Thu., Jan. 8, 2009

Market Moves: 91.76-91.77 yen/dollar [5 p.m. Thu.]

PHOTO NEWS

Remembrance: Emperor Akihito, accompanied by a Shinto priest, pays tribute Wednesday to his father, the late Emperor Hirohito, at his grave in Hachioji, Tokyo, as part of rituals to mark the 20th anniversary of his reign. KYODO PHOTO

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Ministry to provide loans to jobless ranks facing eviction from Tokyo shelters

The labor ministry announces that it will give loans to jobless and homeless people living in four Tokyo shelters until Monday to help them find places to live.

Aeon says fiscal '08 may end in a loss

Retailer Aeon Co. revises its earnings forecast for 2008 to warn that it may fall into the red for the first time in seven years due to poor consumer demand and special losses related to Talbots.

Emperor marks 20th anniversary of reign

Emperor Akihito commemorates the 20th anniversary of his reign with a visit to the grave of his father, Emperor Hirohito.

Planning on studying abroad? Why not consider earning your degree at a Japanese university?

TOKYO (6 p.m.)

8°C

Mostly cloudy

Humidity: 61%

Winds: ENE at 25 kph

Pressure: 1025 hpa

Total weather coverage >>

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Special Supplements

Strong yen special

You may find hints here how to profit from the strong yen. What are you waiting for?

Education

Apply today to study at Japanese universities

Japanese Language School Directory

Your key to learning about Japan, its language and culture: Our recommended Japanese language schools.

通訳・翻訳キャリアガイド・オンライン

通訳・翻訳業界の総合ガイドブック2009年度版が誕生！一部コンテンツをウェブで公開中。

ジャパンタイムズの転職サイト

外資・グローバル企業の求人が満載。英語を活かして転職するならジャパンタイムズジョブ！

ASEAN Special

Japan's role is expected to grow as ASEAN and the East Asia region move toward economic integration — Interview with secretary general of the ASEAN-Japan Centre

International Reports

WER: Ukraine

A new European investment center

WER: Thailand

Staying on course

All International Reports >>

The Japan Times Online Updates

Hotline to Nagatacho: Need to vent at the government? We'd like to read what you have to say. Click for more information about our upcoming Community page corner, Hotline to Nagatacho.

"The Curious Casebook of Inspector Hanshichi": Follow the adventures of one of Japan's first literary detectives, as he solves a variety of intriguing crimes committed in old Edo. Click for more information on the serialization of 'Inspector Hanschichi,' appearing in The Japan Times every week, Tuesday to Saturday, from Dec. 2.

Japan Times Weekly Digital Version: The Japan Times Weekly can now be read via digital reader software, with all pages in full color. Click for more information (in Japanese) about the digital version of The Japan Times Weekly. The Japan Times Weeklyのデジタル版がスタートしました。デジタル版は全ページがカラーです。お申し込みはこちらから。

Uehara, O's agree to deal: report

Veteran right-hander Koji Uehara, who has pitched for the Yomiuri Giants for the past 10 seasons, has reportedly reached an agreement to play for the Baltimore Orioles in 2009

SPORTS SCOPE

Pay attention to these story lines in 2009

By ED ODEVEN

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Brees wins AP's offensive award

SUNDAY FEATURES >>

CLOSE-UP

Japan's 'Mr. Television'

By DAVID McNEILL and MIGUEL QUINTANA

Picture the world's busiest television presenter, and imagine yourself squinting through the glare of high-wattage celebrity, struggling to breathe in air perfumed with pampered showbiz egos. ...

LIFE IN JAPAN

ONE for ALL

By TOMOKO OTAKE

LIFE IN JAPAN

Ekiden pulls them in from around the world

By ERIKO ARITA

RE:VIEW >>

J-pop prepares an assault on the West in '09

By DANIEL ROBSON

I wouldn't want to shout about it (since it might upset your New Year's hangover), but 2009 might just be the year that J-pop goes global. Several heavy hitters have set their sights on Western domination this year, and more ...

