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Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Jun 20, 2010

Resort to sheer pleasure on Ishigaki Island

Want to get away from it all? Then why not fly 2,000 km toward the Equator from Tokyo to Ishigaki, the main island of the southerly Yaeyama group in Okinawa Prefecture. And once there, then treat yourself to a stay at Club Med Kabira Beach, where you can do almost anything you want — or nothing at...
EDITORIALS
Jun 19, 2010

Sumo group must clean house

The Japan Sumo Association is now being battered about by a gambling scandal following the discovery in May that two sumo stablemasters helped gangsters obtain tickets for special ringside seats at sumo tournaments. The tickets scandal resulted in demotion of stablemasters Kise and Kiyomigata and the...
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jun 18, 2010

Old Tokyo hits silver screen

Three Japanese silent movies will be screened in Tokyo on June 25, giving audiences a taste of yore.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Jun 18, 2010

Tokyo ballet is blooming

In its short history, the New National Theatre Ballet (NNT Ballet) has performed a total of 42 productions under the auspices of eight choreographers. It's a prolific output for a relatively young company and the company is understandably proud of this achievement.
COMMENTARY
Jun 18, 2010

Recipes for curbing deficits

LONDON — Following the Greek financial crisis, governments in Europe have been adopting austerity measures designed to reduce public sector deficits. The main reason that cuts in governments expenditure are needed is that unless clear and determined steps are taken to reduce public sector deficits,...
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jun 18, 2010

Exhibit lets kids live like Doraemon

Doraemon, a blue, catlike character with a "magic pocket" in the eponymously titled manga/animation series, could have been an inspiration for many of Japan's scientists. For proof, just visit Tokyo's Miraikan (the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation).
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jun 18, 2010

'Paris-Kyoto': Two very different cities, one vibrant vision

Color photography, once thought of as the crass, poor cousin of the more aesthetically pleasing monochrome, is now firmly established as a valid art form. We have William Eggleston and his vivid images of rural America to thank for that.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Jun 18, 2010

Premium sake tasting is back in Tokyo

Good news for anyone with an interest in Japan's traditional tipple: The Ginjo Bar is up and running again for the summer. This annual event is organized by the Nippon Ginjo Kyokai, a loose affiliation of kura (sake breweries) around the country that specialize in premium sake, most of it prepared in...
BUSINESS
Jun 17, 2010

Kan may need ¥7 trillion tax hike

Prime Minister Naoto Kan may have to raise taxes by as much as ¥7 trillion to fulfill his pledge to cap bond sales in coming years, according to an independent adviser to the government.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 16, 2010

The value of seemingly empty Japanese phrases

Japanese is often considered an indirect and ambiguous language, and that's because it is. The national character, too, often appears passive and indirect to non-Japanese. As a result, it can be tempting for newcomers to take a lead from Frank Sinatra and do things "My Way," and generally this works...
COMMENTARY
Jun 15, 2010

Poor grades for U.K. schools

LONDON — The new British government has declared its intention to do all it can to improve standards of education in Britain. This was also a high priority for the previous Labour administration. As prime minister, Tony Blair used to declare that his mantra was "education, education, education."
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Jun 15, 2010

Social change architect starts young

At first glance, it is hard to guess that such a soft-spoken, refined, slim gentleman with a serene smile is an energetic and charismatic leader who has given financial and mental support to more than 2,000 "social entrepreneurs" around the world. But once Bill Drayton starts talking, you can immediately...
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2010

Child sex in 'manga' — art or obscenity?: Rape, unsafe acts wrong signals

Tsuneo Akaeda, a 66-year-old obstetrician and gynecologist who runs a clinic in Tokyo's Roppongi nightlife district, knows more than most about the sex lives of teenagers, many of whom come to him for abortions or treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 12, 2010

Quantitative analysts take on the 'Beautiful Game'

HONG KONG — Sepp Blatter and the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the organizers of the World Cup, had better watch out — the quants have arrived and have put their infamous models to work in predicting the outcome of the World Cup that has just kicked off in South Africa....
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Jun 12, 2010

'Child of sin' finds friends worldwide

Three heart attacks since January, having difficulties with his parents and living in fear that his visa will expire is just the beginning of what 24-year-old Takumi Tanaka is coping with.
JAPAN
Jun 11, 2010

Freelancers OK at Tokyo prosecutor briefings

The Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office opened its news conference to nonpress club members Thursday, following the example of several ministries that have started allowing freelancers into their regular media briefings.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 11, 2010

Classical pianist Allevi proves that the time is now

W ith an unruly mass of dark ringlets, blue jeans and a pair of black Chuck Taylors, Giovanni Allevi doesn't look like your average classical pianist. But as he talks about the early masters that inspire him, he lights up in a way that marks him as a truly passionate musician.
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jun 11, 2010

Yokohama seeks French joie de vivre

Yokohama is known for its international flair and this month the French Tricolore will paint the city.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / ART BRIEF
Jun 11, 2010

'Alessandro Papetti: Dynamic Space'

Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Tokyo
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / ART BRIEF
Jun 11, 2010

'Yoshitomo Nara: ceramic works'

Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 11, 2010

The Drums

Leading the way for a generation of American groups that are more indebted to the sounds of the U.K. than anything on their own doorstep, The Drums arrive for their first Japanese tour riding on a wave of incessant hype.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jun 11, 2010

China's modern art that grieves for the old

The art on display in "From the 11th Chinese National Art Exhibition 2009: Contemporary Fine Art from China" at the Nara Prefectural Museum of Art is of a different species than the headline-grabbing pieces that have propelled Chinese art into a much sought-after commodity frequently at the forefront...
EDITORIALS
Jun 10, 2010

No letup in suicide rate

The National Police Agency announced last month that 32,845 people took their own lives in 2009, a rise of 596 from the previous year. This marks the 12th consecutive year in which the number of suicides has topped 30,000 — a sad persistent trend in Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Jun 8, 2010

Virtual versions map out real benefits of Tokyo localities

Jimotonow lets local shop-owners speak for themselves with Twitter-friendly communities representing areas in Tokyo's Suginami-ku.
JAPAN
Jun 8, 2010

Kan's picks for DPJ limit Ozawa's role

Members of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan approved on Monday the selection of new Prime Minister Naoto Kan's DPJ executives, with the influence of party kingpin Ichiro Ozawa conspicuously absent.

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