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Reader Mail
Apr 17, 2011

Give the foreign experts a chance

Regarding the April 13 article "Fukushima crisis now at Chernobyl level": It is somewhat terrifying that the severity level of the Fukushima nuclear plant crisis level has been raised to level 7.
Reader Mail
Apr 17, 2011

Bogus claims against wind power

Regarding Minoru Matsutani's April 12 article, "Offshore windmills weather crisis": Sonic waves from wind turbines do not make people feel ill. Studies in Canada, the United States and Australia have shown that the sound is safe.
Reader Mail
Apr 17, 2011

Sensationalist headline and photo

What's with the sensationalist headline and lurid photo of the April 13 front-page article "Fukushima crisis now at Chernobyl level"?! The front page lead story, together with the photo editor's choice of what appears to be a possibly out-of control, post-explosion, burning reactor enclosure — actually...
Reader Mail
Apr 17, 2011

Some seem to lack introspection

Regarding Kazuo Ogoura's April 8 article, "Politics of crisis leadership": Ogoura's statement that a commitment to "public responsibility" by Tokyo Electric Power Co. (Tepco) management has not been "clear and manifest in the eyes of the general public" is an understatement. To speak of Tepco's "privacy"...
Reader Mail
Apr 17, 2011

Unsafe radiation levels questioned

I'm curious about the math in the April 12 article "High radiation well past no-go zone: Greenpeace." It begins by describing an exposure rate of 4 microsieverts/hour, which it says amounts to 5 millisieverts/year. If that math is correct, reasonable comparisons would be a mammogram (3 millisieverts...
COMMENTARY
Apr 17, 2011

The confidence to look out again

The tragic events in Japan continue to attract general sympathy here, and contributions toward relief of the sufferers are still pouring in. But even the problems at the Fukushima nuclear reactors have ceased to be front-page news. Attention in Britain has focused on Libya, problems in Syria and other...
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle / WEEK 3
Apr 17, 2011

Bags of fun recycling old JTs

In Japan, English-language newspapers are great sources of news and views and such (some more than others, of course). But a new use for them has lately arisen, with patrons of mini-trucks selling baked yaki-imo (sweet potatoes) in upscale Tokyo office districts thinking it trendy to receive their hot...
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Apr 17, 2011

Japan's food crisis goes beyond recent panic buying

The neon lights of Ginza flickered out, leaving Tokyo's favorite playground in ominous darkness. Drivers fumed while waiting in long lines to purchase gasoline. Goods disappeared from supermarket shelves, sending housewives on forays into neighboring prefectures in search of everyday items such as toilet...
Reader Mail
Apr 17, 2011

Anticipating evacuation distance

Regarding the April 13 article "Tsunami hit more than 100 evacuation sites": Decisions made for disaster events are often modified after an event. There are particular populations, elderly and disabled, that need consideration. If evacuation sites are moved to greater distances, then planners should...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 15, 2011

Military flexes relief might, gains newfound esteem

In a famous speech former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida gave at the National Defense Academy's graduation ceremony in February 1957, he had insightful advice to give about joining the Self-Defense Forces.
Reader Mail
Apr 14, 2011

Don't second-guess Russian aid

First of all, I would like to express my sympathy to the Japanese people following the March 11 natural disaster.
Reader Mail
Apr 14, 2011

Journalist captures humanity

Regarding Rob Gilhooly's March 27 article, "Survivors strive to start picking up the pieces": I wish I had been introduced to Gilhooly's work before the disaster in Japan. I have been very impressed by his photographs, but this is my first glimpse at his "journalist" side.
Reader Mail
Apr 14, 2011

Courage to make do with less

Regarding the March 28 Kyodo article "Nuclear policy called into question": Debates over the nuclear policy in Japan have always been centered on the interests of the current generations or, perhaps, a limited number of people engaged in promoting, constructing and operating nuclear power plants.
Reader Mail
Apr 14, 2011

Japanese can express anything

In their April 9 article, "With the world looking in, Japan needs to speak out," Kumi Sato and Michael J. Alfant write that the "inherent vagueness of Japanese creates many challenges in translation." While structural differences between Japanese and English certainly do make translation challenging,...
COMMENTARY / World / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
Apr 11, 2011

