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Mayumi Negishi
JAPAN
Dec 1, 2003
Tochigi tries to pick up the pieces
UTSUNOMIYA, Tochigi Pref. -- One sleepless night after the government's decision to nationalize Ashikaga Bank, senior executives at manufacturer Rheon Automatic Machinery Co. held an emergency meeting Sunday at its headquarters to assess the damage.
JAPAN
Nov 30, 2003
Government intervenes to rescue Ashikaga Bank
Stepping into a political minefield, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi decided Saturday that the government would temporarily nationalize Ashikaga Bank, currently part of the Ashikaga Financial Group Inc.
BUSINESS
Nov 28, 2003
Life insurers surviving but see business shrink
Stable stock prices have eased concerns about potential failure at the nation's nine largest life insurance companies, but they continue to struggle against shrinking business volume, according to interim reports announced as of Thursday.
JAPAN
Nov 26, 2003
Top banks project profits for full year
All but one of the nation's seven major banks are projecting that they will coast to full-year profits in March given stable stock prices and improved corporate sentiment.
BUSINESS
Nov 22, 2003
Most key nonlife insurers report rise in net profits
Seven of the nation's nine largest nonlife insurers reported an increase in net profits Friday, as elevated stock prices helped cover for limping sales.
BUSINESS
Nov 15, 2003
Resona forecasts huge full-year loss
Bailed-out banking group Resona Holdings Inc. said Friday it expects a group net loss of 1.71 trillion yen for the year to March 31, reversing its June estimate of a 63.5 billion yen profit.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 13, 2003
Aozora poaches executive from Sumitomo Trust
In a departure from Japanese banking practice, Aozora Bank announced Wednesday its next president is coming from rival Sumitomo Trust & Banking Co.
BUSINESS
Nov 8, 2003
IY Bank's 24-hour ATMs turn profit
Seeking to meet consumer needs long ignored by conventional Japanese banks, IY Bank announced a first-half net profit of 104 million yen on Friday.
JAPAN
Nov 6, 2003
'Loan Shark King' plea held till mob probe ends
A former gangster dubbed the "Loan Shark King" said during his first trial session Wednesday he was putting off entering a plea on charges of lending money at exorbitant interest rates.
BUSINESS
Nov 5, 2003
Guarantee deposit must end in March 2005, Fukui says
The economy cannot afford an extension of the government's full guarantee on regular deposits beyond the end of March 2005, Bank of Japan Gov. Toshihiko Fukui said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Nov 1, 2003
Deflation to slow in 2004, economy will continue slow recovery: BOJ says
While deflation will slow, the economy is unlikely to move forward beyond a snail's pace through fiscal 2004, the Bank of Japan said Friday.
BUSINESS
Oct 29, 2003
UFJ Holdings triples forecast for group profit
UFJ Holdings Inc. on Tuesday tripled its group net profit forecast for the first half of the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, thanks to strong profits from bond trading, and a tax rebate and interest from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
BUSINESS
Oct 16, 2003
Bankruptcies decline as firms go on life support
The number of corporate bankruptcies fell 14.2 percent on a year-on-year basis to 8,183 cases in the six months through September, Tokyo Shoko Research Ltd. said Wednesday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 13, 2003
Making the pitch in English: dry mouth and lots of practice
Everything hangs on the first three minutes of a pitch, whether in Tokyo or New York.
JAPAN
Oct 11, 2003
Resona to post 1.76 trillion yen loss on writeoffs
Resona Holdings Inc. said Friday it will post a first-half net loss of 1.76 trillion yen, a stark reversal from originally projected net profits of 22 billion yen.
BUSINESS
Oct 11, 2003
BOJ further loosens easy monetary stance
In a furious attempt to keep interest rates down while simultaneously acknowledging signs of economic growth, the Bank of Japan said Friday it will increase the maximum amount of money it means to pump into banks.
JAPAN
Oct 2, 2003
'Tankan' shows optimism in manufacturing sector
Large manufacturers feeling confident about business conditions outnumbered those who are pessimistic in September for the first time in 33 months, a Bank of Japan "tankan" survey showed Wednesday. But analysts said it is still too soon to cheer.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / CABINET INTERVIEW
Sep 26, 2003
Banks told to tighten screws on debtors
Banks seeking to help turn around borrower companies should not merely extend life support to businesses doomed to fail, reappointed Financial Services Minister Heizo Takenaka said.
BUSINESS
Sep 23, 2003
Takenaka to keep pushing banks on loans
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's controversial reappointment Monday of Heizo Takenaka as financial services minister means banks will still be under pressure to clean up their bad loans.
JAPAN
Sep 20, 2003
Mizuho, nine others cut back projections
Mizuho Financial Group Inc. and nine other banks responded to business-improvement orders Friday by cutting their projected fiscal 2003 earnings.

Longform

Wozme, founded by dancer and choreographer Wakaba Kohei, is composed of Kana Kitty, Ami Ishii, Akane Watanabe and Natsuki. Its aim is to inject elegance and beauty, traits traditionally associated with femininity, into the sometimes grotesque art form of butoh dance.
Wozme, an all-women dance troupe, wants to move the needle in butoh