Search - 2012

 
 
BUSINESS
Dec 26, 2009

Panasonic boasts rise in lithium-ion output

Panasonic Corp. has developed more powerful batteries for use in everything from laptops to electric vehicles, the Japanese electronics maker said Friday.
COMMENTARY
Dec 24, 2009

No winners emerge from COP15 conference

If the climate change conference in Copenhagen failed to meet the expectations of both developed and developing countries, it did make one thing clear: The United States remains the most powerful developed country and China is acknowledged as a leading representative of the developing countries, though...
EDITORIALS
Dec 22, 2009

Pragmatism, realism prevail

They struck a deal in Copenhagen. As expected, it satisfies few and angers many. That means it is probably the best deal that could have been reached given the profound differences among the 193 nations that negotiated the agreement. The document that was finalized urges, but does not require, deep cuts...
JAPAN
Dec 21, 2009

Japan finds a little to crow about

COPENHAGEN — The political agreement on climate change formally recognized Saturday has been roundly condemned, but the Japanese government sees it as a diplomatic achievement for including China and the United States, the two largest emitters, and paving the way for a future framework to reduce emissions....
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 19, 2009

Japan, Australia, Canada hit for falling short

COPENHAGEN — Japan won the "fossil of the day" award Thursday from international nongovernmental organizations that said the country could do better despite announcing Wednesday night it will contribute ¥1.75 trillion between 2010 and 2012 to help developing countries adapt to climate change.
EDITORIALS
Dec 19, 2009

Toward fewer nuclear arms

The United States and Russia failed to reach a new arms control agreement as the START 1 pact expired earlier this month. The two governments remain committed to a new agreement; reportedly only a few issues kept negotiators from meeting the Dec. 5 deadline.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 18, 2009

Is Mazda next in line for partner?

Mazda Motor Corp. may be the next carmaker to strike an alliance following plans by Suzuki Motor Corp. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. to team up with overseas manufacturers, investors and analysts say.
JAPAN
Dec 17, 2009

Gridlock threatens to doom COP15

COPENHAGEN — U.N. negotiators at the COP15 conference worked through the night Tuesday, increasingly desperate to reach agreement before more than 120 world leaders gather Thursday night and Friday and following an official warning that the stalemated negotiations could doom the conference.
BUSINESS
Dec 17, 2009

Moody's prods Japan on debt

Japan should set a "well-articulated" target to reduce government debt that is already the largest in the world, according to Moody's Investors Service.
JAPAN
Dec 15, 2009

Xi says he wants to improve ties

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrived Monday in Japan where he stressed the importance of the "friendly" ties between China and Japan and vowed to do his best to further develop the relationship.
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Dec 13, 2009

How to survive a 'fearful age'?

The other day I attended a preview screening of "The Road," the new film of Cormac McCarthy's post-apocalyptic 2006 novel of the same name.
JAPAN / COP15 COPENHAGEN SPECIAL
Dec 13, 2009

Japan objects to climate summit draft proposal

COPENHAGEN, Asia's battle: Page 3 — Japan objected to a draft proposal released Friday at the COP15 climate negotiations, saying that it would give the United States, which opted out of the Kyoto Protocol, a free pass to increase its carbon dioxide emissions beyond 2012 and penalize nations such as...
JAPAN
Dec 12, 2009

Poorest nations seek $200 billion

COPENHAGEN — Developing countries raised the stakes Thursday for any successful outcome of the U.N. climate talks, demanding that the international community provide $200 billion to mitigate global warming in the poorest nations.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 11, 2009

And the best Japanese films of 2009 were . . .

1. "Fish Story":
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 11, 2009

In praise of films that refuse to follow formulas

After jostling through a metal detector, having my bag searched and my mobile confiscated by stern-faced blue meanies, I slump in my cinema seat, enduring head-exploding levels of volume from the coming attractions, and unwanted infrared scrutiny from guards patrolling for video-heads looking for their...
BUSINESS
Dec 10, 2009

Kanematsu to boost soybean shipments

Kanematsu Corp., Japan's largest importer of food soybeans, plans to boost sales of the oilseed by 67 percent in three years as it expands crop supply contracts in Canada and widens shipments to Europe and Asia.
EDITORIALS
Dec 8, 2009

Focus on facts in Copenhagen

One factor has been overlooked throughout the controversy surrounding the release of e-mails that allegedly show that leading climate change advocates tried to manipulate data and silence opposing views: the timing. The hacked e-mails were released just days ahead of the Copenhagen climate conference,...
BUSINESS
Dec 8, 2009

Seven & I expects ¥100 billion online

Seven & I Holdings Co. said Monday it expects to make annual sales of ¥100 billion from a new online shopping mall by the 2012 fiscal year.
JAPAN
Dec 7, 2009

Climate talks run up against clock, politics

, the international group of climate scientists and advisory group to the U.N. whose opinions represent the consensus of the vast majority of the world's leading climate experts, issued a stark warning: Unless the world takes quick action to curb greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, the Earth's...
JAPAN
Dec 7, 2009

Breakthrough hoped for at climate talks

COPENHAGEN — A conference billed by some as the world's last chance to halt global warming and catastrophic climate change opens Monday in Copenhagen in an atmosphere of optimism among U.N. delegates and political leaders that a basic agreement can be reached now and a formal treaty hammered out later....
JAPAN / COP15 COPENHAGEN SPECIAL
Dec 7, 2009

A brief history of climate talks: looking back, looking forward

Industrialization in the 19th century brought many of the benefits we enjoy in the modern world, changing the structure of society, industry and economy. But nearly two centuries later, one of the downsides of the Industrial Revolution is gaining more attention: global warming.

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