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BUSINESS
Apr 26, 2008

Core inflation rose 1.2% in March

Japan's consumer prices rose at the fastest pace in a decade in March as companies foisted higher costs of energy and grains onto households to protect profits.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / FUZZY LOGIC
Apr 25, 2008

Set the controls to quirk factor 10

After listening to Tokyo Pinsalocks' brilliant new minialbum "Planet Rita," it's frightening to think that the trio — bassist Hisayo, singer Naoko and drummer Reiko — almost sold their soul to the devil, and not the rock 'n' roll one at that, which would be cool. No, in a bid to get famous they almost...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Apr 25, 2008

'Park and Love Hotel'

A movie set in a love hotel, but without a single sex scene? A 59-year-old woman as the heroine? It's hard to imagine that particular pitch loosening purse strings at major Japanese media companies. A fatally ill teenager? That's more like it.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Apr 25, 2008

It's hands-on in Kyoto

The standard visit to Kyoto is a test of endurance: you stay until you are sick of temples. This comes as a shock to first-time visitors, for while the city is rich in beautiful tourist spots, a true understanding of the nation's cultural heartland remains as elusive as a maiko (apprentice geisha) scurrying...
Reader Mail
Apr 24, 2008

Bring back old weather map

Could we please have the informative old weather map back? The new, static chart is so dumbed down as to be almost worthless. It essentially informs us that some time today there may be some kind of precipitation. The high and low forecast temperatures are unreadable. There is nothing about any winds...
Reader Mail
Apr 24, 2008

How to promote Japanese

The April 17 article "Tenfold boost in overseas Japanese language centers planned" unfortunately makes the Japanese government look rather childish and pathetic as it continues to try to one-up China in areas that are beyond its control. A 10-fold increase in language schools is a good thing, but one...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Apr 24, 2008

Yet to have peaked?

Japanese artists, as they age, often benefit from the "Hokusai Effect." This is the notion, based on a famous quote from the great ukiyo-e (genre painting) artist, that they only attain real greatness well beyond the normal retirement age for other professions.
JAPAN
Apr 24, 2008

Mainstream embraces street dance

Jumping to a heavy rap music soundtrack, Taisuke Nonaka kicked out his legs and launched into a one-handed helicopterlike body spin that had the crowd and the judges whooping and waving their fists in appreciation.
JAPAN
Apr 24, 2008

NGOs tell Japan to show leadership at G8 summit

KYOTO — This year's Group of Eight summit in Toyako, Hokkaido, could end up a failure unless Japan demonstrates strong leadership and the political will to forge agreements among the members on issues ranging from climate change to African development, international NGOs warned Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2008

Exports grow 2.3%, worst pace since '05

Japan's exports rose in March at their slowest pace in almost three years as shipments to Asia lost momentum and the U.S. slowdown deepened.
JAPAN
Apr 23, 2008

Lawmakers visit Yasukuni festival

A group of lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties paid a visit to Yasukuni Shrine on Tuesday for its annual spring festival, just one day after South Korean President Lee Myung Bak said in Tokyo he would focus on building friendly ties with Japan.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / IGADGET
Apr 23, 2008

Tech to get people talking

Say what you want: Why use a tiny keypad to communicate when the human voice can do the job? NTT DoCoMo last week launched a new mobile phone from Fujitsu, the F884i, that will put the joy back into talking to your e-mail contacts. Employing the new FOMA Raku Raku Phone Premium system, users enter their...
OLYMPICS
Apr 22, 2008

Kitajima headlines 31-member Olympic team

Kosuke Kitajima was nearly speechless on the podium. He will give all the answers in Beijing.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / MLB
Apr 22, 2008

Veteran Nomo designated for assignment by Royals

The Kansas City Royals designated veteran right-hander Hideo Nomo for assignment Sunday while recalling right-hander Luke Hochevar from Triple-A Omaha to be the day's starter against the Oakland Athletics.
JAPAN
Apr 22, 2008

Nonproliferation essential to future of nuclear power: experts

Full-fledged reinforcement of the international nuclear nonproliferation framework is of vital importance for facilitating peaceful use of nuclear power and thereby for addressing the pressing global challenges of energy supply and global warming, according to a private policy study group.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Apr 22, 2008

Do you expect the Nagano leg of the Olympic torch relay to go smoothly?

COMMENTARY / World / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
Apr 21, 2008

Is Japan's bureaucracy still living in the 17th century?

The roots of both the Japanese and French bureaucratic systems can be traced to Jean-Baptiste Colbert, who as controller general under "the sun king" Louis XIV was instrumental in ushering in mercantilism to Europe and exerted great influence over the government control of the private sector.

Longform

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan