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Japan Times
CULTURE / Japan Pulse
Feb 24, 2010

Pulse Rate: 社畜 (shachiku)

In our new series, Pulse Rate looks at why everyone seeking info on 'corporate cattle' and black-listed companies in Japan's search engines.
JAPAN
Feb 24, 2010

Shinjuku gay enclave in decline but not on the surface

Nothing outside Tokyo's 24-Kaikan hotel hints at what goes on behind its gray concrete walls.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 23, 2010

No. 1 automaker pitching trust amid the repercussions of recall

As the impact of Toyota Motor Corp.'s massive vehicle recalls to make free repairs unfolds on the world's automobile markets, at issue are not only the irregularities found with the Toyota models concerned but also the company's very systems for handling complaints and managing crises. Consumers are...
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 22, 2010

Democracies that lack liberty

BEPPU, Oita Pref. — Around the world, our generation is witnessing the three Ds: deregulation, decentralization and, ultimately, democratization. The export of democracy is no doubt one of the most important items on the Western foreign policy agenda. Nevertheless, the effort seems to bring more failures...
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Feb 21, 2010

Consumer safety should come before pride

It's difficult to get a balanced perspective on the public-relations crisis surrounding Toyota Motor Corporation's current global recall, which mostly involves its popular Prius hybrid.
Japan Times
LIFE / WEEK 3
Feb 21, 2010

Feeling the heat

Winter whiteouts, freezing weather and power outages everywhere from Europe to Washington and Beijing have been making headlines these last few months, but as fingers by the million have been going numb, Japan has one nifty weapon of mass defrostation to alleviate the seasonal problem: self-warming pads....
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Feb 21, 2010

Never mind 'strategy,' a basic education involves others' languages

"Americans have never been particularly interested in learning other languages and are even less interested today. . . . Our government spends 25 per cent less, adjusted for inflation, than it did 40 years ago on foreign-language training at university level."
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Feb 19, 2010

DJ Krush spins some tales

After 20 years in the DJ game, DJ Krush is widely acclaimed as the king of Japanese hip-hop, and, as a much sought after turntabilist, his impeccable skills have impressed crowds all over world.
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Feb 19, 2010

Talk of New York, artist Chuma comes home

If mentions in The New York Times are taken as a measure of fame, then contemporary dancer/choreographer Yoshiko Chuma is running neck-and- neck with musician Ryuichi Sakamoto. Each has notched up around 500.
JAPAN
Feb 18, 2010

Learning Japanese via 'manga'

"Manga" comic books and "anime" films are building up interest around the world in learning Japanese.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Feb 18, 2010

Tracking the recession with the Moyashi Index

The Moyashi Index: When bean sprout consumption goes up, it means grocery spending is down. And yes, families are eating more moyashi these days.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Feb 16, 2010

Steeped in tradition, Shinto, sumo is also scandal-stained

The national sport of sumo traces its origins to an early Shinto ritual to pray for a bountiful harvest, and the professional tournaments of today date to the 17th century during the Edo Period.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Feb 13, 2010

Shopping — a bitty of the kitty in all of us

One of the most popular hobbies in Japan is shopping. Shopping as a hobby? Although shopping includes "window shopping" (you don't apparently have to buy anything to be "shopping"), there is a large contingent of those who purchase such "material" things for themselves.
JAPAN
Feb 12, 2010

Skyliner to get quicker but pricier Narita link

Keisei Electric Railway Co. will offer faster, more direct Skyliner rail service between Tokyo's Nippori Station, next to Ueno, and Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture beginning in July.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Feb 12, 2010

Phoenix fired up for Japan

"If I knew the answer to that, I would have done it earlier," jokes Thomas Mars, singer with French electro- poppers Phoenix, when asked how his band of perennially stylish underachievers has been transformed into a mainstream, gloriously out-of-place Grammy winning act of the moment.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Feb 12, 2010

The magical mystery tour of 'media artist' Yuri Suzuki

The youngest artist showing at "Cyber Arts Japan," 29-year-old Yuri Suzuki, is among the generation that grew up immersed in the culture that informs so much of new media art today. He has received honorable mentions in Ars Electronica's interactive art division for two pieces — "Prepared Turntable"...
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 11, 2010

Critical role for bureaucrats

HONG KONG — Some political commentators are suggesting that Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is preparing to make Britain his model for reforming Japan's government system so that ministers — and not bureaucrats — make the important policy decisions.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 10, 2010

U.S. friends in high places involved in Toyota probe

WASHINGTON — Toyota has friends in high places in Washington, including some of the very people now investigating the carmaker.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Feb 9, 2010

What do you make of yokozuna Asashoryu's shock announcement that he will retire?

EDITORIALS
Feb 7, 2010

The economics of eating in

The economic downturn continues to affect all parts of Japanese society with long-term repercussions for some. Restaurant operators in Japan saw a 1.5 percent drop in total sales in 2009. That figure may seem small, but it's the first decline in six years. This survey by the Japan Food Service Association...
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Feb 7, 2010

To resolve its 'core issue' Beijing needs to take heed of Dalai Lama

"From the perspective of Chinese Communist Party ideology, China was a victim of Western imperialism from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century, and, as a result, the Chinese tend to remember the humiliations they suffered while rarely considering their own nation to be an imperial power."
CULTURE / Books
Feb 7, 2010

Different folks, different strokes

Can Japan's corporate system withstand globalization? Once considered the source of the nation's competitive strength, traditional practices such as lifetime employment and seniority-based pay have in recent years been increasingly attacked as contributors to poor performance. The postbubble slump eroded...
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Feb 7, 2010

History, tradition helped to undermine Valentine

Fourth in a four-part series
JAPAN
Feb 6, 2010

Nara fears 1,300th anniversary flop

NARA — The ancient capital of Nara is celebrating the 1,300th anniversary of its founding throughout 2010 with hundreds of events that officials hope will bring in nearly 13 million visitors and raise the city's profile domestically and internationally as a historical and cultural tourism center.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Feb 6, 2010

Fujita proud to discuss family's Japanese heritage

Standing 196 cm, Scott Fujita is one of the tallest linebackers in the NFL. But that fact alone doesn't make him a rare kind of player.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Feb 6, 2010

The ABCs of living in Japan

"A is for apple." Every Japanese person learns this when they learn the E nglish alphabet. But couldn't it be, just for once, "A is for antelope?" Or how about "A is for anarchy," "adult" or "aspirin?" Wouldn't that be more helpful? We could also use our own alphabet to teach Japanese culture and language...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST
Feb 6, 2010

My views of Japan after a trip home

On a quick trip to the United States last winter, I had my sister pull over as we sped down a country road. This road provides a convenient link to the local interstate and my family members use it almost every day. I did too, back in my distant youth.

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