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CULTURE / Books
May 13, 2012

A chart-topper for J-Pop fans

Sayonara Amerika, Sayonara Nippon: A Geopolitical Prehistory of J-Pop by Michael K. Bourdaghs. Columbia University Press, New York, 2012, 304 pp., $27.50 (paperback)
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
May 13, 2012

Though spooked by new threats, Japanese accept mass killers

Before March last year, if you'd asked a child in Japan about nuclear radiation you would probably have been told about Godzilla, the monster powered by mutations caused by radiation, or Tetsuwan Atomu, aka the nuclear-powered robot Astro Boy. Not any more.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
May 12, 2012

Filmmaker savors being in situation where threat of the unknown looms

A surfboard mounted against a sea of sludge, whimsically defiant to the ruinous tide of debris. It's the kind of quirky beauty you might expect from Michael Arias, an American filmmaker based in Tokyo. Arias' creative work, in film through to his recent photographs of Tohoku, all paint with the same...
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
May 12, 2012

Marquinhos hoping he can give Marinos boost

As secret weapons go, there are few better players a J. League team could call on than Brazilian striker Marquinhos.
COMMENTARY
May 9, 2012

Ankle weights on Asia's rise

A favorite theme in international debate nowadays is whether Asia's rise signifies the West's decline. But the current focus on economic malaise in Europe and the United States is distracting attention from the many serious challenges that call into question Asia's continued success.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
May 8, 2012

The best of Views from the Street

A pick of some of best —and the rest — of the vox pops over the years, in chronological order:
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: FASHION
May 8, 2012

Issey Miyake's innovations beat the Brits to win the Design Museum of London fashion award

Colloquially called "The Oscars of Design," the Design Museum of London Design Awards are prestigious accolades given in six categories to the most innovative and inspiring designs of the year — and this year's top honors in the fashion category went to Japan's own Issey Miyake and his team of boundary-pushing...
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 6, 2012

Nuclear power role still said critical

Despite the seriousness of the Fukushima disaster, Japan should continue using nuclear power because there isn't another energy source that can replace it and because the nation has a responsibility to further its global development using the lessons learned from the crisis, says energy expert Kenji...
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 6, 2012

New push should be for renewables

With the nation's last operating commercial reactor ceasing operations Saturday, The Japan Times interviewed two energy experts to explore the future of nuclear power in Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 4, 2012

Tokyo to be treated to rare annular eclipse, Venus transit

If you're in the right place, a couple of rare astronomical events in the coming weeks — an annular eclipse and a transit of Venus — may make it worthwhile to buy a pair of eclipse glasses.
EDITORIALS
May 4, 2012

Mr. Noda, Mr. Obama and the alliance

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda met with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House on April 30 and later issued a joint statement underlining the importance of "the U.S.-Japan Alliance" as "the cornerstone of peace, security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region."
JAPAN
May 3, 2012

Conservative group wages war on Article 9

The war-renouncing clause to the Constitution is a threat to national security that leaves Japan vulnerable to foreign invasion and cyber-attacks and should be revised as soon as possible, a conservative citizens' group said Wednesday.
COMMENTARY
May 3, 2012

China's time to cut the cord

This week Japanese Finance Minister Jun Azumi and a large Japanese delegation will join some 4,000 participants gathering in Manila for the 45th annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank. By tradition led by a Japanese — typically a former Ministry of Finance official —...
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 2, 2012

Okuda to lead JBIC in new direction

Upon assuming the presidency of Japan Bank for International Cooperation on April 1, Hiroshi Okuda told reporters that Japan today is lagging behind the rest of the world in both politics and economy by a wide margin.
BUSINESS
May 2, 2012

BOJ stimulus pleases debt holders

Holders of Japanese government debt got what they wanted from the Bank of Japan's stimulus last week, while Nissan Motor Co. Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn had little reason for cheer as the yen continued to rise.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 1, 2012

Tax hike small change in senior-care dilemma

The ominous demographics of aging Japan have long been seen by the people as a distant concern, not a present-day one. But that mindset is being called into question by a prime minister who says a crisis requiring immediate sacrifices has already begun.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
May 1, 2012

Constitution again faces calls for revision to meet reality

Thursday marks the 65th year since the Constitution took effect in 1947.
COMMUNITY / Voices / HAVE YOUR SAY
May 1, 2012

Debito takes on Donald: readers' responses

Some readers' responses to Debito Arudou's April 3 column, "Keene should engage brain before fueling 'flyjin,' foreign crime myths":
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
May 1, 2012

Yes, I can use chopsticks: the everyday 'microaggressions' that grind us down

Have you ever noticed how many interpersonal interactions in Japan are like "speed dates" of set questions?
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 28, 2012

Manila envoy cites caregiver snags, 3/11 dispatch

The Philippine ambassador to Tokyo hopes bilateral labor exchanges expand — in particular nurses and other caregivers coming to Japan under a free-trade accord — as part of the efforts to deepen economic relations.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Apr 28, 2012

Mashiko-based U.S. potter vows he'll not be defeated by 3/11 destruction

Harvey Young, a ceramic artist for over 40 years who has spent nearly three decades in Mashiko, Tochigi Prefecture, knows a thing or two about shaping beauty out of chaos — and about the sudden misfires life can bring. Even his early love for pottery warped and melded with other interests until it...
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2012

Growing 'butterfly gap' shows 10-year JGBs top bet

Investors are favoring Japan's 10-year notes over both shorter- and longer-term debt on prospects the central bank will succumb to lawmaker calls to buy a wider spectrum of debt to support the economy.

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