search

 
 
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Feb 12, 2004

To run, or not to run, the race issue

Last year, when Californians had to choose between Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger and incumbent Democrat Gray Davis to be their governor, they also had to vote on another divisive issue: Proposition 54. This law, the so-called Racial Privacy Initiative, sought to ban the state collection of information...
JAPAN
Feb 12, 2004

Officials in shock visit to North; abductees on agenda

Senior Japanese officials made an unannounced visit to North Korea on Wednesday to discuss a diplomatic standoff over the abduction of Japanese citizens decades ago by North Korean agents, a government spokesman said.
SUMO
Feb 12, 2004

American sumo wrestler Sentoryu retires

American wrestler Sentoryu formally stepped down from sumo's raised ring Wednesday in a retirement ceremony at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Feb 12, 2004

The road to pinpointing corporations that care

When it comes to sex, drugs and rock'n'roll, the media never tire of airing dirty laundry.
COMMENTARY
Feb 12, 2004

China creeps toward a culture of openness

HONG KONG -- Last month, in a small but significant move toward greater openness and transparency, China for the first time made available to the public a portion of materials from its diplomatic archives for the period between the founding of the People's Republic in 1949 and 1955.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language
Feb 12, 2004

English: black and white and read all over

"What does 'abortion' mean? It's not a word we often find in textbooks, is it?" Hideharu Tajima, a teacher at Shakujii High School in Tokyo's Nerima Ward, asked students in his English-language class.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 12, 2004

Yasukuni remark annoys China

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi voiced displeasure Wednesday over remarks made by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi about the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 12, 2004

'Iyashi': relief for tired Japanese salarywomen

It's widely assumed that whatever their station in life, most Japanese women over the age of 24 are tsukarete iru (tired). This has less to do with modern living than something ingrained in the Japanese tradition that tires women out before their time -- namely, the emphasis on shigoto (work). Women...
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Feb 12, 2004

Play of Knicks puts Isiah in better position to wheel and deal

NEW YORK -- Dealing from weakness, Isiah Thomas was able to obtain Stephon Marbury when the Knicks were sinking out of the standings because he was willing to relinquish draft picks, youth and desirable contracts.
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Feb 12, 2004

Classic game builds on game classic

Nintendo's Metroid has always been more popular in the United States and Europe than in Japan, but I'm really not sure why. The series follows the adventures of Samus, a female microbe-massacring bounty-hunter/astronaut, in some truly incredible space armor.
JAPAN
Feb 12, 2004

Celebrations, protests mark holiday

A variety of events were held to mark National Foundation Day on Wednesday, with some choosing to celebrate the national holiday and others protesting the Self-Defense Forces dispatch to Iraq.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 11, 2004

'It's 1918 for everyone'

Dutch-born Menno Meyjes has had a prosperous career working as a screenwriter under the wing of Steven Spielberg, penning the Oscar-nominated "The Color Purple," "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" and "Empire of the Sun." So it's surprising to see Meyjes make his directorial debut with a script on...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 11, 2004

Ah, that's Dogma amore

Italian for Beginners Rating: * * * * (out of 5) Japanese title: Shiawase ni naru tame Itariagokoza Director: Lone Scherfig Running time: 97 minutes Language: Danish, Italian Currently showing [See Japan Times movie listings] "Italian for Beginners" is a sweet, unpretentious love story...
SOCCER / J. League
Feb 11, 2004

J. League set for 18 teams in 2005

The J. League decided Tuesday to increase the number of teams in the first division from 16 to 18 starting with the 2005 season by way of a promotion playoff system.
JAPAN
Feb 11, 2004

Changing security situation may alter collective defense stance: Koizumi

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi hinted Tuesday that the government might alter its constitutional interpretation of the nation's right to collective self-defense as it deals with future changes in the security situation.
JAPAN
Feb 11, 2004

Official data suggest evidence of bid-rigging

Fiscal 2002 saw roughly 5,500 cases in which the winning bidders for public works and other government contracts clinched the deal at a price that was exactly the same as the upper limit set by the government, according to an official document released Tuesday.
JAPAN
Feb 11, 2004

LDP panel eyes transplant revision

A research panel of the Liberal Democratic Party on Tuesday compiled the blueprint of a bill that would allow the organs of brain-dead children to be transplanted into other children.
JAPAN
Feb 11, 2004

ASDF may take relief supplies to Samawah, bypassing Baghdad

Japan may airlift relief supplies directly to the southern Iraqi city of Samawah instead of Baghdad.
EDITORIALS
Feb 11, 2004

Bringing abductees and kin home

As yet there is no end in sight to the abduction issue involving Japanese citizens. North Korea -- whose agents kidnapped them in the 1970s and 1980s -- must take the initiative to break the deadlock, but it continues to reject any formal negotiation. To get Pyongyang moving forward, Tokyo is now poised...
JAPAN
Feb 11, 2004

Agency eyes crackdown on cheap CDs

The Cultural Affairs Agency is studying legislation on the import of foreign-made compact discs of Japanese music, which are cheaper than those manufactured domestically.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 11, 2004

Fire rages at Akihabara electronics store

A fire broke out Tuesday at an electronics store in Tokyo's Akihabara district and two firefighters were slightly injured in tackling the blaze, police and firefighters said.
Japan Times
JAPAN / LABOR PAINS
Feb 11, 2004

More support needed for foreign laborers

When Roseli Okuyama came to Japan from Sao Paulo in 1990 and began working at a plastics manufacturing factory, she had planned to stay for a year and then move to Europe.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 11, 2004

Yoshinoya faithful prepare for end to 'gyudon'

Customers lined up for a bowl of "gyudon" beef on rice at Yoshinoya D&C Co. outlets Tuesday, a day before it stops serving the dish at most shops due to the import ban on U.S. beef.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Feb 11, 2004

Timeless message of divine 'Angels' rings loud and clear

They've pulled it off again! Almost exactly a year ago the team at tpt (Theatre Project Tokyo), led by the renowned American director Robert Allan Ackerman, got Tokyo theater in 2003 off to a great start with their stunningly moving production of "Bent," cast entirely from the young actors who took part...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 11, 2004

Sexual harassment victim to stage English play about her experience

About six years ago, Lilith Takahashi began performing a solo Japanese play based on her experience of sexual harassment at a U.S. university in the early 1980s.
BUSINESS
Feb 11, 2004

Drugstore chains announce tieup

Matsumotokiyoshi Co. said Tuesday it will tie up with Drug Eleven, Kyushu's largest drugstore chain.

Longform

The volunteer lifesavers of Nishihama Surf Lifesaving Club never know what's in store at the start of their day.
It's no simple day at the beach for Japan's volunteer lifesavers