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CULTURE / Music
Jul 10, 2014

Sapphire Slows, Haioka and Albino Sound to represent Japan at Red Bull Music Academy

Sixty musicians have been chosen to take part in this year's Red Bull Music Academy, with Japanese artists taking three of the available spots.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 10, 2014

Cost of passive power struggles

The chairman of the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation recalls how the failure of the navy minister to express a truthful personal opinion within a group closed the window on Japanese doves' hopes of averting war months before the Pearl Harbor attack.
WORLD
Jul 10, 2014

Seized nuclear material in Iraq "low grade" — IAEA

The U.N. atomic agency believes nuclear material that Iraq said had been seized by insurgents was "low-grade" and did not pose a significant security risk.
JAPAN
Jul 10, 2014

Suga denies report that Pyongyang provided list of Japanese living in North

The government denies a newspaper report that said it has received a list of about 30 Japanese living in North Korea, including abductees, from Pyongyang.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 10, 2014

Shale oil to push U.S. past Russia, Saudi Arabia

Four years into the shale revolution, the U.S. is on track to pass Russia and Saudi Arabia as the world's largest producer of crude oil, most analysts agree. When that happens and by how much, though, has produced disparate estimates that depend on uncertain factors ranging from progress in drilling...
Japan Times
WORLD
Jul 9, 2014

Iraqi security forces find 53 blindfolded bodies south of Baghdad

Iraqi security forces found 53 corpses, blindfolded and handcuffed, in a town south of Baghdad early Wednesday, local officials said.
Reader Mail
Jul 9, 2014

Media lap up the North's drivel

Regarding the June 26 AFP-Jiji article "Poking fun at Pyongyang: Movie about plot to kill Kim angers North": North Korea, which has launched numerous diatribes against U.S. senior officials, has again demonstrated its usual anachronistic behavior by threatening to "mercilessly" target the United States...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Jul 9, 2014

Lessons of suicidal Cowra breakout remain unlearned

At around 2 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5, 1944, 1,104 Japanese soldiers and sailors armed only with knives, forks and a few baseball bats poured out of their huts at the Cowra prisoner-of-war camp 300 km west of Sydney in the Australian state of New South Wales. Charging through a hail of machine-gun fire,...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 9, 2014

'Into Great Silence'

Imagine a movie that's not a movie at all, but an act of contemplation. This is "Into Great Silence." Sometimes a prayer, more often a rumination, it's a film that sprung from one man's urge for silence. Director Philip Groning wanted to make a documentary about the monks living in the Grande Chartreuse...
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jul 9, 2014

Tokyo to inspect 'dappo' narcotics sellers

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans to inspect stores suspected of selling quasi-legal narcotics, after the Cabinet called for a crackdown on so-called “dappo” drugs.
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Jul 9, 2014

First legal pot shops open in Washington state

Eager customers lined up before dawn on Tuesday as Washington became the second U.S. state to allow the sale of marijuana for recreational use, although shortages and high prices were likely to accompany any euphoria.
JAPAN
Jul 9, 2014

North Korea test-fires more missiles, but abduction talks likely to continue

North Korea's launch Wednesday morning of what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles prompted a fresh protest from Tokyo, but appears unlikely to derail ongoing talks over the abduction of Japanese nationals.
Events / Events In Tokyo
Jul 9, 2014

The Miraikan is going down the pan — in a good way

Using the toilet is an everyday part of our lives, yet it's something we rarely talk about in public. But it is of such importance, involving health, sanitation and human dignity, that perhaps it should become a topic of general discussion.
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jul 9, 2014

Osaka Culturarium at Tempoza gets suited up for 'Gundam'

If giant robots excite you, then you will know Gundam — a name that has become synonymous with the sci-fi mecha genre.
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jul 9, 2014

Yokohama hosts its largest dance festival

Dance in Japan has a long, rich history, dating back to ancient times when it was used as a form of prayer to the gods. Celebrating that varied background, Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse is this Sunday hosting what it boasts is one of Japan's largest dance events — the first Yokohama Dance Festival....
WORLD
Jul 9, 2014

Moscow accuses U.S. of 'kidnapping' accused Russian hacker

Russia accused the United States on Tuesday of violating a bilateral treaty and "kidnapping" a Russian accused of hacking into U.S. retailers' computer systems to steal credit card data.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jul 8, 2014

Abe declares war on quasi-legal 'dappo' drugs

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declares war against quasi-legal highs known as “dappo” drugs, pledging to adopt a speedier process by which regulators can identify and outlaw products with dangerous narcotic or hallucinogenic ingredients.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jul 8, 2014

Conductor Hubert Soudant to put down his Tokyo Symphony Orchestra baton

Dutch conductor Hubert Soudant will make his final appearances with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra this month, before his contract with the organization officially expires in August.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KYOTO RESTAURANTS
Jul 8, 2014

Aoi-jaya: Traditional Japanese cuisine without the traditional price tag

A combination of train delays and the restaurant I had intended to eat at closing earlier than advertised meant that I had to find a replacement on the hoof. Fortunately, I was in the Isetan department store in Kyoto Station. The top two floors are given over to restaurants: the 10th floor to mostly...
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 8, 2014

Japan's innovation challenge

The Abe administration's capacity for deciding how to raise the birthrate, improve child-care facilities, realize an appropriae work-life balance and promote other 'innovations' that enable Japan to solve its many problems is now being tested.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Jul 7, 2014

BayStars' Gourriel could be in line for rare honor

The Yokohama BayStars don't look like they're going to do much winning this season. The team can, however, be associated with at least one historic victory at the conclusion of the season.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Jul 7, 2014

What the government doesn't pay in pensions it will have to make up for with welfare

People are facing a widening gap between retirement age and the age they are eligible for pensions.
COMMUNITY / Voices / COMMUNITY CHEST
Jul 7, 2014

Letters: adoption from Japan, book bores, returnees, workers' rights and fleeing U.S. guns

Some letters in response to recent articles in the Community section about a wide range of subjects.
CULTURE / Music
Jul 7, 2014

Momoiro Clover Z to open for Lady Gaga on tour

Idol group Momoiro Clover Z has been selected by Lady Gaga to be the opening act for one of her Japanese performances next month.
WORLD / Society
Jul 7, 2014

Cameron under pressure to launch child abuse inquiry

British Prime Minister David Cameron is facing calls to launch a full-scale inquiry into allegations that well-known politicians abused children in the 1980s, after an official said the government had lost files that may shed light on the matter.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jul 5, 2014

Fiery Shinjuku protest goes global without NHK

Until the Great East Japan Earthquake, social media didn't have much purchase on Japanese social life. But disasters are transformative, and in a country where the mass media is cautious about its role vis-a-vis the authorities, social media came into its own after the tsunami and meltdown.

Longform

Ayumi Matsuki, a priestess at Yoshiwara Shrine, shows off some "o-mamori" charms. She says visitors to the shrine have increased since the NHK drama “Unbound” began airing this month.
Tracing Tsutaya Juzaburo, Edo’s media maverick