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CULTURE / Books
Sep 21, 1999

Does the American Dream beat Hong Kong custard?

PAPER DAUGHTER: A Memoir, by M. Elaine Mar. HarperFlamingo, New York, 1999, 240 pp., $23. "From Hong Kong to Harvard" proclaims the publicity cover letter accompanying M. Elaine Mar's first book. As a memoir, it is but one drop in the growing flood of reminiscences engulfing publishing houses, and Mar's...
CULTURE / Stage
Sep 21, 1999

The sorrow and the pity: fateful meetings at Kabukiza

Through the month of September, the Kabukiza Theater in Ginza is offering an excellent selection of historical and realistic plays and a dance number for the afternoon and evening, starring Uzaemon Ichimura, Kichiemon Nakamura, Tomijuro Nakamura and Baigyoku Nakamura. Participating also in the current...
EDITORIALS
Sep 20, 1999

Negotiating with North Korea

The United States and North Korea have struck yet another deal. This time, the two parties seem to have negotiated a framework for the relaxation of U.S. economic sanctions against North Korea in exchange for the suspension of Pyongyang's ballistic missile testing program. Some ask, why does the U.S....
JAPAN
Sep 20, 1999

Obuchi certain to win re-election to LDP presidency

Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi is almost certain to win re-election as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, easily defeating rivals Koichi Kato and Taku Yamasaki, in a vote by party members today.
JAPAN
Sep 20, 1999

Toyota launches the young person's Celica

Toyota Motor Corp. has launched the newly remodeled Celica sports sedan, targeting younger-generation customers in their mid-20s, the nation's top automaker announced Monday.
JAPAN
Sep 20, 1999

Cresvale's office blames parent for investor losses

The Tokyo branch of Cresvale International Ltd. said Monday it knew nothing about the losses incurred on the privately placed bonds it had marketed since 1991, blaming its parent company for the mismanagement of clients' money.
JAPAN
Sep 20, 1999

Review conditions for SDF deployment: Kan

The incumbent leader of the Democratic Party of Japan said Monday that Japan should review the five principles under which the Self-Defense Forces are dispatched to a United Nations-led peacekeeping operation.
JAPAN
Sep 20, 1999

Tear-stained faces are just another fad

RYAN NAKASHIMA Staff writer
JAPAN
Sep 20, 1999

Fashion followers scoff at danger of super-high soles

Staff writer
JAPAN
Sep 20, 1999

Nissan plans new injection for ailing diesel unit

Nissan Motor Co. and Nissan Diesel Motor Co. will inject 45.4 billion yen in new capital into Nissan Diesel Sales Co. to help the troubled Nissan Diesel group, it was announced Monday.
JAPAN
Sep 20, 1999

Major airlines launch fare war on Skymark

Staff writer
EDITORIALS
Sep 19, 1999

Targeting the tobacco menace

While smoking rates have plunged throughout the rest of the industrialized world, Japan continues to have the highest percentages of adults who smoke: 55.2 percent of men and 13.3 percent of women in 1998. Both rates represent increases over the figures for 1997, which were 52.7 percent and 11.6 percent...
COMMENTARY
Sep 19, 1999

Smooth sailing ahead for Obuchi and LDP

It appears certain that Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi will be re-elected president of the Liberal Democratic Party Sept. 21, which means he will remain at the helm of the government. Although his term as head of the ruling party does not run out until Sept. 20, 2001, whether he will serve out as prime...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / GETTING THINGS DONE
Sep 19, 1999

Encounters

Recently I had a minor automobile accident. How often have you seen drivers discussing their accident with the police and felt great sympathy for the participants, who were obviously going to be there for a very long time. This time one of the participants was me, and I was, even though the damage was...
EDITORIALS
Sep 17, 1999

Eyes on the ball at APEC

Ever since 1993, when U.S. President Bill Clinton turned the annual meeting of the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation forum into a gathering for heads of state, critics have had a field day. Expectations have usually outpaced results, forcing participants to justify their attendance at what has been...
JAPAN
Sep 17, 1999

Nail salons ringing up cell phone profits

Staff writer
JAPAN
Sep 17, 1999

Insurers to sell Aoba Life to Artemis of France

The Life Insurance Association of Japan will sell Aoba Life Insurance Co. to Artemis, a holding company of major French retailer Pinault Printemps Redoute, for 25 billion yen, the association announced Friday.
JAPAN
Sep 17, 1999

MSDF relief ships to sail for Turkey next week

Three Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels will leave Kobe next week to deliver 500 makeshift shelters to earthquake victims in Turkey, Defense Agency chief Hosei Norota announced Friday.
JAPAN
Sep 17, 1999

Nuclear utilities' Y2K assurances difficult to sell

Staff writer
JAPAN
Sep 17, 1999

Inclusion of flag, anthem in grad ceremonies up

Twenty-eight prefectures and four specially designated cities had all their public elementary, junior high and high schools hoist the Hinomaru and sing "Kimigayo" during graduation and entrance ceremonies this spring, the Education Ministry said Friday.
JAPAN
Sep 17, 1999

G7 discusses rise of yen

Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa indicated Friday that the Group of Seven industrialized nations have already begun discussing the yen's fast-paced appreciation against the dollar, prior to the finance ministers' meeting in Washington next weekend.
JAPAN
Sep 17, 1999

Obuchi, Chretien strengthen bilateral ties

Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and his visiting Canadian counterpart Jean Chretien reaffirmed Friday that Japan and Canada will further strengthen their partnership for the 21st century not only in bilateral areas but on the global stage as well.
JAPAN
Sep 17, 1999

Obuchi calls for loosening limits on SDF deployments

Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi said on Friday that he would seek to lift legal restrictions so that Japan can fully participate in U.N. peacekeeping operations, in an extraordinary Diet session expected to begin in October.
JAPAN
Sep 17, 1999

Ishihara rants after tour of U.S. military park

After touring the U.S. military's Tama Recreation Center in western Tokyo on Friday, Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara said what he saw made him question even more whether the 200-hectare site is necessary to U.S. forces and Japan's defense.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Sep 17, 1999

Ten reasons why English is an evil language

English is an evil language. If it wasn't, all Japanese people would speak fluent English upon graduating high school. After all, seven years of English study should be enough.
JAPAN
Sep 17, 1999

Ministry grants couple refugee status

The Justice Ministry said Friday that it has granted refugee status to two people, bringing to 11 the total number of refugees recognized this year.
CULTURE / Music / PLAY BUTTON
Sep 17, 1999

Chari Chari's evergreen sound

The term legend is often used lightly in music journalism. Kaoru Inoue, known as Chari Chari, is one of the few Tokyo DJs who could reasonably be called legendary.
JAPAN
Sep 17, 1999

Ministry issues sex tours warning

The Transport Ministry instructed the nation's travel agents Friday to redouble efforts to inform associates overseas that a domestic law banning the purchase of sex from anyone under 18 takes effect in November.
JAPAN
Sep 17, 1999

Man transferred to Nagoya loses damages claim

The Supreme Court turned down a damages claim Friday filed by a Tokyo pharmaceutical company employee who sued the firm for transferring him to Nagoya, separating him from his family.
EDITORIALS
Sep 16, 1999

New skills, old skills

New communications technologies pose unique dilemmas for parents. While a substantial majority of adults believe that familiarity with the Internet is an essential skill for children in the 21st century, they also fear the hazards lurking in cyberspace. They worry that adventurous youngsters will be...

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