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JAPAN
Nov 7, 2003

44 billion yen in student loans seen as irrecoverable

About 44 billion yen in student loans extended by a government-affiliated foundation is expected to become irrecoverable.
BUSINESS
Nov 7, 2003

Quake fires cost Idemitsu 10 billion yen

Two fires that broke out at Idemitsu Kosan Co.'s oil refinery in Hokkaido in September have cost the firm about 10 billion yen.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 7, 2003

Cutting costs helps Mazda double profit

Mazda Motor Corp. said Thursday its consolidated net profit in the first half of fiscal 2003 doubled from a year earlier to 11.15 billion yen.
BUSINESS
Nov 7, 2003

McDonald's gets new vice president

said Thursday that Peter Beresford, former vice president of the Canadian unit of McDonald's Corp. of the United States, will become vice president of McDonald's Japan Ltd. Todd Tucker, formerly assigned to Singapore, will also be sent by the U.S. parent firm to the Japanese unit as a corporate officer...
JAPAN
Nov 7, 2003

New grid to gauge 'heat island effect'

The Meteorological Agency has developed new formulas aimed at investigating the causes of the "heat island effect," a phenomenon in which urban areas are hotter than rural areas.
BUSINESS
Nov 7, 2003

Disneyland enjoys birthday windfall

Oriental Land Co., operator of Tokyo Disney Resort, said Thursday it posted record first-half sales and profit for the second consecutive year, powered by special events celebrating the 20th anniversary of Tokyo Disneyland.
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Nov 7, 2003

Mihajlovic's disgraceful behavior brings shame to football

LONDON -- It is unlikely that there is a more loathesome player in European football than Sinisa Mihajlovic, the Lazio defender.
BUSINESS
Nov 7, 2003

Nippon Steel returns to black thanks to China demand

Nippon Steel Corp., the nation's largest steelmaker, said Thursday it swung back into profitability during the fiscal first half on the back of strong demand in China.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / THEN AND NOW
Nov 7, 2003

Meandering in time beside the Tama

From its source in the high mountains to the northwest of Tokyo, the Tama River flows southwest before emptying into Tokyo Bay. The upper reaches in Okutama are part of the Chichibu-Tama National Park. The lower reaches separate Tokyo from Kanagawa Prefecture, with Haneda airport at the river's mouth....
BUSINESS
Nov 7, 2003

Railways, banks tie up to install ATMs at stations

More and more banks are entering arrangements with railways to set up automated teller machines in stations.
SUMO
Nov 7, 2003

Akebono quits sumo, to be K-1 fighter

Former Yokozuna Akebono said Thursday he has resigned from the Japan Sumo Association and decided to become a K-1 martial arts fighter.
JAPAN
Nov 7, 2003

Roads to stay state-owned despite panel's entreaties

The nation's debt-laden expressways will remain government-owned despite recommendations that they be privatized.
BUSINESS
Nov 7, 2003

Bad loans at major banking groups decline 13%

The combined balance of bad loans at the seven major banking groups appears to have dropped by 13 percent to 18.1 trillion yen during the six months to Sept. 30, according to banking sources.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ELECTION 2003
Nov 7, 2003

Illusory promise of freeways exacts a toll

There is no such thing as a freeway in Japan. For decades, it has been a given for drivers that if they use expressways they must pay the tolls, even though they've been promised that someday when the construction debts disappear so will the tollbooths.
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Nov 6, 2003

Kobe a loner who still has much to learn

NEW YORK -- As a self-trained psychoanalyst, I'm greatly tempted to explore the alcoves of Kobe Bryant's innermost thoughts regarding loneliness, ruthless words about Shaquille O'Neal and dirty deed with a stranger whose allegation will stain him forever even if found innocent (bad choice of words),...
JAPAN
Nov 6, 2003

Aum figure appeals death penalty

Aum Shinrikyo cultist Tomomasa Nakagawa filed an appeal Wednesday against the death sentence he received from the Tokyo District Court last week for his role in two deadly sarin gas attacks and the murder of a lawyer and his family.
JAPAN
Nov 6, 2003

Ministry eyes Net campaign to cut CO2 emissions

The Environment Ministry will use the Internet to encourage people to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The ministry hopes individuals, companies and organizations will visit its Web site and register their intention to take at least three steps to prevent global warming, a ministry official said....
JAPAN
Nov 6, 2003

More hijackers' offspring to come to Japan

Japanese radicals who hijacked a Japan Airlines plane to North Korea in 1970 plan to let six of their offspring come to Japan in January, according to sources.
BUSINESS
Nov 6, 2003

Shiseido suffers decline in first-half net profit

Hit by weak consumption and heavy pension costs, Shiseido Co. reported Wednesday its net profit in the fiscal first half dropped by more than a third from a year earlier to 6.56 billion yen.

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’