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Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Nov 20, 2014

'Rei Naito: The Emotion of Belief'

After three years of renovation work, the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum is reopening on Nov. 22 with an additional wing, which will be the venue for the museum's new lineup of contemporary art, videos and performing-arts projects.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Nov 19, 2014

Open Windows: 'Sliding into the creep zone'

What has happened to Elijah Wood? The former child star whose career out-survived most of his contemporaries is slipping further and further into the creep zone. In the decade since his signature role as Frodo in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, his roles have gone from nerdy and vulnerable to nerdy...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Nov 19, 2014

San Francisco's huff with Hashimoto over 'comfort women' reveals double standards

San Francisco's reaction to Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto's comments about 'comfort women' says much about equality between nations, about how we judge each other through cultural lenses and blinders, and how we have to keep finding ways to address grievances from our past.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Nov 18, 2014

Warm up over a shared hot pot

What comes to mind when you think of convivial home-cooked family meals? In Japan, the answer is usually nabe, or hot-pot cooking.
CULTURE / Music
Nov 18, 2014

Arashi sure to delight fans with typical fare on 'The Digitalian'

Arashi "The Digitalian" (J Storm)
Japan Times
WORLD
Nov 16, 2014

In Iraq, Iranian masters behind feared Shiite militias

Among the thousands of militia fighters who flocked to northern Iraq to battle the extremist Islamic State group over the summer was Qais al-Khazali.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Nov 15, 2014

Tomonoura: lost in a storied landscape

The priest from Fukuzenji Temple is sitting cross-legged on a cushion in front of us like a Zen-sage. He has his back to a window of the Taichoro Guesthouse as he explains the significance of the astounding view before us. We are looking out at the nearby islands of Sensuijima and Bentenjima floating...
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Nov 14, 2014

Honminoshi traditional paper-making flows from long dedication, and UNESCO takes notice

UNESCO recently announced that Honminoshi, a traditional Japanese paper-making craft, is being considered for the organization's list of intangible cultural heritage.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Nov 13, 2014

'Narahara Ikko: Domains'

It has been 56 years since photographer Ikko Narahara's early masterpiece "Oukoku (Kingdom)" (1958) has been shown in Tokyo.
Japan Times
Places
Nov 12, 2014

Let there be LIGHT — Christmas illuminations in Japan

When it comes to the imported tradition of Christmas-time illuminations, the ante is being raised each year in Japan. Naturally, they’re often the grandest near shopping areas. The illuminations are usually put in place around November, and kept up until the New Year, while some are left on display...
Japan Times
Places
Nov 12, 2014

Good gobbly good: Thanksgiving in Japan

For obvious reasons, Thanksgiving tradition isn't celebrated by the general populace of Japan. In spite of this, the number of Turkey Day options has been growing steadily. At the end of the day, you don't need to be American to enjoy these classic culinary traditions, whether they're served at a restaurant...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / ADVANCES IN PROGRESS
Nov 10, 2014

Time for underground CO2 storage is now, advocates say

From renewable energy, fuel cells and electric vehicles to energy-efficient home appliances, people have found ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate climate change.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Nov 8, 2014

Kendama: a whole new ball game

Almost every child that has grown up in Japan has seen a kendama, a wooden traditional Japanese toy consisting of a ken (sword) and tama (ball) connected by a length of string.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / WILD WATCH
Nov 8, 2014

Hanging around the threat of extinction

Night falls; stars are showing; yet I'm still perspiring. We set off in darkness into a night filled with hope. Our goal is to see one of the rarest creatures on Earth, a species once considered extinct, and for which even now fate hangs in the balance.
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Nov 7, 2014

First locally produced wine from Aichi set to hit market

When Daisuke and Azusa Suzaki begin to sell this season's wine later this month they will be putting Aichi Prefecture on the winery map.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Nov 7, 2014

Scientists devise family tree of the world's insects, the first animals to colonize land

They pollinate our flowers, vegetables and fruit. They spread deadly diseases. They flash in the summer night. They bore into the wood in our homes. And they serve as supper for birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals — including people.
EDITORIALS
Nov 4, 2014

Seniority pay on its way out?

