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COMMENTARY / World
Jun 27, 2012

Obama shares the blame for Arab Spring mess

A year ago Barack Obama described the epic wave of revolution that had begun in Tunisia and Egypt as "a historic opportunity" for the United States "to pursue the world as it should be." He said America must promote "change that advances self-determination and opportunity." And he asserted that "we can...
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Jun 27, 2012

More hurdles in store for Noda

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda managed to get the Lower House to pass the contentious tax hike bill, but his troubles are far from over, as demonstrated by the no votes cast by the Democratic Party of Japan's kingpin, Ichiro Ozawa, and more than 50 of his followers.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 27, 2012

Mazda ends rotary output, takes the fuel-efficient route

Many people of a certain age remember Mazda Motor Corp.'s catchy ads from the 1970s. "Piston engines go boing-boing," they said. "Mazda goes hummmm." The voice-over sang: "There's nothing like it on the road today; the rotary engine is here to stay."
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHO'S WHO
Jun 26, 2012

British drama coach Gavin Bantock at top of his game; casts take a bow

If drama were a sport, then the name Gavin Bantock would probably be known throughout Japan.
BUSINESS
Jun 25, 2012

Deeper political, financial unity seen as solution to eurozone crisis

Even after fears of a Greek exit from the euro were eased by the outcome of the country's June 17 elections, Europe remains in crisis as concern lingers that Spain's banks are a potentially bigger risk. Ending the crisis will require European leaders to come up with a longer-term vision for deeper economic...
COMMENTARY
Jun 25, 2012

A success story with or without 'Tiger Moms'

High up in the category of news that's too familiar to be newsworthy is the latest poll that finds Asians to be the most-educated and highest-earning population in the United States.
COMMENTARY / THE VIEW FROM NEW YORK
Jun 25, 2012

Irony of being in the company of '12-year-olds'

In going over my manuscript of the Yukio Mishima biography, my copy editor protested at one point, citing her "liberal Berkeley-influenced sensibilities." That was where I described Japan as a "backward nation." Let me explain.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jun 25, 2012

Swallows' Barnette adapting to new role

In his two-plus seasons in Japan, Tony Barnette has gone from being a starter, to released, to re-signed, to a reliever, and finally a closer for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 25, 2012

Ii ne! Facebook is a perfect place for Japanese immersion

Facebook has grown at a tremendous rate in Japan over the past four years, jumping from just over 200,000 users in 2008 to more than 6 million by the end of 2011. In the process, Japan has generated one of the social network's highest annual growth rates of 254 percent, second only to Brazil.
EDITORIALS
Jun 25, 2012

Talk, please!

The Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education has announced a new policy of group discussion in parts of the admission system for public high schools from 2013. This will be the first time a talking component will be conducted for the recommendation-based admissions system (suisen nyugaku) for middle school...
COMMENTARY / Japan / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
Jun 25, 2012

Liberating Japan's resources

Japan has long been characterized as a nation with virtually no natural resources like oil, natural gas, coal, iron and copper. More than 125 million people live on land area ranking only 61st in the world in terms of size.
Reader Mail
Jun 24, 2012

Truth about population decline

The June 19 editorial "Reversing the population decline" lists facts and figures on Japan's population decline, recently made public by the health ministry. But the editorial's solutions offer nothing new and simply make well-worn suggestions by rote: more employment for young people, shortened working...
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Jun 24, 2012

Fumiko Hayashi: Haunted to the grave by her wartime 'flute and drums'

If you compare the treatment dealt out in the immediate postwar period to Japanese writers who supported their nation's military aggression in World War II with that meted out to such writers in Europe, the Japanese literary collaborators seem to have got off lightly.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Jun 24, 2012

Languid Lumbini: Just visit and you'll understand

It's a pilgrimage site, a UNESCO World Heritage site — and a building site. Lumbini in southern Nepal, less than 10 km from the Indian border, should be a name as familiar as Jerusalem, Bethlehem or Mecca, the holy places of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It's where, in 563 B.C., the Buddha-to-be,...
Reader Mail
Jun 24, 2012

Addressing basic human needs

To Rowena Xiaoqing, the writer of The Washington Post article "China: no answers and no justice" (which ran in The Japan Times on June 14): I share Tiananmen Mothers' indignation and never doubted the idealism of the Tiananmen protesters. Ultimately, a China that understands its past and recent history...
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Jun 24, 2012

Visiting the real Morocco; Meeting the showbiz parents; CM of the week: Scalabo

The travel show "Sekai Itte Mitara Honto wa Konna Toko Datta" ("If You See the World This is What You Really Get"; Fuji TV, Mon., 10:30 p.m.) expands to an hour for a special on the Kingdom of Morocco, which has become very popular among female Japanese travelers for its colorful fashions.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Jun 23, 2012

The most exciting season

Welcome to the rainy season. Welcome to the invasion of insects! Contrary to what most people will tell you, I think the rainy season is the most exciting part of the year in Japan. Believe me, you're gonna see plenty of strange things. Every June, I'm filled with unbridled curiosity of what new, never-seen-before...
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Jun 23, 2012

U.S. students mold careers in Aichi

Every summer, University of The Arts professor James Makins attends a ceramics workshop in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / Japan Pulse
Jun 22, 2012

Yakuzen cuisine makes Chinese medicine easier to swallow

Yakuzen grows in popularity at fans learn you can eat your vegetables and take your medicine in one meal!
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Jun 22, 2012

Police rewards result in arrests, and some frustration

The system of rewards leading to the arrest of fugitives still has some kinks in it.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jun 22, 2012

'Attack the Block' / 'We Need to Talk About Kevin'

When unarmed teen Trayvon Martin was fatally shot in Florida by paranoid neighborhood-watch vigilante George Zimmerman in February, the usual flurry of American media debate ensued. One of the more heated tangents came when celebrity newscaster Geraldo Rivera stated — on Fox News, naturally — that...
JAPAN
Jun 22, 2012

Ozawa, allies to vote against tax hike bill

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and his ruling Democratic Party of Japan said Thursday they have abandoned attempts to pass the tax hike bill Friday, but an internal rift looms as Ichiro Ozawa officially declared his intention to vote against the legislation.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jun 22, 2012

Grouses need coach after Shimoji steps down

After nearly finishing with their first winning season in franchise history, the Toyama Grouses will not have Kazuaki Shimoji at the helm in 2012-13. Serious health issues appear to be the primary factor, league insiders told The Japan Times.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Jun 22, 2012

Bubby's new store in Tokyo Station

The American cafe and restaurant Bubby's is opening a new branch in the Yaesu underground shopping mall of Tokyo Station, known as Yaechika, on June 22.
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jun 22, 2012

Model train buff brings out his toys for everyone

The term Shangri-La was coined by British author James Hilton in his novel "Lost Horizon," referring to a mythical paradise in the Himalayas. Nobutaro Hara, however, found his utopia on a railway line.
JAPAN
Jun 21, 2012

Noda officially gives in on tax, welfare reform

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Democratic Party of Japan executives officially endorsed changes to the government's social security and tax reform bills Wednesday, while signalling the Diet session will be extended, possibly to early September.

Longform

Eme-Ima Kitchen is one of over 10,000 kodomo shokudō in Japan. A term first used in 2012 to describe makeshift eateries offering free or cheap meals to disadvantaged kids, it now refers to a diverse range of individuals, groups and organizations working to provide not only food but a sense of belonging to both children and adults.
Japan’s ‘children’s cafeterias’ are booming — but is that a good thing?