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Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Jul 22, 2012

Is Rio+20 the way the world ends — with a whimper?

Last month, more than 45,000 people descended on Rio de Janeiro for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / THE ZEIT GIST
Jul 17, 2012

Refugee groups slam Japan's struggling resettlement plan

Much fanfare greeted the arrival at Narita in September 2010 of the first Burmese refugees to take advantage of Japan's decision to join the U.N.'s third-country resettlement program. Japan was the first Asian country to join the program, it was emphasized, under which the country would take in "less...
EDITORIALS
Jul 17, 2012

Amping up renewable energy

A feed-in tariff system to accelerate investment in renewable energy sources started on July 1. It is hoped that it will lead to the establishment of renewable energy facilities across Japan, thus helping revitalize local economies and reduce Japan's dependence on nuclear power.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Jul 15, 2012

"The Future of Earth! Urgent Coverage!"; Heroine teacher; CM of the week: Hotto Motto

Monday is a holiday, and Nippon TV will air a 90-minute special in the afternoon about sustainability called "Chikyu no Mirai! Kinkyu Shuzai!" ("The Future of Earth! Urgent Coverage!"; 2:55 p.m.), hosted by popular announcer Seiji Miyane.
Reader Mail
Jul 8, 2012

Most people suffering in silence

I think the interesting argument made by Michael Hoffman in his June 24 article — that depression from the workplace can lead to a desire to join a doomsday cult — makes some sense.
EDITORIALS
Jul 8, 2012

Thumbs up for whistle-blowing

The Supreme Court, for the first time, ruled in favor of a corporate whistle-blower late last month. Mr. Masaharu Hamada, an employee at Olympus Corp., had filed suit after being demoted, forced to take rudimentary tests, ignored by colleagues and given cold treatment after raising complaints about business...
EDITORIALS
Jul 8, 2012

Rakuten's English drive

E-commerce giant Rakuten kicked its English policy into high gear last week, as English became the official language for the Japan-based company. Founder, chairman and CEO Hiroshi Mikitani has promoted, or rather "forced," English to become the company's official language.
EDITORIALS
Jul 7, 2012

Russia's counterproductive move

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday visited Kunashiri Island, one of four islands known collectively as the Northern Territories whose sovereignty is disputed by Japan and Russia.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jul 6, 2012

Death marks beginning of life in ancient Egypt

A good portion of Japan's summer is dedicated to honoring the dead. Memorial services in early August remember lives lost to the atomic bombings of 1945, while the Bon holidays pay respect to familial ancestors.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jul 5, 2012

Ryuichi Sakamoto gently rallies the troops for No Nukes 2012

The demonstrations against the restarting of the Oi nuclear power plant held recently on Friday nights outside Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's residence are very much directed at the occupant of that abode, but they are attracting attention around the world, too. One of their closest followers is a Japanese...
EDITORIALS
Jul 4, 2012

Nomura's information leaks

Nomura Holdings, Japan's securities industry leader, on June 29 announced it would halve CEO Kenichi Watanabe's pay for six months and COO Takumi Shibata's pay for five months to take responsibility for a series of confidential information leaks by Nomura Securities employees to clients on upcoming share...
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Jul 1, 2012

Feline fine in Iriomote's unspoilt wilderness

For the jaded traveler, arrival in one place in Japan can often seem suspiciously like arrival in any other. After quitting a station building, you can find yourself viewing thoroughfares lined with familiar-looking stores, with it all appearing instantly similar to other places beheld elsewhere the...
COMMENTARY
Jun 30, 2012

Mexicans ready for a change

There's no point in talking about who's going to win the Mexican presidential election on July 1. Enrique Pena Nieto is going to win it. What's more interesting is why he's going to win it.
EDITORIALS
Jun 30, 2012

North Korea needs a new direction

A half year has passed since the Dec. 17, 2011, death of former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. The "military first" policy is his legacy. North Korea's new leader, Kim Jong Un, his youngest son, should pursue the path of giving priority to improving the well-being of the North Korean people. Such a...
Reader Mail
Jun 28, 2012

'Violent nonsense' over whaling

In Peter Wynn Kirby's splendid op-ed June 20, "Japan's tale of two stockpiles," he mentions that besides the problematic stockpile of plutonium, there is the similarly problematic mountainous stockpile of frozen whale meat for which there is now so little demand.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jun 28, 2012

Expressions that lie between functionality and art

"Function Dysfunction" at the Tomio Koyama Gallery, Kyoto, brings together the ceramic works of three Americans: ceramicists Adam Silverman and Ani Kasten, and sculptor Alma Allen. Silverman, who felt that their works shared an aesthetic DNA, brought the three together, explaining that their pieces,...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 28, 2012

Panasonic to simplify management group as it moves to end losses

Panasonic Corp. will revamp its main management group to pare its size as it aims to shift away from its money-losing television business to more profitable batteries and solar cells.
EDITORIALS
Jun 27, 2012

Rough start for Egyptian democracy

It took longer than anticipated, but there is finally a victor in Egypt's first truly competitive presidential elections. Mr. Mohamed Morsi, the candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood, prevailed over former Gen. Ahmed Shafik. The outcome is symbolic on many levels, but most significantly because it is not...
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Jun 27, 2012

Weighing up ultra-thin new laptops from Japan

Over the past few weeks we have seen a barrage of great new laptop offerings from PC manufacturers, all hoping to deliver thin, light, and powerful mobile-computing solutions driven by Intel's new Ivy Bridge processor. Competition in this space will be fierce, perhaps even more so now that Apple's has...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jun 26, 2012

Local orphanages may be best bet for volunteers

L.P. would like to volunteer at a Catholic orphanage in the Tohoku region, near the March 11 disaster areas, but isn't sure how to get started.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jun 26, 2012

Cremation finds favor even with royal clan

Cremation has been the norm for dealing with the deceased in modern-day Japan — where communities are crowded and land is scarce.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Jun 26, 2012

Japanese business isn't working: What would Shima do?

A Ponzi scheme. Alleged yakuza ties. Accounting scandals. Executive misuse of company funds for gambling. A record-breaking bankruptcy. Callous disregard of public health and safety.

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