

Iwate's Blackledge thriving as important contributor

Blessed with a 218-cm wingspan and a motor that's always ticking, forward Lawrence "Trend" Blackledge is a game-changing presence for the Iwate Big Bulls.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 12, 2013

Media redirection waters down impact of dissent

The way U.S. media outlets chose to cover the anti-NSA march last month provides a fascinating window into a form of censorship they often use but we rarely notice: redirection.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Nov 11, 2013

Okinawa: the junk heap of the Pacific

Over the past seven decades, Okinawa's sea, land and air have been contaminated with a cocktail of toxins by the U.S. military that have poisoned Okinawan civilians and U.S. troops alike.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Nov 7, 2013

Franz Ferdinand gets it right on latest album

When I speak to Paul Thomson, drummer with Scottish art-poppers Franz Ferdinand, it is just over 36 hours since James Blake's second album, "Overgrown," was announced as the surprise winner of this year's Mercury Prize, the award for the best record to come out of the U.K. and Ireland in the past year....
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 3, 2013

Eagles blank Giants in Game 7, capture first Japan Series title

More than 25,000 roared in unison as a light rain suddenly got a little bit harder. They were now one out away from their first Japan Series title, and had their ace, Japan's ace, on the mound to do the honors.

Longform

Ayumi Matsuki, a priestess at Yoshiwara Shrine, shows off some "o-mamori" charms. She says visitors to the shrine have increased since the NHK drama “Unbound” began airing this month.
Tracing Tsutaya Juzaburo, Edo’s media maverick