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Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Dec 25, 2009

Cuts fear clouds a year of diversity and innovation in Japan theater

Following the landmark change of government in August, meetings of its Budget Screening Committee have for the first time been opened to the public. Sadly, though, when that committee got round to arts financing in November, many members harshly criticized the amount awarded to the public theater sector....
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Dec 25, 2009

New Year's concerts held across Japan

If nightclubs aren't your thing, but you still want to hear live music over the New Year's holidays, classical music concerts might be just the ticket.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 25, 2009

'Old Partner'

"Old Partner" (Released in Japan as "Ushino Suzuoto") is one extraordinary film, breaking several laws of gravity, logic and marketing while being entirely unselfconscious about it. A South Korean documentary that features the three principles of an old, old man, an old, old ox and the old man's slightly...
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Dec 25, 2009

A New Year's gift from Nikko Tokyo

Hotel Nikko Tokyo's six restaurants are offering special-price "Otoshidama Lunch" courses from Jan. 6 until Jan. 31.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / IGADGET
Dec 23, 2009

Audio-Technica helps block sound; Panasonic watches the door

Quiet please: Audio-Technica has come out with a pair of lightweight, folding headphones featuring noise-canceling technology. The company claims its newly released ATH-ANC1 QuietPoint can cut out background noise by 85 percent when its noise-canceling abilities are enacted. The extraneous-noise killer...
LIFE / Language / KANJI CLINIC
Dec 16, 2009

New kanji are mighty compound-word builders

Joyo (general-use) kanji, which currently number 1,945, are the characters officially approved by the Japanese government for use in newspapers and government publications. Japanese schoolchildren study these during their nine years of compulsory education, and non-Japanese speakers must do battle with...
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital
Dec 16, 2009

Hot on grandma's trail in Hokkaido

If you're looking for your grandmother in the farming suburb of Iwamizawa, an hour northeast of Sapporo, your best bet may be to phone the municipal call center.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Dec 13, 2009

The colorful lure of carp in Japan

Two milestones were achieved at this year's All-Japan Show for Nishikigoi, or ornamental carp, which was held last month in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 11, 2009

And the best Japanese films of 2009 were . . .

1. "Fish Story":
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Dec 11, 2009

Countdown with salsa, champagne

The Hilton Tokyo will host two countdown parties on New Year's Eve to welcome in 2010: the Salsa Countdown Party and the Champagne Countdown Party.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Dec 8, 2009

Ichihashi trial key test of legal reforms

In March 2007, the Japanese police came under intense scrutiny at home and abroad after Tatsuya Ichihashi escaped barefoot from under the noses of a group of officers at his apartment in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture. The body of British Nova teacher Lindsay Hawker was found shortly after partially buried...
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Dec 8, 2009

Ichihashi trial key test of legal reforms

In March 2007, the Japanese police came under intense scrutiny at home and abroad after Tatsuya Ichihashi escaped barefoot from under the noses of a group of officers at his apartment in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture. The body of British Nova teacher Lindsay Hawker was found shortly after partially buried...
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Dec 6, 2009

Painting Tokyo red and gold

In times past, some Native Americans believed the autumn colors were made when the Great Hunter finally shot the Bear, whose blood spilled across the landscape in the form of red leaves.
LIFE / Travel
Dec 6, 2009

Painting Tokyo red and gold

In times past, some Native Americans believed the autumn colors were made when the Great Hunter finally shot the Bear, whose blood spilled across the landscape in the form of red leaves.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 5, 2009

Jackson, Spidey not part of Sony's 3-D plan

Michael Jackson videos or the next "Spider-Man" movie won't be among the titles that Sony Corp. releases in 3-D as it gears up to boost TV sales, according to Chief Executive Howard Stringer.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Dec 4, 2009

Italian accent on sweets set at Caffe

The Hyatt Regency Tokyo's Italian-inspired Caffe diner has created "Afternoon Sweets Set" as its tea-time menu selection.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Dec 4, 2009

U.K. 'samurai' lands in Japan

When U.S. President Barack Obama bowed to the Emperor during his visit to Japan last month, the headline of The Japan Times read: "U.S. conservatives: Obama bowed too deeply to Emperor." While some Americans accused the U.S. commander in chief of "groveling to a foreign leader," however, the Japanese...
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Dec 3, 2009

Platter of the day: Flash Sushi

LONDON — Nyotaimori — aka "female body arrangement" aka "naked sushi," in which the food is eaten from the nude body of a beautiful woman — is as much legend as fact in Japan (see accompanying article). But that hasn't stopped the Western imagination from seizing upon it as supposed shorthand for...
COMMENTARY
Dec 2, 2009

Commonwealth reaches out

Every two years the heads of government of the 50-plus states of which the Commonwealth consists, embracing almost a third of the planet's entire population and several of its most dynamic economies, meet to discuss issues of common concern.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / IGADGET
Dec 2, 2009

King Jim puts pen to screen; Phiaton turns red

Jot it down: While the typewriter has pretty much become extinct, the notebook and pen combination has shown greater resilience. This is mainly due to to their simplicity, something computers are not known for. But they can do color touchscreens, multimedia and other surplus features. In the form of...
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Nov 29, 2009

Benitez under gun as Mourinho speculation swirls

LONDON — Sunday sees the most significant day of the season so far. It is a time for football lovers to encourage the wife to go shopping, ensure the fridge has sufficient supplies and then sit back to enjoy a feast on the box.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Nov 29, 2009

Cute kittens out to kill you

Cats are easy targets, which is why Shukan Asahi took such a cheap shot at them in the banner headline of its print ads for the Dec. 4 issue: "New-type influenza being spread by cats!?" In the subhead, cat cafes were cited as "hotbeds of infection."
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Nov 27, 2009

'8 Days' that shook Japan's art world

In the chronologies you find appended to Japanese art books, it looks something like this: Title: "Joseph Beuys Exhibition"; Dates: June 2 — July 2, 1984; Venue: Seibu Art Museum, Tokyo
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Nov 27, 2009

Various Artists "Tokyo Suite Selected by Nigo"

As the setting for Sofia Coppola's 2003 film "Lost In Translation," Tokyo's Park Hyatt Hotel was immortalized. The long takes of a jet-lagged Scarlett Johansson staring dreamily out onto a neon-lit metropolis lent themselves well to the shoegazer soundtrack.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Nov 27, 2009

Festive offerings at Tokyo hotels

As the Christmas season approaches, hotels warm up the mood with sparkling illuminations and gorgeous tree decorations, and prepare a variety of seasonal events and culinary offerings. Here are some of those special Christmas offerings that Tokyo's premium hotels have this year. Find your best way of...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Nov 22, 2009

Hot Hibachi League prepares to heat up as season draws to a close

The final game of the 2009 baseball season in Japan takes place on Sunday at Tokyo Dome. Billed as the "U-26" it features a select team of college players against a group of professionals, most of whom are under the age of 26.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Nov 20, 2009

What lies behind the eccentric?

The German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel wrote that what is "familiarly known" is not "properly known," just for the reason that it is familiar. The familiar historical image of the Edo Period Eccentric painters, one of whom was Ito Jakuchu (1716-1800), is no exception. They are remembered...
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Nov 20, 2009

Focus on arty Asian marvels at Tokyo's FILMeX festival

Tokyo FILMeX is increasing its load from 39 films to 61 this year, to celebrate its 10th year.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Nov 20, 2009

Restaurant J: A favorite chef's inspired return

Fantastic news: Restaurant J has returned. After a gap of over four years, one of our most talented chefs, Masahito Ueki, is back in action in Tokyo.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?