Mayumi Negishi - The Japan Times

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Mayumi Negishi

BUSINESS

Aug 12, 2004

Current account surplus hits record 9.64 trillion yen

Japan's current account surplus for January to June grew 31.9 percent from the same period a year ago to a record 9.64 trillion yen, topping the previous high set in the second half of 2003, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.

JAPAN

Aug 10, 2004

Nation's forestry workers cashing in their chips

A tree falling in a forest may not make a sound in Japan, at least not in the cash register.

JAPAN

Aug 7, 2004

Japan Post faces four-way split under compromise plan

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's top policy panel unveiled plans Friday to split Japan's mammoth postal operations into four separate entities by 2017 at the latest.

Japan Times

BUSINESS

Jul 31, 2004

Cabinet OKs 48.2 trillion yen outlay cap

The Cabinet on Friday approved a 48.2 trillion yen ceiling for core policy-related outlays in the fiscal 2005 budget, kicking off the annual scramble by government ministries and agencies for public funding.

BUSINESS

Jul 28, 2004

2005 budget outline promises 'effectively' lower outlays

The government's key policy-setting panel released a general outline Tuesday for the nation's core fiscal 2005 budget that aims at keeping general outlays "effectively" below levels seen this year.

BUSINESS

Jul 24, 2004

Japan, China urged to cooperate on energy

OYAMA, Shizuoka Pref. -- Japan and China must find ways to cooperate over energy resources, business leaders said Friday during an annual Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) forum.

BUSINESS

Jul 23, 2004

Business chiefs blame officials for shortcomings of Japan

OYAMA, Shizuoka Pref. -- Business leaders must lead the nation in soul-searching debate on Japan's security, diplomacy and constitutional issues, Hiroshi Okuda, chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren), said Thursday.

BUSINESS

Jul 22, 2004

GDP growth forecast revised sharply higher

The Cabinet Office on Wednesday revised upward its official economic growth forecast for fiscal 2004 to 3.5 percent in real terms from the initially projected 1.8 percent, citing strong private-sector demand and exports.

BUSINESS

Jul 17, 2004

Ministry to grant MMC 550 million yen tax break

The industry ministry said Friday it will help turn around struggling Mitsubishi Motors Corp. by granting it some 550 million yen in tax breaks.

JAPAN

Jul 14, 2004

FTC tells Microsoft to cut restrictive contract clause

The Fair Trade Commission slapped a warning against Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday, demanding that the U.S. software giant remove what it said was an unfair clause from contracts with Japanese personal computer makers.

JAPAN

Jul 1, 2004

FTC seeks halt to Usen's alleged unfair price-cutting

The Fair Trade Commission sought an emergency court order Wednesday to suspend alleged unfair price-cutting practices by cable broadcast station Usen Corp. within a month.

BUSINESS

Jun 25, 2004

Manufacturers foresee big capital spending rise

A strong business outlook has translated into a 19.8 percent year-on-year rise in fiscal 2004 spending forecasts for manufacturers, according to a government survey released Thursday.

BUSINESS

Jun 24, 2004

35.5% rise notched in trade surplus

The trade surplus grew 35.5 percent in May from a year earlier to 934.2 billion yen, as overseas consumers, particularly those in Asia, snatched up Japanese cars, scientific equipment and digital gadgets, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.

BUSINESS

Jun 23, 2004

IRCJ chief denies entity has failed to live up to its name

Kazuyoshi Kaneko, state minister for the Industrial Revitalization Corp. of Japan, brushed aside criticism Tuesday that the state-backed corporate rehabilitation body isn't living up to its name.

Japan Times

BUSINESS

Jun 10, 2004

High oil prices yet to pose threat: ADB

High oil prices pose a risk to Japan's recovery only if they remain high for a long time, the vice president of finance and administration at the Asian Development Bank said Wednesday.

BUSINESS

May 8, 2004

Don't fret China competition: ADB economist

Japan's fears over China's status as a rival for economic supremacy in Asia are misplaced, according to the chief economist at the Asian Development Bank.

JAPAN / POLITICS IN FOCUS

Apr 27, 2004

Firms now balking at political donations

Kenji Watanabe spent the last year preaching and begging business leaders around Fukui Prefecture to donate to the Liberal Democratic Party. He was always received politely, but company presidents kept their wallets closed.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Apr 25, 2004

Japan-U.S. team to work on BSE-test pact

Japan and the United States remained far apart on measures to test for mad cow disease but the two sides managed to agree Saturday to set up a working team of experts to work toward lifting Japan's import ban on U.S. beef as early as this summer.

JAPAN / TALKING SHOP

Apr 19, 2004

Samsung exec taps Japan insights to cut through the verbiage

Kim Jong Shin learned Japanese while hauling fish to market part time, stewing in hot springs and touring 350 historical sites in all 47 prefectures.

BUSINESS

Apr 15, 2004

New Jersey official urges speedier drug approval

The Health, Welfare and Labor Ministry's recent moves to speed up the drug approval process next year already have pulses racing across the Pacific.

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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