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has proposed a review of the seniority-based wage system prevalent among Japanese companies with a call for higher pay to recruits and a shift to paying wages according to performance.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 4, 2014

Optimize the troubled eurozone

Europe's leaders must recognize that the eurozone, as currently constituted, is larger than Europe's optimal currency area. Some member countries — certainly Greece, and probably Italy and Spain — need an independent monetary policy.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Nov 4, 2014

Mono's dual album release shows dark and light sides to the band

On the 2012 album "For My Parents," instrumental rock band Mono went big. Recorded with the 25-piece Wordless Music Orchestra, the album reflected a band that had finally completed a musical journey that it started more than 15 years ago performing grandiose, symphonic instrumental rock.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Nov 4, 2014

Nakamura Shokudo: Eclectic izakaya dining in Akasaka

If you're after sushi, tempura or yakitori, you head for a specialist restaurant. The same goes for eel, tonkatsu pork or wagyū beef. But what if you'd rather mix it up at dinnertime with a more eclectic selection of foods? No problem. Just head to a good izakaya.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / NOTEBOOK
Nov 4, 2014

Shochiku, OKWave launch community site for kabuki lovers

New network
Japan Times
BUSINESS / IEC GENERAL MEETING IN TOKYO
Nov 4, 2014

Smart grid systems key area of focus

Among the broad spectrum of electric and electronic businesses that Mitsubishi Electric Corp. is engaged in, the Energy & Industrial Systems Group is positioned as one of the more competitive departments, generating "nearly 10 percent of the company's total sales of ¥4 trillion," said Executive Officer...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / IEC GENERAL MEETING IN TOKYO
Nov 4, 2014

Tours, events show city, culture

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is welcoming all guests to the IEC, and is happily offering a variety of complimentary programs to let registered guests from overseas enjoy Japan and Tokyo to the maximum.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Nov 1, 2014

Media whips up fuss over S&M bar claim

First came what the tabloids referred to as "W-jinin," the resignations of two female Cabinet members — Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yuko Obuchi and Justice Minister Midori Matsushima — on the same day.
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Oct 31, 2014

Teen cancer patient asks Aichi governor to arrange schooling in hospital

A 17-year-old boy being treated for kidney cancer has appealed to the governor of Aichi Prefecture to set up a high school education program in his hospital.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society / ANALYSIS
Oct 29, 2014

Town divided after Sendai nuclear plant restart clears another hurdle

The city hosting the Sendai nuclear plant in Kagoshima Prefecture has decided to approve a resumption of operations at the facility, highlighting a conflict between people who benefit from the largesse of the industry and those who do not.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Oct 29, 2014

Millepied's L.A. Dance Project arrives with a triple bill of disparate delights

Two years after its inaugural performance, L.A. Dance Project is already a must-see company. In part that's because its founder and artistic director is the legendary French-born ballet dancer and choreographer Benjamin Millepied — but also because of its trendy innovations in contemporary dance and...
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Oct 29, 2014

Stretch your fright nights right into the weekend

This year, many people in Japan celebrated Halloween early. Last weekend saw parades, parties and trick-or-treating at special events across the country, but for those who grew up in places that historically celebrate the holiday, Oct. 25 may have been a bit too soon to get spooked.
Japan Times
Places
Oct 29, 2014

Dig into a smorgasbord of autumn food and drink events

Japan seems to always be celebrating food and drinks, whether it's classics like ramen and sake, or less-common fare like cheese and vegetarian dishes. Here is a roundup of tasty festivals that will leave you satiated and satisfied.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 28, 2014

SoftBank unveils smartphone for seniors

SoftBank Corp. announced Tuesday that the company will release its new smartphone in late November and that its easy-to-use design will be particularly convenient for the elderly.

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