The battle for 2009's box office starts here

By MARK SCHILLING

FILM >>

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Save humanity with a hug

By KAORI SHOJI

The Earth continues to turn as the characters in "The Day the Earth Stood Still," a tailored-for- blockbuster remake of the 1951 classic of the same name, remain eerily immobile ...

Paris

Pretty portrait; screen horror

By GIOVANNI FAZIO

Tokyo Joe: Mafia o Utta Otoko

The wise guy who brought down the mob

By MARK SCHILLING

The top movies of 2008

FOOD >>

Hot and tasty to keep you toasty

By NICHOLAS COLDICOTT

"Basically, no," said the bartender at one of Kyoto's ritzier drinking establishments when I asked if he could make something hot. I could have fancy juices, cream, egg whites or yolks in my cocktail, but I could not have heat. ...

Tokyo's Aquavit mixes it up, in both superb drinks and food

By ROBB SATTERWHITE

Northern Tokyo's top- notch Italian

By ROBBIE SWINNERTON

TRAVEL >>

It's Astro Boy to the rescue

By SIMON BARTZ

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No such luck. It's just another humongous dark-gray cloud and it's spitting at me. "Hey!" I scream, waving my fist in the air at the darkening sky. "Leave me alone, you big ...

ON THE ROAD

ART

THEATER

Ministry to provide loans to jobless ranks facing eviction from Tokyo shelters

Aeon says fiscal '08 may end in a loss

Emperor marks 20th anniversary of reign

The Japan Times

Japan Info Guide Links for living in Japan

Special Supplements

International Reports

The Japan Times Online Updates

Uehara, O's agree to deal: report

Pay attention to these story lines in 2009

Brees wins AP's offensive award

Japan's 'Mr. Television'

ONE for ALL

Ekiden pulls them in from around the world

J-pop prepares an assault on the West in '09

The battle for 2009's box office starts here

Save humanity with a hug

Pretty portrait; screen horror

The wise guy who brought down the mob

The top movies of 2008

Hot and tasty to keep you toasty

Tokyo's Aquavit mixes it up, in both superb drinks and food

Northern Tokyo's top- notch Italian

It's Astro Boy to the rescue

The auto trade gears up for a revolution

Place your wager on Macau

Ticket giveaway for 'Zen' screening, meditation demo

Start your new year with night of opera

Good design is second nature

Two capitals accommodation plan

Zero Gravity

Noodles

Heisei an era closer to people

Translators to receive training to aid victims

Filipino family submits petition in bid to halt deportation order

Osaka school mobile ban resonates

'Terakoya' schools' literacy drive in 20th year

Trains retired from Japan finding new life pampering Jakarta's commuters

New oil giant to pursue resources

Gasoline prices hit 4 1/2-year low

Sharp to open solar battery plant ahead of time

What Japan needs now

Outlook is mixed for 2009

Escalation of conflict

Otaru ruling beats 'mob rule'

Japan makes progress in 2009

Countdown party India style

What does 2009 hold in store for Japan?

Academic career in Japan served as vital lesson in culture, says dean

Koji Murofushi

PMZ pedals, the Memodesk, horned sockets, Issey Miyake watches and the perfect gift box

Children say the darndest things

Finding beauty in a world of waste

Words as images

If you don't get them with art, give them architecture

Hidenori Inoue takes a stab at Richard III

2008 in Double vision

High notes, low tones

Ne-Yo

Modern childhood holds many a lesson for adults

Tally your tanuki skins well in the Year of the Ox

A collection from Tokyo's nests of creativity

The beauty of imperfection and much more

The swift strokes of 'no-brush' calligraphy

You can't beat country life

Japan's science in '08

Hybrid storage to put new spin on netbook choices

Puny netbook hard drives no problem for Logitec

Who says you can't buy a friend?

E-mail back if the Earth moved for you too

Channel surf

Rounding up 2008's media

Channel surf

Critics switched off over digital-TV plans

Japan Info Guide
Links for living in Japan