Mayumi Negishi - The Japan Times

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Mayumi Negishi

BUSINESS

Dec 3, 2005

Weak yen OK, reflects state of economy, Tanigaki figures

Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki signaled Friday that a weak yen is acceptable because it is a true reflection of the state of Japan's economy.

BUSINESS

Dec 2, 2005

IRCJ holds final round of bidding for Kanebo

Three candidates placed their bids Thursday in the final round to select a buyer for struggling and scandal-plagued Kanebo Ltd. and Kanebo Cosmetics Inc., now managed by the government-backed Industrial Revitalization Corp. of Japan.

BUSINESS

Dec 1, 2005

Seniors to pay more for medical service

The government and Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling coalition agreed Wednesday to raise medical costs for the elderly in two stages, starting in 2006.

BUSINESS

Nov 30, 2005

State lenders to be whittled to one

The government and ruling Liberal Democratic Party agreed on a plan Tuesday to create a single public lender by scrapping one, privatizing two and integrating the remaining five.

BUSINESS

Nov 26, 2005

Commission backs cutting tax breaks

While the government must slash its wasteful spending, taxes still need to be raised to support the aging society, the Tax Commission said Friday in its fiscal 2006 tax-reform proposals.

BUSINESS

Nov 19, 2005

State special accounts: Why they face scrutiny

A subcommittee of the Finance Ministry's Fiscal System Council recommended Friday that the 31 special accounts in the government's budget be streamlined by absorption into the general account, privatization, or management by independent administrative institutions.

BUSINESS

Nov 16, 2005

Koizumi wants bond issues cut

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi instructed his Cabinet and Liberal Democratic Party leaders Tuesday to keep new issues of government bonds "as near 30 trillion yen" as possible in the fiscal 2006 budget.

JAPAN

Nov 15, 2005

Tower exhibit adds weight to public debt

If you were to stack up 10,000 yen bills equal to the value of the country's estimated public debt in 2005 of 773 trillion yen, the pile would easily reach the stratosphere, according to a government-sponsored exhibit set to open at the Tokyo Tower.

BUSINESS

Nov 15, 2005

Easing beef ban seen as missing chance to let consumers rule

Yoshinoya D&C Co. executives, intent on reviving the restaurant chain's trademark beef-on-rice bowls as quickly as possible, are calling U.S. meatpackers to find out how much beef they can get and at what price.

JAPAN

Nov 12, 2005

July-September 0.4% rise ups GDP for four quarters

Domestic demand nudged the economy forward in the July to September quarter, tallying 0.4 percent growth in real terms, for an annualized rate of 1.7 percent, the Cabinet Office said Friday.

Japan Times

BUSINESS / CABINET INTERVIEW

Nov 5, 2005

Japan Post's private units will need business leaders

When the gigantic Japan Post takes its first steps toward privatization in October 2007, the reins should be held by people who have had experience heading private businesses, Heizo Takenaka, who doubles as minister in charge of postal privatization and minister of internal affairs and communications,...

Japan Times

BUSINESS / CABINET INTERVIEW

Nov 3, 2005

New METI chief to try softer touch with Asian neighbors

Newly appointed Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshihiro Nikai said he favors a "patient, but persistent" approach toward improving strained relations with China caused by a protracted bilateral squabble over natural gas fields in the East China Sea.

Japan Times

BUSINESS / CABINET INTERVIEW

Nov 2, 2005

Tanigaki considers how to win over public on raising taxes

For Sadakazu Tanigaki, newly reappointed as finance minister, the crucial question is not whether to raise the consumption tax, but when.

JAPAN

Nov 1, 2005

Onus on Japan to ensure U.S. beef safety, report says

A food safety panel on Monday adopted a draft report that, once finalized, will pave the way to ending the two-year-old ban on imports of U.S. and Canadian beef.

BUSINESS

Oct 27, 2005

How does the state want to care for the elderly?

Japan, with one of the world's oldest populations, is having increasing problems providing universal health care as each year there are fewer working people to pay for it.

BUSINESS

Oct 26, 2005

Tax panel begins annual discussions for fiscal 2006

The Tax Commission kicked off its annual discussions Tuesday, with members applauding a plan by a Liberal Democratic Party panel to convert the 5 percent consumption tax into a double-digit welfare tax.

JAPAN

Oct 25, 2005

At last minute, safety panel delays ending ban on U.S. beef imports

A government-appointed panel unveiled Monday a draft report that would pave the way to lifting the 22-month-old ban on U.S. beef imports, saying meat from young cattle poses an extremely low food safety risk.

BUSINESS

Oct 12, 2005

Wolfowitz hits poverty, takes Iraq flak

Donor nations, including the United States and Japan, must act now to fight poverty in an interconnected world, World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz said Tuesday in Tokyo.

JAPAN

Oct 8, 2005

Traffic won't stop for inclusive Tokyo marathon

Some 2,000 runners will pound the pavement Monday in Tokyo in Japan's only urban marathon open to both fast and slow alike.

JAPAN

Oct 2, 2005

Japan proposes joint use of deposits in East China Sea fields

Japan proposed to China on Saturday that they jointly develop the gas fields in a disputed area of the East China Sea as two days of working-level talks on the issue drew to a close.

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.

What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji

By Alex K.T. Martin

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