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Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 17, 2014

Blonde Redhead gets comfortable with past records

Formed in 1993 by Japanese singer Kazu Makino and Italian twins Simone and Amedeo Pace, and forged in the noisy underbelly of the New York alternative scene, Blonde Redhead has charted a path that has taken it from screeching underground noise rock to fragile, glacial, minimalist melody without ever...
EDITORIALS
Jun 17, 2014

Reforming Riken

The government-affiliated Riken research institute should heed the recommendations from an expert panel to undertake concrete reforms aimed at preventing the recurrence of a scandal that recently cast doubts on the credibility of scientific research in Japan.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jun 16, 2014

Japan's gambit in WWI set stage for a dark future

One hundred years ago, on June 28, 1914, Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo. It was the spark that led, one month later, to the beginning of World War I, which originally was expected to be confined to Europe and end in weeks. By the time it ended on Nov. 11, 1918, an estimated...
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Jun 16, 2014

Venice Biennale lays down the past

The Venice Architecture Biennale, first staged in 1980 and recurring every two years, has grown to become the world's largest and most influential gathering of architectural thought leaders. The event has come to be seen as providing a global snapshot of contemporary practice and as a weather vane of...
CULTURE / Music
Jun 16, 2014

Dommune welcomes British broadcasting platform Boiler Room to Tokyo

It might not be a substitute for experiencing music in a night club, but the live-streaming medium has become increasingly popular over the years, offering viewers a chance to watch their favorite DJs from the comfort of their own bedroom.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jun 15, 2014

ISIS leader fights to supplant al-Zawahri as world's deadliest terrorist

The leader of radical Sunni fighters who have made rapid military advances in Iraq is the rising star of global jihad, driven, Islamist fighters say, by an unbending determination to fight for and establish a hard-line Islamic state.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / TELLING LIVES
Jun 15, 2014

Activist yearns to return to a truly democratic Burma

From his adopted home in Tokyo, veteran democracy advocate Kyaw Kyaw Soe pushes for change in Myanmar and supports his fellow refugees in Japan.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Jun 15, 2014

A dog named Astro: not guilty

Astro, a mix of Western and Japanese breeds, was rescued from a pound. He came to ARK in March 2011 when he was about 1 year old.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 14, 2014

Honda to expand Takata air bag recall; total could top 1 million vehicles

Honda Motor expects to recall vehicles with potentially defective air bags, in a move that could expand a massive multicompany recall.
BASKETBALL
Jun 14, 2014

Star guard Oga lashes out at JBA

Japan women's national team star Yuko Oga angrily pointed at a banner that hung on the wall at a practice gym while she had a conversation with reporters.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2014

'Crowdfunding' readers back 'library bar,' request a book each

When 30-year-old book lover Shunsuke Mori decided to open a "library bar" in Tokyo, he took a leap of faith to solicit funds over the Internet.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 13, 2014

Rakuten rakes in ¥30 billion for first bond sale

Rakuten Inc., the e-commerce company led by billionaire Hiroshi Mikitani, issued its first public bonds Friday, selling ¥30 billion of three-year notes.
Events / KANSAI: WHO & WHAT
Jun 13, 2014

Free counseling for foreigners offered in Kyoto

The Kyoto City International Foundation will host a free counseling session for foreign residents from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. on June 21.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 13, 2014

South Korean sect raided but Sewol boss eludes nationwide manhunt

South Korea's biggest and most bizarre manhunt, linked to a ferry disaster in which hundreds drowned, has come full circle at the compound of a sect known for its organic ice cream as police on Thursday used earth movers to search for tunnels.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Jun 12, 2014

Tiny ancient fish unlocks secrets of Earth's early vertebrates

This is certainly not just another fish tale. A tiny jawless fish that lived more than a half-billion years ago is providing scientists with a treasure-trove of information about the very dawn of vertebrate life on Earth.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital
Jun 12, 2014

International Tokyo Toy Show allows a peek at Christmas hits

It's that time of year again. Children erupt with joy as they see their favorite anime characters come to life, and tech-savvy young adults scramble to figure out the latest cutting-edge gadgets. It's not Christmas, but the International Tokyo Toy Show runs a close second.
Japan Times
Events / Events In Tokyo
Jun 12, 2014

Follow design tips to the letter

Recently, letters of the alphabet have become popular decorations in interior design, whether as symbols of the homeowner's inner thoughts or as simple motifs. They can add a modern and personal touch to a room, especially if hand-painted and self-designed — something that visitors are invited to do...
Japan Times
Events / Events In Tokyo
Jun 12, 2014

Get dolled up at the 'Rozen Maiden Exhibition'

Now a recognized subsection of culture abroad, manga has attracted people from all around the world. What may be less well known, however, is another interesting part of Japanese culture — ball-jointed dolls and the artists who make them. Gallery parabolica-bis in Tokyo's Yanagibashi, Taito Ward, brings...
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jun 12, 2014

The world could be your oyster in Aichi

In Peru, the largest Incan festival, Inti Raymi (Festival of Sun), takes place on June 25 in honor of Inti, the sun god. In Japan, those in Aichi Prefecture on June 14 and 15 can celebrate, too, by enjoying performances by the Andean folk trio Ekekos, who will honor Inti by playing traditional panflutes...
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jun 12, 2014

Niigata's 2 km of festival fun, food and drink

A summer festival wouldn't be complete without an ice-cold drink as you take in the sun and have some fun, and in Japan a popular traditional summer drink is cider — not the alcoholic fermented apple drink, but a fizzy soft drink similar to lemonade.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 11, 2014

China seeks UNESCO listing for Nanking Massacre, sex slave archives; Japan protests

The government has filed a protest against China's applications to have what it says are historical documents on the 1937 Nanking Massacre and Japan's wartime "comfort women" brothel system registered in the U.N. archive program, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jun 11, 2014

MLB All-Star squad to face Samurai Japan in November

Major League Baseball will organize an All-Star team and visit Japan this fall to play Samurai Japan, Nippon Professional Baseball announced on Tuesday.
JAPAN / EMBASSY AVENUE
Jun 10, 2014

Appeal for Serbian flood relief aid

In the wake of the recent floods and heavy rainfall in Serbia, donations, which can be made at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Tokyo, are being sought.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KANPAI CULTURE
Jun 10, 2014

Meet the Willy Wonka of extraordinary cocktails

Contrary to expectation, the Blue Cheese Martini at the Akasaka branch of Code Name Mixology is a subtle concoction. The cocktail is clear, served in a delicate crystal glass, with three olives on the side. The cheese aroma hovers faintly on the nose, but the first sip is mildly sweet and fruity. The...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 10, 2014

Boris sums up its sonic spectrum with 'Noise'

Trying to define the sound of Tokyo-based experimental trio Boris is like asking someone their favorite kind of music. It's everything, it's nothing in particular ... it's definitely not country.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 10, 2014

Shelling's 'Aquarium Sympathy' provides a soundtrack to rainy days

When Shelling takes the stage at an ambient-drone gig at an art gallery in Tokyo's Okubo neighborhood, one thing sets them apart — the synthesizers.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Jun 9, 2014

ASIJ announces investigation into sex abuse

An independent investigation will examine late teacher Jack Moyer's suspected sexual abuse of scores of female students and why American School in Japan officials apparently allowed his attacks to continue unabated despite students' warnings.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Jun 9, 2014

Be-Japon recycles traditional culture to survive modernity

Perhaps it's a case of, "Be careful what you wish for."

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