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OLYMPICS
Sep 16, 2000

Fire and glory open 2000 Olympics

SYDNEY-- Carrying the hopes of her nation both in sport and racial reconciliation, 400-meter world champion Cathy Freeman ran a guard of honor the length of the stadium before lowering the Olympic torch into a pool of water Friday to light a submerged cauldron to open the biggest and last Olympic Games...
JAPAN
Sep 16, 2000

3.8 trillion yen eyed for extra 2000 budget

The government plans to inject 3.8 trillion yen in state funds for a fiscal 2000 supplementary budget aimed both at ensuring economic recovery and avoiding issuing deficit-covering bonds to secure funds, government and ruling coalition sources said.
CULTURE / Art
Sep 16, 2000

Pointing a laser at a detached future

Marcel Duchamp, the supreme artist's artist, was often asked about his role in the making of art. The line of inquiry was inspired largely by the enigmatic Frenchman's series of "ready-mades," store-bought objects such as shovels or coat racks he exhibited under his name.
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 16, 2000

California: the colors of tomorrow's U.S.

SAN FRANCISCO -- The bald statistic released the other day informing us that the population of the state of California was no longer dominated by a Caucasian majority, having given way to a fast-growing coalition of Hispanics and Asians, should have surprised no one.
JAPAN
Sep 16, 2000

Korean residents' groups agree to start mending relations

Two major groups of Korean residents of Japan that were at loggerheads have been showing signs of mending relations since South Korean President Kim Dae Jung visited Pyongyang in June for the first-ever summit between the two Koreas.
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 16, 2000

Shining a light on global 'Big Brother'

Perhaps more appropriately to the world of James Bond than to the European Union, Echelon -- an international spying network in which governments covertly cooperate to intercept global communications -- is causing a stir in the European Parliament.
BASEBALL / MLB
Sep 16, 2000

Buffaloes topple Hawks 2-1 but magic number falls to 11

The Pacific League-leading Fukuoka Daiei Hawks fell to the Kintetsu Buffaloes 2-1 at the Fukuoka Dome on Friday for their second straight loss, but their magic number dropped to 11 games thanks to the Seibu Lions' 6-5 defeat against the Orix BlueWave.
OLYMPICS
Sep 16, 2000

Two Koreas make history during opening ceremony

SYDNEY -- While Japan kicked off its Sydney Olympic campaign without many of its star athletes at the opening ceremony, it was the country's Asian neighbors who grabbed the spotlight in the four-hour spectacular on Friday night.
CULTURE / Stage
Sep 16, 2000

A gentler, softer Dairakudakan

It is tempting to look at the new Dairakudakan production, "Kanzen-naru Hitobito (Complete People)," as being in some way connected to the title. Searching for meaning in butoh performances has always been a mad sport, though, and the premiere by the largest butoh company extant, at Tokyo's Art Sphere...
JAPAN
Sep 16, 2000

OECD calls for life-long learning

Academic achievement was the goal of Japan's exam-oriented education system when life-time employment was intact.
CULTURE / Music / HOGAKU TODAY
Sep 16, 2000

Japanese music millennium: new music for the Heisei Era

As the days grow shorter and evenings cooler, the hogaku season begins to pick up. September, October and November are the best months for experiencing the arts in Japan as the creative impulses, stifled by the summer's oppressive humidity, break forth in an array of interesting concerts, recitals and...
COMMENTARY
Sep 16, 2000

Public TV in the digital era

LONDON -- The British Broadcasting Corporation was a pioneer of public-service broadcasting when it was established in the 1920s. It built up a strong reputation in its early years under its first director, General Lord Reith, although it also earned the nick-name of "Auntie" because it was regarded...
BUSINESS
Sep 15, 2000

DDI enters fray, cuts local call fees

Returning fire in an ongoing price war, DDI Corp. said Thursday that it will cut rates for some local calls by an average of 27 percent next month.
JAPAN
Sep 15, 2000

Japanese-made tatami to give judoka footing

Judo competitions at the Sydney Olympics will be played out on tatami mats made in Japan, marking their debut in overseas competitions and lending the Japanese team confidence in its footing.
BUSINESS
Sep 15, 2000

Market closely watching euro movements

All eyes remain on the beleaguered euro.
BUSINESS
Sep 15, 2000

Minolta to acquire U.S. printer unit

OSAKA -- Minolta Co., a leading camera and photocopier maker, said Thursday it will acquire all remaining outstanding shares of its U.S. subsidiary Minolta-QMS Inc. in a bid to strengthen its printer business.
BUSINESS
Sep 15, 2000

450 billion yen waiver for Kumagai

Sumitomo Bank is poised to forgive a 250 billion yen chunk of loans taken out by Kumagai Gumi Co. in an attempt to help the teetering construction firm stave off collapse, sources said.
BUSINESS
Sep 15, 2000

Nissan set to launch global HQ

Nissan Motor Co. said Thursday it will set up a new in-house organization to function as a global corporate headquarters.
BUSINESS
Sep 15, 2000

Corporate bankruptcies leap 21.5%

Corporate bankruptcies in Japan rose 21.5 percent in August from a year earlier to 1,704 cases, up for the 10th consecutive month, a private credit-research agency said Thursday.
JAPAN
Sep 15, 2000

Coalition to change Juvenile Law

The ruling coalition on Thursday reached a final agreement on a draft of a bill that will revise the Juvenile Law to reduce the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 14.
BUSINESS
Sep 15, 2000

BOJ keeps money rate unchanged

The Bank of Japan decided Thursday to keep its unsecured overnight money rate target unchanged at 0.25 percent.
BUSINESS
Sep 15, 2000

Insurers plan comprehensive alliance

Tokio Marine & Fire Insurance Co., Nichido Fire & Marine Insurance Co. and Asahi Mutual Life Insurance Co. are planning to form a comprehensive tieup with a view to integrating their operations in the future, company sources said Thursday.
JAPAN
Sep 15, 2000

Cabinet OKs Oct. 12-17 Zhu visit

The government formally decided Thursday to invite Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji to make an official visit to Japan between Oct. 12 and Oct. 17, a government official said.
JAPAN
Sep 15, 2000

Porcelain design echoes Japan

It's not difficult to understand the influence of Japanese ceramics on famed British chinaware producer Royal Crown Derby.

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