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Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / NEW ART SEEN
Dec 1, 2005

Getting a little help from friends

Federico Herrero made a splash with his wall paintings of weirdly morphed animals at the 2001 Venice Biennale and, at age 22, became the youngest-ever winner of the prestigious art fair's Golden Lion Award. In the wake of that success, the Costa Rican-born painter garnered international representation...
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE
Nov 30, 2005

Guts and glory the key elements to the Takahashi story

Is there anything more compelling in sports than a once great champion, who has been written off by just about everybody, recapturing their former glory in dramatic fashion?
JAPAN
Nov 30, 2005

Asbestos-relief bill may hit 27 billion yen

The government revealed Tuesday that thousands of buildings nationwide, including public facilities, pose asbestos exposure risks while unveiling a draft bill to pay 27 billion yen in compensation to the people affected.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Nov 29, 2005

Soaking in benefits of a chocolate spa

The Service: chocolate spa The Hype: slimmer figure: smooth skin: stress relief The Lab Rat: a thirty-something female chocolate lover with irregular eating habits The Results: thighs slimmed by 1.1 cm; feeling of relaxation: and - though connection can't be proven - a sudden desire to go shopping.
COMMENTARY
Nov 28, 2005

A ray of hope for Chinese progressives

HONG KONG -- The recent political rehabilitation of former party chief Hu Yaobang, whose death in April 1989 triggered massive student demonstrations in Tiananmen Square, is encouraging to the progressive wing of the Chinese Communist Party, even though there is little indication that the current leadership...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Nov 27, 2005

Sikorski's release, expansion and playoff ideas fill mailbag

Thanks to all readers of the "Baseball Bullet-In" for your e-mails and interest in Japanese baseball.
JAPAN
Nov 26, 2005

Yearend Jumbo lotto tickets on sale

Lottery fever gripped the public again Friday as Yearend Jumbo tickets went on sale across the nation.
BUSINESS
Nov 26, 2005

FSA issues improvement orders to 26 nonlife insurers

The Financial Services Agency ordered 26 nonlife insurers Friday to make improvements after failing to honor more than 8 billion yen in legitimate insurance claims in a scandal that has deepened worries about the faltering industry.
BUSINESS
Nov 26, 2005

DoCoMo handset for kids boasts crime alarm, locater

NTT DoCoMo Inc. has unveiled a mobile phone that features an alarm and an automatic calling function to keep children safe, as an increasing number of them fall victim to crime.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Nov 26, 2005

Japan HIV Center to help on World AIDS Day

Caitlin Stronell and I are sitting in front of Ebisu Station when Skip Swanson skips into view with a twirl and a balletic bow.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / PERSONALITY PROFILE
Nov 26, 2005

Richard Quest

Almost 20 years ago, viewers of the BBC World Service used to watch a British television reporter whose agile, distinctive style excited comment. "Unconventional," some said. "Quirky," said others, "original and mold-breaking."
BUSINESS
Nov 26, 2005

Commission backs cutting tax breaks

While the government must slash its wasteful spending, taxes still need to be raised to support the aging society, the Tax Commission said Friday in its fiscal 2006 tax-reform proposals.
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Nov 25, 2005

Two days of the craziest art

The biannual international art event Design Festa returns to Tokyo Nov. 26-27 for "two days of crazy art, thousands of talented artists, performances from outer space and heaps of imagination," according to the Design Festa Web site.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Nov 25, 2005

Can you keep up with Autechre?

It's pretty much a character-defining kind of thing: Either you think the seminal U.K. electronic act Autechre are taking the ball and running with it to places you didn't know existed, or you're convinced that they've gone bleak, technical and chaotic, and you just want them to write some damn melodies...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / THE SECOND ROOM
Nov 25, 2005

Psychedelic radar 11.25

Saturday, Nov. 26
JAPAN
Nov 24, 2005

Bill to bill firms for asbestos ills

The government has compiled a bill calling on companies to pay about 8 billion yen per year and local governments to pay about 1 billion yen per year to fund allowances for people suffering asbestos-linked health problems and for the next of kin of those who died from such maladies.
COMMENTARY
Nov 24, 2005

Myanmar ranks high on Bush's radar

HONG KONG -- One significant though insufficiently noticed aspect of U.S. President George W. Bush's weeklong visit to Asia was his consistent effort to focus attention on Myanmar, and to pressure Asian allies, notably Japan, to be more forthright in their criticisms of the military junta's shortcomings....
JAPAN
Nov 24, 2005

Iraqi minister in Tokyo for talks

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari arrived Wednesday in Tokyo for a four-day visit during which he will meet with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and other top officials to discuss Japan's support for Iraq's reconstruction.
COMMENTARY
Nov 23, 2005

Neocons absconded with round five

BRUSSELS -- The six-party talks, which initially began in August 2003 to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, reconvened in Beijing on Nov. 9, then adjourned three days later inconclusively. Defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Nov 23, 2005

Rice fish

* Japanese name: Medaka * Scientific name: Oryzias latipes * Description: This ordinary-looking little creature is one of the most important fish in biological research. Growing just 5-8 cm long, in the wild it is pale brown dorsally and silver underneath and on the flanks. The dorsal fin has 5-6 rays;...
BUSINESS
Nov 23, 2005

Panel eyes death of 1999 tax cuts

The Tax Commission plans to recommend in its fiscal 2006 tax reform proposals that the government abolish the 1999 income tax cuts at both national and local levels in January 2007, and some corporate tax cuts as scheduled in March, Commission Chairman Hiromitsu Ishi said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Nov 22, 2005

Council seeks huge cuts in welfare, civil service, U.N. outlays

A Finance Ministry panel on Monday urged drastic cuts in social security, local government financing and civil servant payrolls in the fiscal 2006 budget to shore up the nation's debt-laden finances.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 22, 2005

Kyushu student summit looks at hurdles to tourism, cures

BEPPU, Oita Pref. -- Some 460 students interested in travel and the tourism industry from around the world gathered this month in this hot-spring resort town in southeastern Kyushu to discuss the sector's untapped potential.
EDITORIALS
Nov 22, 2005

Simplistic view in a complex world

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U.S. President George W. Bush met at a summit in the ancient capital of Kyoto last Wednesday, the first such meeting in almost a year. The two leaders shared their belief that close relations between their countries are important not only for this region but also...
BUSINESS
Nov 22, 2005

State financial entities to shrink from eight to one

The government and ruling coalition have agreed in principle on the goal of consolidating eight governmental financial institutions into a single entity, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said Monday.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 20, 2005

Chaff rains on Aussie trade

SYDNEY -- An international scandal revealing Australia's role in the Iraq food-for-oil coverup is costing good will in Washington and could affect agricultural exports to the key Japanese market.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 18, 2005

Kids around world chat in pictures

Children who speak different languages can be friends if they can find a way to communicate.

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