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Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 29, 2001

DPJ too busy waging war on itself to threaten LDP

While Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has enjoyed sky-high popularity ratings during his eight months in office, his main opponent, the Democratic Party of Japan, has moved deeper and deeper into trouble.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 29, 2001

A step back after the euro?

LONDON -- Shopkeepers in Germany say they have never seen so many crisp 1,000-mark (about $500) bills as in the past month -- the last before the new euro replaces the mark.
JAPAN
Dec 29, 2001

Tanaka clarifies her comments on Taiwan

Following protests from Taiwan, Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka on Friday clarified her earlier remarks that she hoped the sovereignty of Taiwan would be resolved peacefully, as Hong Kong was returned to China.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Dec 29, 2001

Kitchen tips for the year's leftover snake

It's the end of the Year of the Snake and you're wondering what to do with that pet snake you bought last year to celebrate. You have just three days left to dispose of Sammy so you can make room in that aquarium for next year's animal -- the horse.
JAPAN
Dec 29, 2001

TV comedian indicted over drug use

Prosecutors on Friday indicted TV comedian Masashi Tashiro on a charge of using stimulant drugs.
JAPAN
Dec 29, 2001

Japanese opt for domestic travel

Akihiro is planning to spend some of his New Year's holiday at a hot spring resort.
JAPAN
Dec 29, 2001

Koizumi rules out plans to call election anytime soon

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Friday ruled out any plan to call a general election in the near future, placing the implementation of his structural reform programs at the forefront.
EDITORIALS
Dec 28, 2001

No public faith in Koizumi reforms

The first year of the 21st century has seen a great change in Japan's political landscape with the appearance of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Mr. Koizumi, who in April won the post of prime minister with an ardent call for "reforms without sacred cows," has been maintaining an unprecedentedly high...
COMMENTARY
Dec 28, 2001

Japan nears economic abyss

The story of the dimwitted man watching the rerun of a Clint Eastwood Western is relevant to current claims that the "structural reforms" urged by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will somehow rescue the Japanese economy.
SOCCER / J. League
Dec 28, 2001

Avispa names Imai as new boss

Avispa Fukuoka, which has been relegated to Division Two next season, has named Philippine coach Masataka Imai as new manager, the J. League club said Thursday.
JAPAN
Dec 28, 2001

Obscene teachers hit record number

A record 141 teachers were punished for committing obscene acts in fiscal 2000, resulting in 71 dismissals, an education ministry report revealed Wednesday.
JAPAN
Dec 28, 2001

Ministry to compensate for entrance-exam errors

The education ministry plans to pay "consolation money" to 461 people who, due to errors by public universities, were told they had failed school entrance exams they had actually passed, ministry officials said Thursday.
JAPAN
Dec 28, 2001

Tokyo rejects Pyongyang's 'brutal piracy' accusations

Japan rejects North Korea's accusation that the sinking of an unidentified ship after a shootout with Japanese patrol boats was "an act of piracy," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Dec 28, 2001

BOJ boosts balance to 14.9 trillion yen

The Bank of Japan on Thursday further boosted the balance of deposits at current accounts held at the BOJ by commercial financial institutions to a record 14.9 trillion yen.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 28, 2001

Japan increasingly embraces dancing

Japan is increasingly embracing all kinds of dancing.
JAPAN
Dec 28, 2001

Foreign inmates could serve sentences at home

Japan may ratify an international treaty next year under which foreign inmates would be repatriated to serve out their prison terms at home, government officials said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Dec 28, 2001

Takenaka tolerant of yen's weakness

Heizo Takenaka, economic and fiscal policy minister, indicated Thursday his continuing tolerance of the yen's current weakness against the dollar.
BUSINESS
Dec 28, 2001

Auto output continues downhill ride

Auto production skidded 5.1 percent in November from a year earlier to 820,841 vehicles, falling for the third consecutive month, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Dec 28, 2001

Tokyo hopes to curry favor with oil-rich countries

The government will support the development of water resources in four oil producing countries in the Middle East, government sources said Thursday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 28, 2001

Ishii changes mind

Yakult Swallows left-hander Kazuhisa Ishii, in a turnaround from his earlier decision to stay in Japanese baseball, said Thursday he would like to try entering the major leagues via the posting system for the 2002 season.
JAPAN
Dec 28, 2001

Momoo Tomobe gets eight years for fraud scheme

The son of former Upper House lawmaker Tatsuo Tomobe was sentenced to eight years in prison Thursday for his role in a fraudulent investment scheme operated by his father.
BUSINESS
Dec 28, 2001

Long margin positions tumble below 1 trillion yen

The balance of long margin positions fell below 1 trillion yen for the first time in nearly three years last week, reflecting a wholesale collapse in investor confidence.
BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 28, 2001

Kiyohara's pay hiked

Kazuhiro Kiyohara, whose five-year contract with the Yomiuri Giants is about to expire, agreed Thursday to a new four-year deal carrying an estimated 450 million yen annual salary in addition to performance incentives.
JAPAN
Dec 28, 2001

Sachiyo Nomura released on bail

Alleged tax evader Sachiyo Nomura, a TV personality and wife of former Hanshin Tigers manager Katsuya Nomura, was released from custody Thursday on 50 million yen bail, according to the Tokyo District Court.
JAPAN
Dec 28, 2001

Antismoking steps seen failing to deter youths

Twenty-six percent of graduating high school males smoke every day, indicating that restrictions placed on vending machines and minors in 1996 are failing to deter youth from smoking, according to a health ministry poll.
BUSINESS / ON THE FRONT LINE
Dec 28, 2001

Yen faces months of downward pressure

Amid concern over the beleaguered Japanese economy, the dollar has reclaimed 131 yen, a level unseen since Oc- tober 1998.

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