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Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Apr 3, 2005

Brazilian Girls: "Brazilian Girls"

Is there a genre name as pointlessly generic as World Beat? This common gripe, in fact, is the conceptual brainstorm behind the heady appeal of Brazilian Girls, a quartet of New York-based club musicians none of whom are Brazilian and only one of whom is a girl. Though they dabble in bossa nova, they...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Apr 3, 2005

Out Hud: "Let us Never Speak of it Again"

A trillion watts. They mention it more than once, so I'm guessing that's what electro-rock collective, Out Hud, wants to get their hands on. They could certainly put it to use. Their nearly indescribable 2002 LP, "S.T.R.E.E.T.D.A.D.," was a gargantuan, Frankenstein-like creature composed of punk, post-rock,...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / CLOSE-UP
Apr 3, 2005

Ryu Murakami: Straight-talking wordsmith wields his pen like a sword

For nearly three decades since his seismic debut with "Almost Transparent Blue," which delved into the sex- and drug-fueled lives of Japanese youths in a town hosting a huge U.S. military base, author Ryu Murakami has often used his trademark explicit, offensive and guiltlessly cheerful language to dig...
MORE SPORTS
Apr 3, 2005

Hamaguchi set to return to court

Former Japan international basketball player Noriko Hamaguchi is set to come out of retirement and restart her career in a domestic league next season, sources close to her said Saturday.
Features
Apr 3, 2005

Does language 'difficulty' speak of a sense beyond mere words?

I have often been told by Japanese people that theirs is the most difficult language in the world. Virtually all the Japanese people who have said this to me, I might add, have spoken no other language than their own.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Apr 3, 2005

The rebirth of a salesman

For Atsushi Yamada, conductor of the New York City Opera, his presentation of Giacomo Puccini's opera "Madame Butterfly" to be staged in Tokyo and Nagoya in May will be something of a triumphant return.
JAPAN
Apr 3, 2005

Iejima viewed as option for Futenma relocation

Japan and the United States are discussing the possibility of transferring the U.S. Marine Corps' helicopter unit from Futenma Air Station to the U.S. Iejima Auxiliary Air Field in Okinawa Prefecture, senior Japanese officials said Saturday.
COMMENTARY
Apr 3, 2005

Beijing gives unrehearsed boost to Chen

HONOLULU -- "Unhelpful." That's how Washington described China's new antisecession law, which authorizes the use of "nonpeaceful means" if the opportunity for peaceful reunification with Taiwan becomes "completely exhausted." I beg to differ. As it turns out, the law has proven to be very helpful --...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 3, 2005

GSDF troops fortify camp in Samawah

Ground Self-Defense Force troops stationed in southern Iraq have recently fortified their camp by building concrete walls to defend against mortar attacks.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Apr 3, 2005

So much food that we don't know what to do with it

The media didn't quite know what to make of that bizarre story last month about the elderly Sapporo man who allegedly killed his wife following a dinnertime spat. One might expect a husband to become angry over not getting enough food, TV commentators implied, but in this case the situation was the opposite....
JAPAN
Apr 3, 2005

Japanese prisons hit by Martha Stewart effect

The Justice Ministry will revise the bedding and uniform designs of male prisoners to improve the way inmates are treated, ministry sources said Saturday.
JAPAN
Apr 3, 2005

Former Kyodo News chief dies at 91

Takeji Watanabe, an adviser and former president of Kyodo News, died of old age at his home in Tokyo on Saturday, his family said. He was 91.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 3, 2005

Clause to delay postal plan drafted as counter to LDP

Six Cabinet ministers involved in the plan to privatize the postal system agreed Saturday that the plan might have to be delayed beyond its scheduled start in April 2007, officials said.
MORE SPORTS
Apr 2, 2005

Japan to have two separate leagues

The Japan Basketball Association said Thursday the men's top-tier basketball league will be recreated as a domestic pro league starting from the 2007-2008 season.
OLYMPICS
Apr 2, 2005

JOC wants Japanese metropolis to bid for major multisport event

The Japanese Olympic Committee will urge big Japanese cities to consider bidding to host a major international multisport event in the near future, JOC President Tsunekazu Takeda said Friday.
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Apr 2, 2005

English media in dilemma over Eriksson and national team

LONDON -- England continued its march toward the 2006 World Cup finals, but the impression is that its progress has left many in the hack pack who report the national team with a dilemma.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Apr 2, 2005

Carp fight back to down Giants

Greg Larocca hit a game-tying solo homer and Koichi Ogata followed with a two-run blast in the ninth inning Friday as the Hiroshima Carp rallied to beat the Yomiuri Giants 4-2 in the Central League's opening-day action.
MORE SPORTS
Apr 2, 2005

Yamamoto to skip world c'ships

Olympic silver medalist swimmer Takashi Yamamoto will skip this month's national championships, which serve as a qualifying event for the world championships this summer, Japanese swimming officials said Friday.
JAPAN
Apr 2, 2005

Emperor gets a new chief steward

The Cabinet on Friday approved the retirement of Grand Steward Toshio Yuasa of the Imperial Household and promotion of his deputy to the post.
JAPAN
Apr 2, 2005

Japan ready to drill in disputed waters

Japan will prepare to grant exploratory drilling rights in disputed waters of the East China Sea adjacent to where China hopes to launch full-scale drilling for natural gas, industry minister Shoichi Nakagawa said Friday.
JAPAN
Apr 2, 2005

Municipalities disappear with merger rush

April 1 marks the start of another year for government bodies, companies and schools. But hundreds of towns, villages and cities disappeared on paper the same day, and many others are on their way to extinction.
JAPAN
Apr 2, 2005

U.S. military aircraft crash site roles spelled out

Japan and the United States agreed Friday on what roles authorities of the two countries would play if an accident involving U.S. military aircraft occurred in Japan.
EDITORIALS
Apr 2, 2005

Palestinian 'red lines'

A rampage by Palestinian gunmen earlier this week underscores the challenges faced by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Mr. Abbas will be judged by Israel and the world on his ability to bring peace to the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Only if he succeeds will peace negotiations and the steps toward the...

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A store clerk tries to cool things down in front of their shop by spraying a hose.
Is extreme weather changing the way Japan shops?