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Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 4, 2007

Foes of female reign bask in prince's birth

"It's a boy!" The news spread like wildfire on red-letter Sept. 6 with the birth of Prince Hisahito, the first male born into the Imperial family in 41 years.
SOCCER
Jan 1, 2007

Goat head sent to Palermo GM

PALERMO, Sicily (AP) Palermo general manager Rino Foschi received a surprise in the mail for Christmas -- the severed head of a young goat, covered in blood.
COMMENTARY
Jan 1, 2007

Unwise gantlet for teachers

Certain professionals must pass state examinations to obtain licenses for their jobs. They include medical doctors, dentists, jurists, certified public accountants, architects, pharmacists and registered nurses, as well as primary, middle and high school teachers. Amid the severe employment situation,...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 28, 2006

Reform minister Sata exits over fund snafu

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's three-month-old Cabinet suffered another setback Wednesday as administrative reform minister Genichiro Sata resigned after admitting accounting irregularities by one of his political support organizations.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 26, 2006

Four sent to the gallows

The Justice Ministry sent four death row inmates to the gallows Monday, inflaming lawmakers and protesters over the first executions to be carried out in 15 months.
COMMENTARY
Dec 21, 2006

Al-Jazeera English: the plot is thickening

LONDON -- The launch of Al-Jazeera English, the English arm of Al-Jazeera Satellite Television, on Nov. 15 was a notable addition to the growing global efforts aimed at counterbalancing American-European domination over world media.
JAPAN
Dec 20, 2006

LDP will not accept contributions from banks, Abe decides

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday the ruling Liberal Democratic Party will not accept political donations from major banks, whose plans to resume contributions have drawn heavy criticism.
BUSINESS
Dec 16, 2006

'Tankan' rise fuels rate hike talk

Business confidence at large manufacturers rose slightly in the three months to December, according to the Bank of Japan's quarterly "tankan" survey released Friday, fueling speculation the central bank's second interest rate hike in about six years could come next month.
JAPAN
Dec 9, 2006

Kyuma admits Tokyo backed Iraq attack

attends an extraordinary Cabinet meeting Friday with Prime Minister Shinzo Ane and health minister Hakuo Yanagisawa. KYODO PHOTO
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 5, 2006

LDP reform foes' return slammed as betrayal

In August 2005, 37 Liberal Democratic Party members held their heads high as they voted against LDP President and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's bills to privatize the postal system, legislation they felt was being forced on them.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 29, 2006

11 postal reform foes get nod to rejoin LDP and justify flip-flop

The 11 postal reform rebels Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is welcoming back into the ruling Liberal Democratic Party spoke Tuesday about why they voted against the legislation and then reversed themselves.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2006

Postal rebels vow to follow party line for LDP return

Eleven of a group of 12 lawmakers kicked out of the Liberal Democratic Party last year for opposing postal privatization submitted a petition and special covenant Monday and are likely to be readmitted to the ruling party.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Nov 28, 2006

Cheap travel in Japan?

Full Moon Green Pass Jim writes that he and his wife (based near Sasebo in Kyushu) have heard about a special JR ticket that is a great deal.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Nov 19, 2006

Matsuzaka posting, 'gyroball' big topics of discussion

What an international baseball news week we had with the Daisuke Matsuzaka posting won by the Boston Red Sox and the rather surprising news the highest bid for Akinori Iwamura was submitted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 18, 2006

Education bill shifts power to the state

In the wake of Thursday's Lower House passage of the education reform bill, critics wonder whether news management may have been used to clear the path for what one commentator alleged to be a "fascist" power grab by the central government.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 15, 2006

Ogasawara, Fukudome given MVP awards for 2006 season

Right in the middle of important talks on where he plays next season, Tuesday was a rare day for Michihiro Ogasawara to show a relieved smile.
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Nov 7, 2006

Pulling the wool

I s the world's second-largest economy, Japan feels it deserves the respect and privilege accorded the club of rich countries.

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