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Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Jan 4, 2004

From mourning to 'magic'

It may be only mildly surprising that Japanese translations of the first four "Harry Potter" titles have racked up 16.5 million sales to date. It is, though, quite astonishing that the publisher is not an industry giant, but a small Tokyo firm with no previous best seller to its name.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 4, 2004

Myanmar doesn't need new constitution

Myanmar (also known as Burma) is celebrating what could be the most auspicious anniversary in its 56 years of independence, which was declared at 4:20 a.m. on Jan. 4, 1948. Interestingly, the British government had agreed to grant independence on Jan. 1, but superstitious elements within the newly formed...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jan 4, 2004

Air

There's a theory that says trapped inside every electronica artist is a real musician trying to get out. In the case of the French duo Air, it initially seemed that the inner artist was either Burt Bacharach or KC & the Sunshine Band, but since their radio-friendly 1997 debut "Moon Safari," more serious...
COMMENTARY
Jan 4, 2004

No East Asian card too wild

HONOLULU -- The National Intelligence Council, which does strategic analysis for the U.S. government, recently published parts of its "2020 project" (www.cia.gov./nic/NIC_home.html), examining forces that will shape the world through 2020, region by region. The East Asia analysis posits three "broad...
CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF
Jan 4, 2004

Informed feelings elicit the essence of Japan

There are many good books on Japan (as well as a number of bad ones), so how do you decide which ones are best? The decision is subjective but, objectively, I think that the best are informed with a certain peculiarity, and it is in this that I would find their pre-eminence. "There is but one way of...
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Jan 4, 2004

"Igiari! (Objection!)" on TV Asahi and more

The New Year brings a truckload of new drama series, most of which seem to be about women. This year, the female protagonists are not defined by their relations with men, though that isn't necessarily a sign of progress.
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2004

Koizumi takes more flak over new year Yasukuni visit

Protests continued Friday in Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo over Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's surprise visit to Yasukuni Shrine on New Year's Day.
EDITORIALS
Jan 3, 2004

Vote buying saps democracy

On the face of it, the much-touted drive for political reform in Japan appears to be going almost nowhere. On Monday, a Liberal Democratic Party legislator was arrested on charges of violating the Public Offices Election Law. Indeed, Japanese politics is locked in a never-ending cycle of corruption.
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2004

Just contemplating crime may soon be punishable

In the near future, it may become illegal for people to openly conspire to commit murder -- let alone follow through with the act or set the wheels in motion.
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2004

Obituary: Takashi Ishihara

Takashi Ishihara, a former president of Nissan Motor Co. who helped turn the carmaker into a global player, has died of heart failure, his family said Thursday. He was 91.
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Jan 3, 2004

Struggling Spurs lining up Hiddink as next manager

LONDON -- It may be a meaningless statistic in terms of promotion or relegation, but Tottenham Hotspur has earned fewer points -- 36 -- than any other club in the Premiership during 2003.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2004

Kato back -- but he's not his old self

Two months after his Diet comeback in November, Koichi Kato seems to be in two minds over whether to keep a low profile until he is no longer dogged by scandal -- or else reclaim his outspoken political identity.
MORE SPORTS
Jan 3, 2004

Q-chan recognized for road records

Sydney Olympics gold medalist Naoko Takahashi has been recognized for two world record marks for times clocked in two stages of the 2001 Berlin Marathon, the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) said Thursday.
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2004

Emperor offers New Year's greetings

Emperor Akihito offered his annual New Year's greetings to well-wishers who gathered at the Imperial Palace on Friday.
MORE SPORTS
Jan 3, 2004

Komazawa University takes first day

Komazawa University student Hiroki Tanaka runs the fourth leg of the Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden road relay.
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2004

Japan poised to hand U.S. industrial espionage suspect

The government may begin procedures this month to hand over a Japanese man wanted in the United States on charges of industrial espionage, according to government sources.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / PERSONALITY PROFILE
Jan 3, 2004

Atsuko DeRoy

Wherever she goes, Atsuko DeRoy has her sketch pad and pen at the ready. In meetings she quietly sketches speakers and people sitting opposite her. Outdoors she sketches buildings, flowers and whatever comes along. However quickly and unobtrusively she works, she puts passion into it. That is why, for...
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2004

Checkup data to be logged in handbooks

The health ministry plans to issue the public with health handbooks that would catalog medical checkup data accumulated by each individual throughout his or her lifetime, ministry sources said Friday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2004

Reliance on Komeito reflects LDP decline

Soon after the Nov. 9 general election of the House of Representatives, the Democratic Party of Japan compiled a thick report analyzing the results of all 300 single-seat constituencies.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 3, 2004

Chance to defuse Kashmir

LONDON -- The last dispute left from the end of the British Empire -- the Kashmir question -- may finally be en route to resolution. The unilateral cease- fire declared by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in November along the de facto border, the Line of Control (LOC), and then seconded by India,...
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2004

Americans drown off Okinawa

Two American civilian employees of the U.S. military drowned Thursday while swimming in rough seas off Okinawa, police said.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST
Jan 3, 2004

A primer for Japanese holidays

If you're like me, the one thing you need at the end of a long run of holidays is . . . yet another holiday.
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2004

Traffic deaths below 8,000 in 2003

Traffic deaths in 2003 fell by 7.5 percent from the previous year to 7,702 -- dipping below the 8,000 mark for the first time in 46 years, the National Police Agency said Friday.
COMMUNITY
Jan 3, 2004

Pianist launches pro solo career in 'furusato'

"Furusato" means "hometown" or "place of birth." Which is where most Japanese are right now, celebrating New Year's, honoring their roots and maintaining ties with relatives and friends.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Jan 3, 2004

A long walk home with an 'o-baa-chan'

"O-baa-chans" in Japan never fail to surprise me. They are treasure houses of information. The other day, I saw 83-year-old Harada-san on the ferry as we were both coming home to the island. Harada-san and I are distant neighbors the way people are distant cousins. We don't see each other often, but...
EDITORIALS
Jan 1, 2004

Year of tests for Asian democracy

For those who argue that democracy is alien to Asian society and culture, 2004 will provide the litmus test. The year will be thick with elections, challenging both voters and political systems throughout the region. Every campaign introduces volatility to domestic politics, but the sheer number of elections...
JAPAN
Jan 1, 2004

Japan hoping to make Athens Games a gold rush

Japanese athletes are expected to figure in a rush on gold medals at the 2004 Olympics Games in Athens, on the strength of their showing in world championships in swimming, track and field, gymnastics and women's wrestling.

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