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COMMENTARY
Nov 28, 2012

As the world grows warmer, concern cools down

A recent report on the humdrum subject of plans to build new coal-burning plants to generate electricity helps to explain why Asia — led by China and India — is now at the epicenter of concern about global warming and climate change.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / ENERGY SEMINAR
Nov 24, 2012

For energy security, Japan urged to diversify sources

Japan needs not only to maintain a diverse energy mix — including nuclear power — but also diversify the ways of securing imported fuel in the face of the changing global supply-demand structure, a former executive director of the International Energy Agency said at a recent seminar in Tokyo.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 22, 2012

Inose declares Tokyo candidacy

Tokyo Vice Gov. Naoki Inose, a noted writer, said Wednesday he will run for governor, emerging as possibly the strongest candidate to succeed his nationalist predecessor, Shintaro Ishihara.
Reader Mail
Nov 15, 2012

Multi-ethnic community here?

Michael Hoffman's Oct. 21 article, "Only immigrants can save Japan," quotes the founder and current executive director of the Japan Immigration Policy Institute, Hidenori Sakanaka, as saying that Japan "needs immigrants" and that a "new Japanese civilization will realize a multi-ethnic community."
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Nov 11, 2012

The changing face of fatherhood in Japan

My maiden brush with paternity in Japan was in 1982. New to the country and new to my job, I said to my boss, "My wife is expecting a baby on such-and-such a day and I'll want that day off."
EDITORIALS
Nov 11, 2012

Leaving hard tasks to new leader

China is now in the final stage of preparation for its leadership transition, as the once-every-five-years national congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is in session with some 2,300 delegates attending.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Oct 30, 2012

Behind the no-nuclear option

The triple-meltdown crisis that began last year at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant jarred the public out of its complacent attitude toward nuclear power and every other assurance made by the government and Japan Inc.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / WILD WATCH
Oct 21, 2012

Singing the praises of greenery

This year's annual hop between the hemispheres in my capacity as a globetrotting nature-tour guide took me to my namesake country, Brazil, with strange and unusual hopes.
BUSINESS
Oct 17, 2012

Japan Inc. nears record year of overseas M&As

Softbank Corp.'s bid for control of Sprint Nextel Corp. is adding to evidence that Japan Inc.'s overseas buying spree isn't about to abate.
BUSINESS
Oct 13, 2012

Rakuten to expand abroad amid Amazon rivalry

Rakuten Inc. plans to expand in India and Australia as the likelihood of slowing economic growth at home hurts demand at its online shopping malls.
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Oct 7, 2012

Tabloids return fire, urge China business pullout

On Sept. 29, the 40th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, Sankei Shimbun editorial writer Ryutaro Kobayashi asked how it would be possible for Japan to continue discussions with a China that had "lost its national dignity."
EDITORIALS
Oct 6, 2012

Future of senile dementia

The health and welfare ministry says that the number of elderly people suffering from senile dementia and in need of nursing care has topped 3 million this year. As Japan's population continues to gray, the number of such elderly people will inevitably increase.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 5, 2012

Tokyu, Vietnam partner building 'Japanese town'

Railway operator and real estate developer Tokyu Corp. is helping create a "Japanese town" in Binh Duong, north of Ho Chi Minh City.
EDITORIALS
Oct 5, 2012

Environment tax in effect

The environment tax was introduced from Oct. 1. Although the introduction came very late, it is hoped that the new tax will help change the mind-set and behavior of enterprises and consumers so that they can contribute to mitigating global warming through reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, which...
Reader Mail
Sep 30, 2012

Game of chance sure beats war

Territorial disputes are pushing governments and the peoples of various Asian nations closer to the edge. The media is full of reports about governments urging calm, open-minded responses, with statements such as "I don't understand what the problem is." Talks between the concerned parties go nowhere,...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 26, 2012

Mitsubishi Estate raises ¥11.2 billion to purchase four properties for REIT

Mitsubishi Estate Co. raised ¥11.2 billion to buy four properties in Tokyo for its private real estate investment trust.
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Sep 23, 2012

Japan's nuclear phaseout: Is it all smoke and mirrors?

On Sept. 14, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's administration announced that Japan would end nuclear-power generation by 2040. Five days later his Cabinet failed to endorse the new policy; but on the same day, Sept. 19, Trade Minister Yukio Edano insisted that the government would still act "based on"...
BUSINESS
Sep 21, 2012

Komatsu aims to halve power use in three years

Battling with the power shortages stemming from the Fukushima nuclear crisis, Komatsu Ltd. will spend ¥58 billion to scrap aging facilities and become more energy-efficient.
BUSINESS
Sep 19, 2012

Nuclear exit to raise LNG demand

Japan's plan to eliminate nuclear power will increase imports of liquefied natural gas by as much as 16 percent, adding demand for ships carrying the fuel, according to Arctic Securities ASA.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Sep 18, 2012

Shilling for our side over the Senkakus

Akihiro Suzuki does not think war will come, but if it does, he believes Japan will prevail.
EDITORIALS
Sep 11, 2012

Democrats stake their claim

Party conventions in the United States are rallies for the faithful. Three days of speeches and pageantry are crafted to move from one emotional peak to the next, to fire up the troops, and provide the intellectual and policy framework for the campaign that will follow. Putting the conventions back to...
COMMENTARY
Sep 3, 2012

China thrives in soft corner with two-track U.S. strategy

The U.S. strategy long has been geared against the rise of any hegemonic power in Asia and for a stable balance of power.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 31, 2012

Ten myths about the U.S. Republican agenda

There are a lot of pundits here in Tampa with no real politics to report on. So I thought now would be a good idea to do some explaining about the odd natives (well, natives for only a few days), whom the punditocracy has ventured out to poke and prod and report back, as if they are 21st-century Margaret...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Aug 31, 2012

Reverse imports on the rise thanks to strong yen

Japan Inc. has found a new export market: Japan.

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