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EDITORIALS
May 10, 2005

The crimes of Mr. Taylor

West Africa appears to be a political tinder box. Real democracy is a distant dream and the life span of governments is determined more frequently by bullets than by ballots. Not only are there civil wars in several countries but the combatants (on both sides) commit atrocities against civilian populations....
EDITORIALS
May 9, 2005

Fishing for sustainable profits

The good news for Japan's fisheries is that some of its products enjoy growing demand abroad, particularly in some parts of Asia. This year's government white paper on fisheries stresses the importance of developing overseas markets and highlights a variety of export-oriented initiatives across the country....
COMMENTARY
May 5, 2005

Britain's apolitical election

LONDON -- So powerful has been Prime Minister Tony Blair's dominance of British politics that Thursday's General Election has resolved into one question: Are you for or against his leadership?
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
May 4, 2005

Living tradition of court doll-making celebrated

"Gosho Ningyo Court Dolls and Paintings of the Modern Era,' currently at the Seikado Bunko Art Museum and coinciding with Golden Week, sets out to display the decorative flourishes and innovations of the late 19th century (late Edo and Meiji periods) through to the early 20th century. It was a time when,...
EDITORIALS
May 4, 2005

A new Constitution by the people

Fifty-eight years ago, on May 3, 1947, the postwar Constitution of Japan came into effect. Today this new national charter, underscored by its pacifist principles, is broadly accepted by the Japanese public. Yet, strange as it may seem, this is a constitution enacted by Imperial order, not by popular...
EDITORIALS
May 2, 2005

Losing the war on terror?

The U.S. government has just released its annual report on terrorism, and it makes for grim reading. Equally troubling is the report's omissions: This year it does not give the specific number of terrorist attacks last year. Yet serious terrorist incidents are increasing, a finding that is even more...
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
May 1, 2005

Fuji TV's "Naruhodo the World" makes a brief comeback, and more

On Monday, TV Tokyo's business documentary series "Gaia no Yoake" (The Dawn of Gaia; 10 p.m.) will look at NEET, an acronym coined in England that stands for "not in education, employment or training," and which describes young adults who are neither in school or in the workforce.
EDITORIALS
Apr 30, 2005

Treaty against nuclear terror

Recently the United Nations unanimously approved a treaty that outlaws the use of nuclear weapons by terrorists and their supporters. Incredibly, such actions were not illegal before. The treaty has been touted -- by the United States, no less -- as an important step in the fight against terrorism and...
JAPAN
Apr 29, 2005

Japan, EU to pressure China at summit

Leaders from Japan and the European Union plan to call on China to develop as "a responsible and constructive global partner" during their summit next week, according to a draft summit statement obtained by Kyodo News.
JAPAN
Apr 29, 2005

Kyoto Protocol emissions steps adopted by state

Japan adopted a set of measures Thursday to cut emissions of greenhouse gases in a bid to fulfill its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, government officials said.
COMMENTARY
Apr 28, 2005

New biotech miracles won't come cheap

WASHINGTON -- The California biotechnology industry recently gathered for its annual CALBIO conference. Participants were excited at the prospect of developing new medical miracles. But the potential of government interference hung over the proceedings like dark clouds on the horizon.
JAPAN
Apr 23, 2005

81 Diet members visit Yasukuni Shrine

A Cabinet minister and at least 80 other Diet members visited Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni Shrine on Friday.
JAPAN
Apr 23, 2005

Ban on 37 alien species approved

The government on Friday endorsed an ordinance to prohibit the importing and breeding of 37 nonnative species seen as endangering the ecosystem.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Apr 23, 2005

Put on your Nike shoes and 'just squat'

For years now, readers have been sending me their opinions on toilets. I can almost consider myself a toilet therapist. Every time I mention toilets in a column, I am sure to get opinions, especially regarding which is better -- the Western-style toilet or the Japanese-style toilet.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Apr 21, 2005

Fast, furious -- and frustrating

In "Meteos," a new puzzle game for the Nintendo DS handheld, the denizens of the universe greet you with a plea (in earnest, broken English): "We want you, save our planet!"
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Apr 21, 2005

Time to honor the planet, every day

'If the environment is a fad, then it's going to be our last fad," warned Denis Hayes at the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, having given up his own graduate studies at Harvard only months before to organize this historic event.
JAPAN
Apr 21, 2005

Upper panel can't agree on need for new Article 9

A House of Councilors panel on the Constitution endorsed a final report Wednesday that cites the need to revise the supreme law to ensure new human rights concepts and agrees a female should be allowed to ascend the Imperial throne, but fails to declare a consensus on amending the war-renouncing Article...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Apr 20, 2005

The painter's art is mud

Regarded as Spain's greatest living artist, Catalan painter Antoni Tapies (born 1923) is the subject of a comprehensive retrospective currently showing at the Hara Museum of Art in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward.
EDITORIALS
Apr 19, 2005

Move cautiously on Constitution

A Lower House panel on constitutional reform last week ended five years of discussions after presenting a final report to the Speaker. An Upper House panel is due to submit a similar report later this month. It is the first time since the Constitution was promulgated in 1946 that the Diet has conducted...
EDITORIALS
Apr 16, 2005

Mr. Wen courts India

Ties between China and India continue to strengthen. While some worry about a "new axis" between Beijing and Delhi, it is only natural that two of the world's largest countries -- neighbors, no less -- have strong and cooperative relations. Asia needs them to have a positive, forward-looking partnership....
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE
Apr 15, 2005

Labor icon Miller: NHL players didn't get message out

Well, I never thought it would come to this.
JAPAN
Apr 15, 2005

Cost-cutting a safety threat: JAL unions

Unions at Japan Airlines Corp. are taking the opportunity of JAL being reprimanded by the government over recent safety shortcomings to fault the policies of management, especially its drastic cost-reduction efforts.
JAPAN
Apr 13, 2005

Japan wants permission to kill more whale species

Japan will seek permission to conduct a "broader and more comprehensive" research whaling program in the Antarctic when the International Whaling Commission holds its annual meeting in June, a Fisheries Agency official said Tuesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / THE SECOND ROOM
Apr 8, 2005

Honest, Doc, I can still dance

I missed everything in the doctor's explanation of my condition after she used the "A" word.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 8, 2005

Prime minister's new quarters a step up

Built more than 70 years ago, it had only three rooms for private use that get little sunshine and was inhabited by mites and cockroaches. A previous occupant had been assassinated there.

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