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JAPAN
Jun 13, 2001

Proposal targeting mentally ill criticized

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's proposal to seek legal revisions in a bid to prevent crimes by the mentally ill faced government opposition Tuesday.
CULTURE / Film
Jun 13, 2001

Somewhere over the DMZ

JSA Rating: * * * 1/2 Director: Park Chan Wook Running time: 110 minutes Language: Korean Now showing at Hibiya Scala-za and other theaters Two types of Korean movies used to be released in Japan. One was the art film, usually something dark, raw and intense. The other was the erotic film, usually...
CULTURE / Art
Jun 13, 2001

Quiet scenes from life and nature

"Suigen (Water Source)" (2001) by Tsuneo Nakaune A joint exhibition of nihonga (traditional Japanese-style painting) by Haruko and Tsuneo Nakaune will open June 19 at the Ginza Church Tokyo Gospel Fellowship Center. Readers may already know Haruko from her "Word Play" cartoons on The Japan Times' Friday...
Events
Jun 12, 2001

Kansai rent remains stable despite drop in land prices

KYOTO — Despite a sharp drop in land prices in the Kansai region, rents for residential properties have failed to come down to comparable levels, a trend many experts attribute to a mix of regional and traditional factors.
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2001

Kyoto Protocol campaign launched

The Environment Ministry on Monday kicked off a campaign to heighten interest and awareness in the Kyoto Protocol, an international climate-control agreement, in an effort to promote its coming into force by 2002.
Events
Jun 12, 2001

Kobe friendship center to help local Brazilians learn Japanese

KOBE — Kobe Foreigners Friendship Center, a nonprofit organization assisting foreign residents, has compiled textbooks and CDs for Brazilians wanting to learn conversational Japanese.
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2001

Man killed 'elite' kids in hope of being hanged

OSAKA — The man who was arrested Friday in the fatal stabbing of eight pupils at an elementary school in Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture, said he committed the crimes in a bid to be sent to the gallows, sources said Monday.
COMMENTARY
Jun 12, 2001

Cloudy outlook for Kim's Sunshine Policy

SEOUL -- One year after the historic Pyongyang summit, euphoria has disappeared on both sides of the 38th Parallel. Following the news of the past weeks, one gets the impression that with North-South relations having returned once more to a climate of confrontation and accusation, the two Koreas are...
EDITORIALS
Jun 12, 2001

Discord in the Foreign Ministry

The Foreign Ministry has been mired in an internal struggle between Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka and senior ministry bureaucrats. The faceoff shows no signs of ending, although Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has issued a warning to both Mrs. Tanaka and Vice Foreign Minister Yutaka Kawashima. Mrs....
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2001

JAL to equip its fleet to handle heart attacks

Japan Airlines will equip its fleet with medical equipment to provide emergency care to passengers who suffer heart attacks, beginning with long-distance international routes in autumn.
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2001

Recession looms as GDP shrinks 0.2%

Japan's economy shrank during the last three months of fiscal 2000, according to government data released Monday, confirming fears that the world's second-largest economy is on the brink of another recession.
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2001

Reporters are asked for a little common courtesy

OSAKA — Anger on the part of the local community toward the way the media reported on the slaying of eight children at Osaka Kyoiku University Ikeda Elementary School and on the aftermath prompted mental care experts Sunday to demand an end to what they call psychologically damaging coverage.
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2001

Teachers check up on students

IKEDA, Osaka Pref. — Three days after the fatal stabbing of eight schoolchildren at Osaka Kyoiku University Ikeda Elementary School, teachers began efforts Monday to prepare students to return to classes by first visiting them at home with mental health care counselors.
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2001

Koizumi calls for Africa ODA study

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Monday stressed the need for future detailed discussion and study of official development assistance to African countries.
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2001

LDP begins search for preventative measures

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Monday held its first meeting to discuss possible measures to prevent similar incidents to last week's massacre of eight schoolchildren by a man with a history of psychiatric illness.
BUSINESS
Jun 12, 2001

Earnings to decline in 2001

Many companies are forecasting a leveling-off of profits on a pretax basis for the current business year.
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2001

Seibu to help disabled, elderly shop

Licensed guides will assist the disabled and the elderly at four Seibu department stores, including the flagship Ikebukuro store in Tokyo, starting later this month, according to Seibu officials.
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2001

Cambodia seeks aid to cut army

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday asked Japan to provide $15 million toward the country's efforts to cut its military and provide discharged soldiers with education and job-training projects.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 12, 2001

Leprosy case exposes social ills

For more than a century, Hansen's disease patients and their relatives in Japan have suffered unreasonable discrimination. Since the Meiji Era, Japan has forced patients into social isolation under the Leprosy Prevention Law, ruining their lives.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jun 12, 2001

Orix BlueWave break out of slump

Joseph Vitiello homered twice and Hisashi Ogura scattered three hits and struck out seven over 72/3 innings as the Orix BlueWave ended their seven-game losing skid by defeating the Seibu Lions 7-3 Monday at the Seibu Dome in Pacific League action.
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2001

Koizumi's bid to empower urban voters hit

Toshikatsu Matsuoka is frustrated.
LIFE / Travel
Jun 12, 2001

Fujiya Hotel: At ease in a Miyanoshita time capsule

Most visits to the Hakone area of Kanagawa Prefecture begin at the heavily touristed town itself, from where numerous well-trodden routes head off through the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park of which it is the official center.
BUSINESS
Jun 12, 2001

Sony opens second Net-only bank

Sony Corp. launched the nation's second Internet-based bank Monday, aiming to attract customers to the branch-free bank with higher deposit interest rates and new financial services based on the firm's advanced information technology.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 12, 2001

Japan goes down fighting in Confederations Cup final

YOKOHAMA -- France pulled off a unique treble Sunday by wrapping up the Confederations Cup title with an effortless 1-0 win over Japan at International Stadium Yokohama.
Events
Jun 12, 2001

Osaka still investment 'black hole'

OSAKA — With Osaka's economy still in the doldrums, city and prefectural officials are renewing efforts to bring more foreign direct investment to the region.
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2001

Rengo head Washio plans to retire

Etsuya Washio, president of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation, said Monday he will retire when his term expires in October.

Longform

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