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Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 3, 2011

Decade of fine tuning yields gold for capsule

"I see capsule as a J-pop group, but then again, I don't think J-pop should be made into a particular genre with its own rules," says Yasutaka Nakata of electro unit capsule and producer of idol sensations Perfume. "There are professional producers who try to create 'J-pop music,' but really any pop...
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jun 3, 2011

The Met tours Nagoya, Tokyo

After cancellations by two of its singers, the Metropolitan Opera has found replacements, so that it can carry out performances in Nagoya and Tokyo from June 4 to 19.
JAPAN
Jun 2, 2011

No-confidence vote set for Kan Cabinet

The Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and Tachiagare Nippon (Sunrise Party of Japan) submitted a binding no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Wednesday evening, shaking the administration to the core as discontented members of the Democratic Party of Japan, including Cabinet appointees,...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 2, 2011

Risk of tsunami underestimated: IAEA

Japan underestimated the risks of tsunami that led to the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a preliminary summary Wednesday, while pointing out the need to reinforce the independence of its nuclear regulators.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 2, 2011

Thee Phantom's genre-blending screams 'Rap Me Amadeus!'

Many hip-hop artists spend their days scouring record bins for choice samples to rap over, but rarely do they go out and find an actual orchestra. As rapper Thee Phantom, Jeff McNeill is doing just that.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 2, 2011

Festival season kicks into gear with Taico Club

This weekend's Taico Club in Nagano Prefecture will be the first of four summer-festival appearances for Tokyo synth-pop/postpunk act Kimonos. Formed only last year, the duo of Leo Imai and Zazen Boys' Shutoku Mukai will also play at Fuji Rock (July 30), World Happiness (Aug. 7) and the Rising Sun Rock...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 2, 2011

Nisennenmondai "Nisennenmondai Live!!!"

Tokyo instrumental trio Nisennenmondai (which translates to "year 2000 problem") have always seemed to struggle between an unwillingness — or fear of — compromising their scratchy, lo-fi sound and the problem of transferring the immediacy and sometimes breathtaking energy of their live performances...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jun 2, 2011

Fired-up tales of ceramics in wonderland

Craft was maligned in Japan's Meiji Era (1868-1912) as the transposition of Western aesthetic theory denigrated it in relation to grand ideas of "fine art." All the while, though, it was an important export industry and a core component of Japan's contributions to various world expositions. It became...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jun 2, 2011

Sumptuary laws inspired Korean artisans to innovate

The Koryo Museum of Art's recently launched exhibition, "Korean Decorative Objects and Containers," features more than 150 folk works — including ceramics, paper crafts, furniture, silverware and wooden crafts — all of which were once utensils of some kind. These stunning examples of craftsmanship...
JAPAN
Jun 1, 2011

Kan's foes readying no-confidence vote

The opposition camp stepped up efforts Tuesday to bring down Prime Minister Naoto Kan, preparing to submit a vote of no confidence against him as early as Wednesday.
EDITORIALS
Jun 1, 2011

Communication breakdown

Confusion over the information on the injection of sea water into the No. 1 reactor at the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant highlights the communication problems plaguing the prime minister's headquarters and Tokyo Electric Power Co.
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Jun 1, 2011

Walsh set to remain with Knicks

John Calipari couldn't believe his awful luck when he stepped into an almost empty hotel elevator a week ago in Sarasota, Floriday, (site of the Dick Vitale Gala) and the door closed before he recognized its lone occupant.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
May 31, 2011

Quake coverage mitigates losses from March 11

Since the devastating earthquake and tsunami destroyed or swept away thousands of homes on March 11, earthquake insurance has become a hot topic.
COMMENTARY / World
May 30, 2011

Changing Japan's system to handle the 'unexpected'

Faced with an unprecedented crisis that was triggered by the combined disasters of the recent earthquake and tsunami, Japan is continuing to struggle with the radiation leak and sealing of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
JAPAN
May 30, 2011

Pump failure nearly brings No. 5 to a boil

The seawater pump in the cooling system for the Fukushima power plant's No. 5 reactor broke down Saturday evening, prompting repair crews to install a backup pump 15 hours later on Sunday afternoon, Tokyo Electric Power Co. said.
JAPAN
May 28, 2011

Experts: Leave radiation checks to us

Measuring radiation levels accurately is difficult for laypersons and they shouldn't panic if their devices show much higher levels than the figures announced by the government, radiation experts say.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
May 28, 2011

CARE official helps Tohoku after a career of hot spots

Futaba Kaiharazuka, an assistant program director with the aid organization CARE International Japan, remembers clearly the first time she visited a refugee camp in Pakistan.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
May 28, 2011

Woman seeks owner of ring

A British woman who bought a secondhand Japanese van in the U.K. is looking for the owner of a platinum ring adorned with a blue gem that she found under the carpet in the backseat.
JAPAN
May 27, 2011

Fujifilm helps salvage photos in disaster zone

A few days after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, Fujifilm Corp. in Tokyo began to receive sporadic but desperate phone calls from survivors in the Tohoku region.
JAPAN
May 27, 2011

Tepco now says reactor seawater injection wasn't halted

Tokyo Electric Power Co. in an apparent flip-flop Thursday claimed it did not temporarily stop the injection of seawater into the damaged Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant on March 12, a day after the deadly earthquake and tsunami.
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
May 27, 2011

Tokyo theater offers butoh performance and lecture

The mission of Theater X (Cai), according to its website, is to stand out from all other theaters in Tokyo, "though they are as numerous as stars in the sky."
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
May 27, 2011

Music group hopes to bring tranquility to Japan's shaken shores

Inner peace and happiness: Two things the nation needs plenty of in the months following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Come June, an international ensemble currently on tour will do its best to convey a message of merriment and tranquility.
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
May 26, 2011

'Secret society' takes a national stool sample

A 'secret society' asked the Japanese public to tell them more about their poop. Yes they did.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
May 26, 2011

"Finland Fest: World Music Showcase"

Since 2006, The Finland Fest has catered to a loyal Japanese fan base by bringing over the best bands their Nordic homeland has to offer. This year's showcase has been split up into two portions — the "World Music Showcase" and "Metal Attack."
EDITORIALS
May 26, 2011

Helping hands to Mr. Kan

The perseverance that people in northeastern Japan have shown after the massive earthquake and tsunami devastated their communities March 11 has impressed many people around the world.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
May 26, 2011

Nobuyoshi Araki moves on to the past

Since Nobuyoshi Araki lost his beloved cat Chiro a year ago, he made a point of taking photographs on a daily basis. He took shots of naked women in kimono, of the sky, of Tokyo on the day of the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake (March 11) and even some on his way to hospital appointments. In thousands...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
May 26, 2011

"Invasion Prague 68: Josef Koudelka"

Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of PhotographyCloses July 18

Longform

Atsuyoshi Koike, the president and CEO of Rapidus, says there is a “sense of urgency” when it comes to Japan’s efforts in manufacturing semiconductors. “We have to make sure we are successful,” he says.
Atsuyoshi Koike’s big game: Fourth down and 2 nanometers to go