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JAPAN
Apr 19, 2003

Panel drops plan to identify ideal size for municipalities

An advisory panel to the prime minister examining the future of local governments has decided not to specify a desirable population level as a factor in deciding the scope of administrative powers for local authorities, according to panel sources.
BUSINESS
Apr 19, 2003

FamilyMart to offer 'happoshu' deal

Convenience store operator FamilyMart Co. said Friday it will not raise the price of "happoshu" after a tax increase takes effect May 1.
BUSINESS
Apr 19, 2003

Digital broadcasting licenses issued

The government issued provisional licenses Friday to 17 television stations planning to begin terrestrial digital broadcasts in December.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 19, 2003

Stop demolitions of Palestinian homes

NEW YORK -- Systematic home demolitions, severe travel restrictions, curfews and town blockades are cruel occupation policies aimed at intimidating Palestinians and making them leave their lands. Since the start of Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands in 1967, more than 10,000 homes have been demolished,...
MORE SPORTS
Apr 19, 2003

2006 field expanded

The 2006 men's basketball World Championships to be hosted by Japan will be held in a 24-team format instead of the standard 16, officials of the Japan Basketball Association (JABBA) said Friday.
BUSINESS
Apr 19, 2003

Industrial output figure upgraded

Industrial production in February was revised upward to a seasonally adjusted fall of 1.6 percent from January, according to a report Friday by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
JAPAN
Apr 19, 2003

Team develops 'book' to store DNA gene data

A research team has developed a simplified technique for storing and delivering genes by creating what it describes as "DNA books" using genes extracted from animal cells.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Apr 19, 2003

Paying your last, last, last respects

When Kazuko, my next-door neighbor, came to my "genkan" at 8 in the morning, I knew something was wrong. She never comes to my house before 9. "Amy, your landlord has died," she told me.
BUSINESS
Apr 19, 2003

Genome breakthrough prompts scramble in pharmaceutical sector

With the task of unscrambling the human genome complete, Japanese pharmaceutical companies are trying to produce new medicines to fight diseases for which effective drugs don't yet exist.
JAPAN
Apr 19, 2003

Top court rules against claimants in redress case

The Supreme Court on Friday overturned a lower court ruling regarding the legal validity of loss compensation agreements signed before a Finance Ministry ban on such deals between securities firms and their clients.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / THE SECOND ROOM
Apr 19, 2003

2003 party season gets its blessing; Credit where due in 2002

As omens go, the last two Sundays have been righteously encouraging for the Tokyo party scene.
BUSINESS
Apr 19, 2003

Survivors may face taxes on pensions

Families who have lost their breadwinner due to death may have to start paying taxes on the public pension benefits they receive.
JAPAN
Apr 19, 2003

Tougher rules on motorbike exhausts eyed

An Environment Ministry panel compiled a proposal Friday to tighten restrictions on exhaust emissions from two-wheeled motor vehicles.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 19, 2003

View talks with skepticism

HONOLULU -- The North Koreans have set both doves and hawks all a-twitter in Washington, Tokyo and Seoul by agreeing to discuss its nuclear plans with American diplomats. But a word of skepticism is in order.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 19, 2003

SARS forces rethink on disease responses

The health ministry is considering legal changes to more effectively handle outbreaks of infectious illnesses -- such as the atypical pneumonia now plaguing much of Asia -- by increasing the government's authority to act.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST
Apr 19, 2003

The instant off switch -- it's all in your head

On the train, the guy to my left is telling a friend the following:
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / PERSONALITY PROFILE
Apr 19, 2003

Silvio Vita

Silvio Vita leads an enviable life. He says perhaps he is lucky. That may be true, but it is not the whole story. He is also hardworking, and his work has done more than luck to bring him recognition and reward. He is a Roman, born in Romulus' fabulous city, which, built over seven hills by the Tiber...
COMMENTARY
Apr 19, 2003

World must push Indo-Pakistani dialogue

ISLAMABAD -- India's decision to pursue the development of its Agni-III nuclear missile despite being urged by Western countries to abandon the plan will intensify an already worrisome arms race in South Asia.
JAPAN
Apr 19, 2003

Beat Takeshi named as 'ideal boss'

Comedian and film director Takeshi Kitano topped the list of celebrities named by newly recruited employees as the person they would most like to work for, according to a survey by the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
BUSINESS
Apr 19, 2003

Sony recalling some Vaio PC models

Sony Corp. is recalling some of its Vaio personal computers due to a defect that may cause an adhesive agent in the power supply unit to melt, company officials said Friday.
BUSINESS
Apr 19, 2003

Electricity demand grew in 2002

Ten major power companies sold a total of 841.48 billion kilowatt-hours in fiscal 2002, up 2.1 percent from the previous year, a power company association said Friday.
JAPAN
Apr 19, 2003

Swedish Honorary Consulate reopens

KOBE -- The Swedish Honorary Consulate in Kobe was reopened Friday, with Naoya Wada, president of machinery maker Kinki Industrial Co., appointed as honorary consul.
BUSINESS
Apr 19, 2003

Mitsubishi Trust to slash bonuses

Mitsubishi Trust & Banking Corp. will slash employee bonuses for fiscal 2003 by a uniform 20 percent from the previous year to improve earnings, it was announced Friday.
JAPAN
Apr 19, 2003

June eyed for SDF-Iraq bill

Legislation that would allow the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces to Iraq for postwar reconstruction will probably be submitted to the Diet in June, a senior member of the ruling coalition said Friday.

Longform

Koichi Tagawa’s diary entry from Aug. 9, 1945, describes the day of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.
The horrors of Nagasaki, in first person