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JAPAN / PARTY LINE
Jul 11, 2007

SDP sees Upper House race as vital in protecting Article 9

The Constitution's war-renouncing Article 9 is in danger of being revised by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the upcoming Upper House election is an opportunity to put a stop to this effort, Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima said.
EDITORIALS
Jul 11, 2007

From blunders to loose ends

The question remains as to why the Liberal Democratic Party and its ruling coalition partner, Komeito, forced two bills to abolish the Social Insurance Agency through the just-ended Diet session with such haste. Suspicions also have been raised about the contents of the bills.
Reader Mail
Jul 11, 2007

Apologies don't stop with Japan

Recently a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, for whatever reasons, decided to formally back those who complain about the forced servitude of "comfort women" and other atrocities attributed to Japanese troops during World War II. While I don't disagree that such evils occurred, I don't think...
EDITORIALS
Jul 11, 2007

Premature plan for devolution

A study group within the Liberal Democratic Party has submitted an interim report on introducing the "doshu" system of regional governments to the Abe administration. The crux of the idea is to divide the nation into nine to 13 regional blocs and give them greater autonomy than they have now.
Reader Mail
Jul 11, 2007

No sweat in being averse to hugs

Regarding Mark Schreiber's July 1 translation ("Will 'free hugs' take hold in Japan?") of a Weekly Playboy article: I accept that the Japanese are not likely to hug each other in public, but neither is it common practice in Australia. The concept of "personal space" is very prevalent, and one does...
JAPAN
Jul 11, 2007

Japan upset by U.S. Navy disclosure about joint drill

The Defense Ministry was in a stir Tuesday over the U.S. Navy's public release of specific details on a joint missile defense exercise last week that the ministry didn't know or that it wanted to be kept secret, including the amount of time it took to inform the prime minister that an enemy state had...
JAPAN
Jul 11, 2007

Film on accused gropers reflects judiciary flaws: lawyers

Criminal trials involving accused "chikan" — men who use the anonymity of crowded trains to grope women — represent the dark side of Japan's judicial system, according to their defense lawyers.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Jul 11, 2007

Rock swallow

* Japanese name: Iwa tsubame * Scientific name: Delichon dasypus * Description: The translation of the Chinese name for this bird is smoky-bellied hair-leg swallow. It is also known as the Asian housemartin. It's a small bird, some 12-cm long, and is colored a dark steel-blue above and is white —...
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Jul 11, 2007

Satellite of love

Empress Michiko has a habit of gazing at the moon on New Year's Day. How do I know? Well, here's the poem the Empress wrote for this year's New Year poetry reading:
LIFE / Digital / IGADGET
Jul 11, 2007

Digital graffiti lets you make your mark

Irony is a word that is no doubt found in every language. A case in point is the widely accepted view that English is the lingua franca of the Internet. Unfortunately, while this expression nicely captures the linguistic dominance of English, the term itself originates in Italian. Despite this quirk...
BUSINESS
Jul 11, 2007

NEC aims for rise in chip sales, profit

NEC Corp., Japan's largest personal computer maker, said Tuesday it aims for higher sales and profitability at its chip unit as the firm wants to triple earnings this business year.
BUSINESS
Jul 11, 2007

Deutsche Bank loses more analysts

Kumio Tomonaga, Japan's top retail analyst according to Institutional Investor magazine, and Tetsuro Tsusaka, a communications and trading companies analyst, have left Deutsche Bank AG's Japanese brokerage unit.
BUSINESS
Jul 11, 2007

Court setbacks deflate Steel Partners' investments

Warren Lichtenstein's Japanese investments are losing value after a Tokyo court called his fund "abusive" and shareholders rejected its latest takeover bid.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 11, 2007

Palestinians' 'Blair option' needs help

LOS ANGELES — The release of an abducted BBC journalist in Gaza is being seen by some as an attempt by Hamas (which denies any part in the kidnapping) to curry favor with Tony Blair, who on stepping down as Britain's prime minister was appointed international envoy to Israel and Palestine. Blair has...

Longform

An illustration features the Japanese signs for "ganbare" (good luck) and the Deaflympics, which will be held between Nov. 15 and 26.
A century of Deaf sport finds its moment in Tokyo