From Russia with leverage

Spiraling oil prices and the serious accidents at a major Japanese nuclear power station caused by the March 11 quake and tsunami are helping strengthen the position of Russia in the international community.
Reader Mail
Apr 10, 2011

Don't give lawmakers more cover

Regarding the April 6 Kyodo article "Komeito wary of grand coalition": Is forming a so-called "grand coalition" with opposition parties a way to further develop democracy in Japan? Clearly it would be the opposite.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 10, 2011

Market investors loath to weigh real challenges to U.S. economy

HONG KONG — Sometimes I find it hard to understand "Mr. Market" — if I may presume to call and poke fun at the combined wisdom of investors in stock and other markets. Immediately after announcement of a modest rise in U.S. employment numbers, the Dow Jones Industrial average rose, triggering a general...
LIFE / Digital / Japan Pulse
Apr 8, 2011

An early warning system in every pocket

Is your cell phone ready for the next quake? And do you want gentle prod or an air siren ringtone?
Reader Mail
Apr 7, 2011

Suggestion of subservience to U.S.

I am mystified why on earth the April 2 article "Kan names quake (Great Eastern Japan Earthquake) at pep talk" is followed by a Kyodo short to the effect that the senior U.S. State Department in charge of East Asia has voiced high praise for the way Japan is coping. It's as if some external examiner...
JAPAN
Apr 7, 2011

Long-term power loss not foreseen in nuclear guidelines

Design guidelines for nuclear plants do not require that utilities take steps against long-term power loss, according to rules published in 1990 and obtained by The Japan Times. The apparent lapse was based on the assumption that in case of an emergency, electricity would be quickly restored or backup...
Reader Mail
Apr 7, 2011

Praying for Fukushima's heroes

Regarding Rob Gilhooly's April 3 article, "Crews driven by sense of mission": The noble "Fukushima 50" and others who risk sacrificing themselves for the well-being of others as they quietly do what they can to contain the ruined reactors at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant are true heroes.
COMMUNITY / Voices / HAVE YOUR SAY
Apr 5, 2011

'Charisma Men' and temps: readers' views

Some readers' responses to last month's Just Be Cause column by Debito Arudou, headlined " Charisma Men, unite against the identity enforcers" (March 1):
Reader Mail
Apr 3, 2011

Nuclear benefits outweigh risks

Philip White's argument against nuclear power in his March 30 article ("A silver lining to the Fukushima disaster?") is weak. It's typical of the attacks used by opponents of atomic energy in that it includes no hard data, relying on vague fears of unseen or unknowable impacts as it tries to steer us...
Reader Mail
Apr 3, 2011

English teachers entering the fray

This month all fifth- and sixth-graders start experiencing English education. Takahiro Fukada's Feb. 26 article, "Are schools ready for English?," truthfully depicts the dire situation at hand. The education ministry is fully responsible for the mess and insufficient preparation of teachers. Nothing...
Reader Mail
Apr 3, 2011

Kids should know what's going on

Regarding Jun Hongo's March 25 Q&A article, "Should kids be shielded from coverage of disaster?": In my opinion, and as a result of personal experience with tragedy, children should play a big part in knowing what's happening with issues. In my neighborhood, I see elementary school-age kids playing around...
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 3, 2011

Yen for a new global currency

HONG KONG — A growing feeling that the dollar has had its day is still being spoiled by the lack of a ready alternative and by inertia and lack of global political vision or leadership. China's unwillingness to assume international responsibilities is another important factor.
Reader Mail
Apr 3, 2011

Condition for an assistance treaty

Robert D. Eldridge's idea in his March 30 article, "" sounds great, but there should be a condition: Neither country should deploy its military in the other's territory on a permanent basis.
Reader Mail
Mar 31, 2011

Systematic detection of radiation

Regarding Tai Kawabata's March 25 article, " Reveal fallout data": Radiation detectors need to be set up in concentric circles around the Fukushima nuclear plant and results posted periodically on the Web. Air monitoring sensors like those at the University of California at Berkeley — go to www.nuc.berkeley.edu/UCBAirSampling...
Reader Mail
Mar 31, 2011

Prod toward more transparency

Regarding Gregory Clark's March 24 article, "Nuclear meltdowns and Japanese culture": It is always a pleasure to read Clark's considered analysis, steeped as it usually is in high-level personal experience with some wing of the Japanese bureaucracy or industry from the past 30 years.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?