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BUSINESS
Jun 2, 2011

Tepco debt swaps facing 53% chance of defaulting

The cost of protecting Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s debt shows the likelihood of a default increased to 53 percent after the utility's credit rating was cut to junk status by Standard & Poor's.
EDITORIALS
May 31, 2011

A G8 vote of support for Japan

The Group of Eight summit, the annual meeting of the world's leading industrialized economies, has lost some of its shine in recent years, eclipsed as well by the rise of the G20 as a forum for global economic decision making. Nonetheless, the G8 still serves important purposes, two of which were on...
EDITORIALS
May 30, 2011

North Korea appeals to sponsor

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il visited China for about seven days from May 20. It was his third visit to China in a year. He traveled more than 4,000 km on a special train. Both Beijing and Pyongyang are mum about his visit. But it seems that the main purpose of his visit was to appeal for economic...
EDITORIALS
May 27, 2011

Ripples from an arrest

The arrest of Mr. Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), on charges of sexual assault in New York City has been the occasion for all sorts of salacious gossip and speculation.
EDITORIALS
May 26, 2011

Helping hands to Mr. Kan

The perseverance that people in northeastern Japan have shown after the massive earthquake and tsunami devastated their communities March 11 has impressed many people around the world.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
May 26, 2011

Boris "Heavy Rocks"/"Attention Please"

Being a Boris completist is a daunting task. One of the country's most prolific underground acts, this year the Tokyo three-piece have already issued their "New Album" full-length and "Klatter," a vinyl-only collaboration with Japanese noise-artist Merzbow. They are back again with their two latest releases,...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 25, 2011

Sony's fiscal year hurt by 'smack in the eye'

For Chief Executive Officer Howard Stringer, this was supposed to be Sony Corp.'s year.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
May 24, 2011

Pension payout query: to leave it or lump it?

Marc has a question about pension refunds for foreigners: "I was a resident of Japan for about 25 years and I paid into the system for about 20 years. Six years ago my Japanese employer transferred me to Vietnam. Since then we did an employee exchange with a South African company. This company has been...
JAPAN
May 23, 2011

Kan, Wen, Lee bolster disaster plans

Prime Minister Naoto Kan and his Chinese and South Korean counterparts agreed Sunday to enhance cooperation on a range of programs — including nuclear safety and disaster management — in light of the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
BUSINESS
May 20, 2011

Takeda Pharmaceutical to buy out Swiss-firm Nycomed for €9.6 billion

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. agreed to buy closely held Nycomed for €9.6 billion (¥1.12 trillion), the largest takeover by a Japanese drugmaker, broadening its reach in emerging markets and adding a remedy for smokers' cough to its portfolio.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
May 20, 2011

Enjoy an evening among the fireflies

The historical garden Chinzan-so is famed for its Japanese fireflies, or hotaru, and in honor of the firefly-viewing season, the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Chinzan-so will offer a special Hotaru Stay Plan from May 21 through July 10.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 16, 2011

Asians fuel record rally in U.S. meat prices

Food shoppers in South Korea, Mexico and Japan are fueling a surge in U.S. beef prices just as demand is set to reach a seasonal peak this month and retailers including Sam's Club promote the meat in stores.
CULTURE / Books
May 15, 2011

Nintendo's Wiining ways

PLAYING TO WIIN: Nintendo and the Video Game Industry, by Daniel Sloan. Wiley, 2011, 256 pp., $24.95 (hardcover) Ten years ago, tough times had hit Nintendo with shrinking sales and profits, increasing demand for new products and growing pressure from competitors. What hope was there for a comeback from...
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
May 15, 2011

Media starting to tally the economic effects of foreigner flight

News reports immediately following the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear plant accident of panicked foreign residents lining up for the first flight home — in many cases advised to flee by their own governments — had the initial result of helping to feed the sense of angst among Japanese that...
BUSINESS
May 11, 2011

Asahi still looks to buy Aussie firm

Asahi Breweries Ltd. remains in talks to acquire P&N Beverages Australia Pty., a deal that was blocked by a regulator on concerns it would reduce competition, according to Asahi President Naoki Izumiya.
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
May 9, 2011

Meaningful future needed to preserve Tokyo Motor Show

Japanese automakers were hit hard by the March earthquake and the massive supply chain interruptions continue. It's so bad in fact that normalization of production at most domestic and overseas plants is expected to take until the end of the year.
EDITORIALS
May 9, 2011

Stimulating the economy

Economic reports made public April 28 by the government and the Bank of Japan underscore the rapid deterioration of the Japanese economy in the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear plant accidents.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Apr 29, 2011

Sake lovers congregate at international event

A healthy buzz characterized the atmosphere at the International Wine Challenge's Sake Discovery Tasting on April 19.

Longform

A man offers prayers at Hebikubo Shrine in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward. The shrine is one of several across the country dedicated to the snake.
Shed your skin and reinvent yourself in the Year of the Snake