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Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
May 1, 2009

Korean BBQ, Shinto weddings and Golden Week buffet

Korean BBQ by the bay Toraji Corporation, operator of Korean BBQ restaurants in Tokyo, opened its first in-hotel restaurants last month at the Hotel InterContinental Tokyo Bay.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Apr 29, 2009

Ace your Japanese proficiency test with the best free Web tools

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) comes up on July 5, so it's time to get studying. What will be your strong points? More importantly, what will be your weak points? The test is divided into three categories — writing/vocabulary; listening; and reading/grammar — and most struggle with...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Apr 24, 2009

Netsuke: delicate treats for the dandies of Edo

Until modern times, Japan seems to have been almost unique in having no tradition of jewelry, apart from the stone beads and gold accessories found in burial mounds from the last few centuries of the prehistoric period until circa seventh century. Elaborate necklaces, bracelets and diadems could be seen...
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Apr 24, 2009

Explaining the science of fear

We all have something to fear in our lives, whether it's death, the loss of money or natural disasters. But how do we develop these feelings of fear? How can we soften or overcome our experiences of fear? And would alcohol help ease it?
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Apr 24, 2009

World-renowned Dresden orchestra to perform in Kanto

Among the classical-music highlights of this spring will be performances by the Staatskapelle Dresden orchestra, returning to Japan for the first time since 2007.
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Apr 24, 2009

World-renowned Dresden orchestra to perform in Kanto

Among the classical-music highlights of this spring will be performances by the Staatskapelle Dresden orchestra, returning to Japan for the first time since 2007.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / IGADGET
Apr 22, 2009

Slimmed-down Hitachi TVs, another swing-screen Nikon and an MP3 player for the pool

It's not what you put in: If you want to build a thinner television, the trick is to take something out. So, Hitachi has slimmed down its latest LCD lineup by the simple expedient of taking out the TV tuner and supplying it as a separate, but included, wirelessly connected box. The result is its four...
MORE SPORTS
Apr 18, 2009

American Lysacek victorious in free skate

World champion Evan Lysacek won the men's free skate on Friday as the United States remained in the lead at the figure skating World Team Trophy.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Apr 17, 2009

Man in a suitcase . . . with camera

"I love contemporary art, I like a lot of conceptual art. I've followed it for years, endlessly. I mean where do you want to start really?" asks Andy Summers in an interview conducted last week. "I spent quite a few years painting and all I did was think about art and go to museums. I was enmeshed in...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Apr 17, 2009

80kidz "This is my Sh-t"

During their two-year existence, Tokyo-based DJ trio 80kidz have shared stages with famed electronic acts Justice and Boys Noize, and have also remixed American underground rockers Black Kids, Brazilian dance punks CSS and J-pop star Ayumi Hamasaki. The unit's rapidly rising status was recently boosted...
MORE SPORTS / ICE TIME
Apr 15, 2009

Big names highlight World Team Trophy

Six nations will be vying for the inaugural World Team Trophy when action gets under way at Tokyo's Yoyogi National Gymnasium on Thursday.
Japan Times
Events / WHERE IT'S AT
Apr 14, 2009

'Sour Strawberries' spotlights plight of non-Japanese 'trainees'

The plight of foreign "trainees" in Japan, who often provide cheap labor at factories and in farm fields with no access to labor rights protection, is usually not something you discuss leisurely over a cup of coffee or a mug of beer. But people who showed up last month at Ben's Cafe in Tokyo had an opportunity...
BUSINESS
Apr 11, 2009

Aso unveils record stimulus

To combat the deepening economic crisis, Prime Minister Taro Aso on Friday unveiled an additional stimulus package that calls for record actual spending of ¥15.4 trillion, or 3 percent of the country's gross domestic product.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Apr 10, 2009

Aloha to The Kahala Hotel & Resort

"The Kahala Hawaiian Food Fair" at the Hotel Okura Tokyo brings the flavors of the exclusive Honolulu Kahala Hotel & Resort to Tokyo.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Apr 10, 2009

A series of solo shows filed together as one

The term "group show" usually conjures an image of multiple meetings, shared spaces, collaborative installations and a common theme to tie it all together. "Artist File 2009," a group show at The National Art Center Tokyo (NACT) till May 5, has none of these things. But this is not a typical group of...
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / STYLE WISE
Apr 9, 2009

Kalivas goes 'Goemon,' Marjoli shines bright and Sistere makes Kyoto urban

Fantasy after fashion Tina Kalivas will get to see her creations on the big screen this May, as the Australian fashion designer produced the costumes for the new Japanese film "Goemon." The movie is based on the legend of a Robin Hood-like hero and was directed by Kazuaki Kiriya, who was responsible...
BASKETBALL
Apr 8, 2009

Tabuse, Orimo named to national team roster

Link Tochigi Brex point guard Yuta Tabuse and Rera Kamuy Hokkaido sharpshooter Takehiko Orimo headline the 22-player roster for the Japan men's national basketball team's training camp this week, the Japan Basketball Association announced on Tuesday.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / IGADGET
Apr 8, 2009

New technology to transform old products

Ray of hope: Two new Blu-ray products by Sony are taking aim at the DVD and also undermining traditional television. Sony's new Blu-ray recorders, the 320-gigabyte BDZ-A750 and the larger 500-gigabyte BDZ-A950, work as both Blu-ray burners and hard-disk video recorders. The pair are designed for downloading...
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Apr 3, 2009

Takeno, Ikeda stars of future for Albirex

As its fan base continues to grow over the next several seasons, Niigata Albirex BB standouts Akitomo Takeno and Yuichi Ikeda will emerge as household names for the bj-league. In fact, they've already shown flashes of greatness.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Apr 3, 2009

'The Duchess'

I'm not sure if "The Duchess" was as good a film as my enjoyment of it would indicate, but after a mere five minutes of trailers for "Monsters vs. Aliens" and (shudder) "Transformers 2," I was ready to embrace any film that offered actual dialogue and acting, not head-splitting volume and an endless...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Apr 3, 2009

Fleeting beauty, timeless dining

Impatient to see the first sakura of the season, we followed the crowds into Ueno Park. It's been a good while since we last joined in the revelry at Tokyo's largest, most boisterous cherry blossom-viewing party — and never before have we done it in such gourmet style.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Apr 3, 2009

Mandarin Oriental 'Azuma Odori'

From May 29 to June 1, The Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, will offer an "MO Azuma Odori" accommodation package, which combines a one-night stay for two in a Deluxe Room or a Premium Grand Room and two tickets for the 85th Azuma Odori, the famous annual geisha performance at Shinbashi Enbujo Theater in Ginza,...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Apr 3, 2009

Innsyoutei: Fleeting beauty, timeless dining

Impatient to see the first sakura of the season, we followed the crowds into Ueno Park. It's been a good while since we last joined in the revelry at Tokyo's largest, most boisterous cherry blossom-viewing party — and never before have we done it in such gourmet style.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Apr 1, 2009

Ota regains focus to win

After earning a silver medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, foil fencer Yuki Ota said he struggled to elevate his motivation level.

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