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JAPAN
Mar 2, 2011

Budget passed but 16 in DPJ skip vote

The Democratic Party of Japan's executive council said Tuesday it will suspend the party membership of the leader of 16 DPJ rebels who refused to attend a Lower House plenary vote on the fiscal 2011 budget, which cleared the chamber anyway in a session the opposition camp prolonged into the early morning...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 26, 2011

Maehara sorry for quake flight flub

The government said Friday it will provide $500,000 in emergency grant aid to the New Zealand Red Cross to support disaster-relief activities in Christchurch, where dozens of Japanese students remain missing after a devastating earthquake.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Feb 26, 2011

Here's Japan's big, white hope

I read a piece of news the other day that makes me feel that "Japan as No. 3" may finally be headed in the right direction.
BUSINESS
Feb 23, 2011

Prospects of weakening yen seen aiding exports

NEW YORK — Prime Minister Naoto Kan's wish for a weaker yen is coming true as the strengthening global economy encourages Japanese investors to send more of their money overseas in search of higher yields.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Feb 22, 2011

Monster in Blackman case still an enigma

Richard Lloyd Parry spoke about his new book, "People Who Eat Darkness: The Fate of Lucie Blackman," with Jeff Kingston. The following draws on this interview and his book.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 18, 2011

Punish Ozawa at your peril: 16 DPJ allies

Sixteen Lower House members of the Democratic Party of Japan loyal to Ichiro Ozawa applied Thursday to leave the DPJ's parliamentary group in the Diet and form a new group in an apparent attempt to pressure party leaders to back away from punishing the kingpin.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 15, 2011

Russia-held isles past point of return

Japan has failed for more than half a century to secure the return of four islands seized by Soviet forces off Hokkaido near the end of World War II, and Moscow's recent moves to bolster its hold on the territories dims the likelihood of any concessions from Russia.
COMMUNITY / Voices / HAVE YOUR SAY
Feb 15, 2011

Remembering a supporter of refugees; discrimination a part of human nature

In memoriam: Father Kasuya Beloved Catholic priest Father John Koichi Kasuya passed away on Feb. 9 at a house for retired Catholic clergy in Japan, aged 87.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Feb 15, 2011

Secret funds shadowed by abuse

Paying ransom to win the release of kidnapped Japanese, buying off foreign dignitaries to reach backdoor deals and giving cash in exchange for secrets.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 12, 2011

Long honeymoon over for Hashimoto

OSAKA — Three years into his first term, Osaka Gov. Toru Hashimoto continues to enjoy some of the highest ratings of any politician, with media polls showing 70 to 80 percent of the electorate approve of his job performance.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 11, 2011

Machinery orders log first rise in months

Machinery orders rose for the first time in four months in December, a sign that companies will increase spending to meet demand from abroad, government data showed Thursday.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / Japan Pulse
Feb 8, 2011

Vegetable boom growing steadily

Japan eats its vegetables!
BUSINESS
Feb 8, 2011

Japan tops France despite S&P cut

Japan is a safer investment than France even after Standard & Poor's cut the Asian nation's credit rating to three steps lower than its top-ranked European counterpart, credit-default swap prices show.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 8, 2011

Shirakawa plays up recovery signs

Bank of Japan Gov. Masaaki Shirakawa said Monday the nation's economy is recovering and performing relatively well compared with other economies.
BUSINESS
Feb 5, 2011

Costs driving steel merger

Nippon Steel Corp. and Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd.'s plan to create the world's second-largest steelmaker is aimed at gaining leverage over raw material purchases and metal pricing as costs soar.
JAPAN
Feb 4, 2011

Three admit to throwing sumo bouts

Sports minister Yoshiaki Takaki told the Diet on Thursday that three people in the sumo world have admitted bout-fixing, further disgracing the Japan Sumo Association and jeopardizing its status as a certified public interest corporation.
COMMUNITY / Voices / HAVE YOUR SAY
Feb 1, 2011

Rural alien attacks 'insult' in Arudou almanac; 'Love it/leave it' lacks logic

Following are responses to "Arudou's Alien Almanac" by Debito Arudou (Just Be Cause, Jan. 4):
BUSINESS
Feb 1, 2011

Risk of Algerian default puts builders in CDS bind

Two of the nation's biggest construction companies are learning the risks of expanding in developing markets to offset dwindling domestic demand, credit default swap prices show.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 29, 2011

Kan defends being S&P-blindsided

Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Friday defended his remarks on the downgrade of Japan's sovereign credit rating by Standard & Poor's, saying he had yet to be informed of the news when he said he was "not familiar with the matter."
BASKETBALL
Jan 26, 2011

Ryukyu's Palmer sets target for return

Ryukyu Golden Kings forward David Palmer, a former bj-league MVP, said he is vigorously working out to rehabilitate an injury and his goal is to return to competition during the first week of March. The team issued a news release on Tuesday to provide an updated timetable for Palmer's return.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Jan 25, 2011

Waiting for the WikiLeak dam to break

Like a giant dose of salts to a bloated and constipated patient, "Cablegate" has scoured its way through the post-9/11 United States empire, exposing its internal workings to merciless scrutiny: In Iraq, U.S. forces and their Iraqi subordinates kill civilians and journalists while their commanders turn...
COMMUNITY / Voices / HOTLINE TO NAGATACHO
Jan 25, 2011

So you want Japan to be a true Asian business hub?

Dear Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda: Last month your ministry published "Current Policies to Make Japan Asia's Center for Business."

Longform

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