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Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Nov 15, 2011

Tokyo ordinance a potential contract-killer

A prediction: if Japan ever becomes a police state, it will come about not by national law but municipal ordinances. And the war on organized crime could be the engine that drives the process.
COMMENTARY / World / ABE'S PROMISES
Nov 15, 2011

Investing in legal power for people

Inspired by Anna Hazare's hunger strike, thousands of people recently gathered at Ramlila Grounds in New Delhi to protest governmental corruption. Protesters from here and around the country pressed for specific political change — a new institution to combat corruption. In principle, they won. Parliament...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Nov 11, 2011

A taste of home: Life after National Azabu

Ask local expats what they miss most from their homelands, and they might tell you about Fig Newton cookies (Americans), Shreddies breakfast cereal (Brits), fresh coriander (Thais) or morning congee (Chinese). In other words, an authentic taste of home.
COMMUNITY
Nov 8, 2011

Spook out readers, win a Tokyo tour or tome

Share your scariest experience or tell us about your favorite spooky Japanese tale for a chance to win a Haunted Tokyo Tour or a volume of Kurodahan Press's "Kaiki" series of uncanny short stories.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 7, 2011

Reconstruction and healing must precede entry into TPP

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is strategically significant for U.S. re-engagement with East Asia and is a concrete response to the perception of U.S. decline in the region in light of Chinese economic power and regional ambition.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Nov 5, 2011

Hokkaido roots spur woman to bring folk tales to masses

For Deborah Davidson, Hokkaido is not only home, it is a door to other worlds. As a child, she played with Ainu children and watched them care for the frolicking cubs of the "iomante" (bear ceremony). As a translator, she now focuses on bringing Ainu folk tales to an English-speaking audience.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Nov 4, 2011

Japan Inc. puts on its social game face

Big corps are getting playful and social while testing the waters of the big Facebook pond.
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Nov 1, 2011

The costly fallout of tatemae and Japan's culture of deceit

There is an axiom in Japanese: uso mo hōben — "lying is also a means to an end." It sums up the general attitude in Japan of tolerance of — even justification for — not telling the truth.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 1, 2011

Japan needs a 'fresh start' to resolve lingering issues

Post-March 11 Japan faces the challenge of not just rebuilding from the damage of the massive earthquake and tsunami, but also tackling the nation's structural economic and political problems that have largely been left unresolved over the past two decades.
COMMUNITY
Nov 1, 2011

Spook out JT readers, win a Haunted Tokyo Tour or volume of terrifying tales

Share your scariest experience or tell us about your favorite spooky Japanese tale for a chance to win a Haunted Tokyo Tour or a volume of Kurodahan Press's "Kaiki" series of uncanny short stories.
COMMUNITY / THE ZEIT GIST
Oct 25, 2011

Top Tokyo haunts: five scary spots

1) Sunshine 60 Build a massive shopping and entertainment complex in Ikebukuro (at one time the tallest building in Asia) on the very site where seven Japanese war criminals were executed and you are bound to piss off some ghosts. In fact, its construction was plagued by many incidents (injured workers,...
COMMUNITY / THE ZEIT GIST
Oct 25, 2011

Death, mystery and well-endowed tanuki: a tour of terrifying Tokyo

If supernatural beings are a form of energy strongly connected to violent death and tragic events of the past, then Japan is the perfect breeding place for such phenomena, says Lilly Fields, a "certified paranormal investigator" who has lived in Japan for more than 25 years.
EDITORIALS
Oct 23, 2011

Releasing psychiatric patients

A recent report by Bloomberg news that the government is planning to reduce the number of patients in psychiatric hospitals signals an important shift in Japan's view of mental health. According to the report, which was not well circulated in the Japanese press, the health ministry set a 10-year timetable...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Oct 18, 2011

Agent Orange revelations raise Futenma stakes

On Sept. 26, Nago City Council became the first municipality on Okinawa to adopt an official resolution calling for the governments of Japan and the United States to conduct an investigation into the spraying and storage of Agent Orange on the island.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHO'S WHO
Oct 18, 2011

Greenthumb plants 'kolonihave' seed

Jens Jensen makes almost anything he needs for his weekend life from scratch, from a doorknob to a window frame to a small wooden hut.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 13, 2011

Security Council failing the Syria test

On Oct. 2 in Istanbul, Syria's disparate opposition movements gave the go-ahead for the formation of a "Syrian National Council." This is the most important step yet taken by the fragmented forces that have been trying since May to lead a peaceful uprising against President Bashar Assad's regime. The...
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Oct 7, 2011

Pretty in pink at The Peninsula Tokyo

As part of The Peninsula Tokyo's ongoing Enriching Your Life and Community campaign, the hotel is showing its support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month throughout October with Peninsula in Pink — a new Peninsula Hotels groupwide campaign to raise awareness and funds through signature pink-themed promotions....
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 5, 2011

Social media urban legends

The ever-expanding universe of social-media technologies — including video-sharing, mobile phones, and networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter that allow individuals to share and connect — is as ubiquitous as it is misunderstood. Apostles hail its power to oust dictators and bring us together;...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 4, 2011

'Smart city' projects revived by disasters

Ever since the March 11 disasters exposed the nation's dependence on conventional power sources and infrastructure, energy-efficient "smart city" projects have drawn increasing attention.
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Oct 4, 2011

Japan needs less ganbatte, more genuine action

Ganbatte kudasai!
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 28, 2011

Libyan effect on protection

The invocation of the responsibility to protect (R2P) in Libya has drawn surprisingly intense criticism.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / LIGHT GIST
Sep 27, 2011

No-nos for Noda: Japan's top 10 most useless PMs

On Sept. 2, Yoshihiko Noda was appointed the 95th prime minister of Japan, the sixth man (and they have all been men) to hold the job in five years. To mark this occasion and offer lessons to the new Democratic Party of Japan chief on how not to lead the country, the Community Page asked 10 writers to...
COMMUNITY / Voices / HOTLINE TO NAGATACHO
Sep 27, 2011

Words of wisdom from JFK to Japan's new chief

Dear Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda,
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 22, 2011

A brief history of Palestinians' state of mind

The idea of Palestine becoming a permanent member of the United Nations originated, say Palestinians, with none other than U.S. President Barack Obama.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 20, 2011

Japan trying to repair ties with U.S.

The new government is trying to earn back trust from the United States, its most important ally, by showing support for initiatives that recent prime ministers have let languish.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Sep 18, 2011

Castles and Crafts on the Yomitan Peninsula

Most people come to the Yomitan Peninsula on Okinawa's main island for the sand and the scuba opportunities. I, however, am one of those island residents on whom paradise is wasted — I like neither a sweltering day at the beach nor an afternoon spent exploring the intimidating world beneath the waves....

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