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JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Mar 30, 2003

War in Iraq puts Ishihara on the defensive

When Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara finally announced March 7 his intention to run for re-election, some people in the media speculated that it was the end of the colorful politician-novelist's aspirations for national office.
Events
Mar 30, 2003

KANSAI: Who & What

Foundation to screen women authors' films: The Japan Foundation Kyoto Office is inviting foreign residents to free weekly showings of Japanese films, starting at 2 p.m. each Wednesday in April at its facility in the city's Nakagyo Ward.
CULTURE / Music / J-POPSICLE
Mar 30, 2003

Space Shower TV bangs a gong in style

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Space Shower TV, the Japanese homegrown equivalent of MTV. With its unpretentious presenters, high quotient of decidedly unslick, locally made music videos and low-key artist interviews, Space Shower has a strong "street" feel.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Mar 30, 2003

A new 'cutting-edge town' for the world

A sprawling redevelopment complex sporting luxury apartments, movie theaters, art galleries and a museum will soon give Tokyo's seedy Roppongi entertainment district a cleaner, more cultured appearance that the developer hopes will turn it into an "ultimate destination" for travelers worldwide.
EDITORIALS
Mar 29, 2003

One week into the war

It has been nine days since the United States launched its attack against Iraq. The war has not gone as many expected. The difficulties encountered by the U.S.-led coalition have raised questions about Washington's strategy and the assumptions that undergirded the allied assault. Although those doubts...
BASEBALL / MLB
Mar 29, 2003

Giants fall in opener

Back to the old drawing board.
BUSINESS
Mar 29, 2003

Millea Insurance companies finally announce merger

After a series of false starts, the companies of the Millea Insurance Group on Friday officially announced their merger, which will take place in October 2004.
SOCCER / World cup
Mar 29, 2003

Inamoto salvages draw for Japan against Uruguay

Junichi Inamoto earned Japan a deserved 2-2 draw in its friendly against Uruguay in front of 54,000 fans at the National Stadium in Tokyo on Friday. His well-taken, second-half equalizer spared Japan's blushes but left coach Zico still seeking that elusive first win as Japan boss.
BASEBALL / MLB
Mar 29, 2003

Fighters tame Matsuzaka to win debut for Hillman

Carlos Mirabal went seven innings Friday as the Nippon Ham Fighters downed the defending Pacific League champion Seibu Lions 4-1 to give rookie manager Trey Hillman a win in his managerial debut in Japan.
JAPAN
Mar 29, 2003

Koizumi denies Japan may buy Tomahawks

In an effort to cool down debate on whether the nation should possess the capability to pre-empt a missile attack, government officials on Friday flatly denied that Japan is even considering a move in that direction.
BUSINESS
Mar 29, 2003

McDonald's Holdings flips top manager posts

said Friday that managers from its U.S. parent now hold two of the top three positions on its board, signaling a shift in the power dynamics at the country's largest fast food chain. The shakeup, approved at a general shareholders' meeting, comes in the wake of the announcement this month that founder...
JAPAN
Mar 29, 2003

Two asylum seekers arrive in Japan

A Japanese woman and her daughter who fled from North Korea arrived Friday in Japan from China after being under protection for about a month at the Japanese Consulate General in Shenyang.
BUSINESS
Mar 29, 2003

Hiranuma wants reactors restarted

Industry minister Takeo Hiranuma indicated Friday he wants nuclear reactors that have suspended operations for safety tests to be restarted to avoid power shortages in the summer.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 29, 2003

Age of shifting coalitions

LONDON -- Despite the failure to gain backing from the United Nations, the war on Iraq has brought together a growing "coalition of the willing," as Washington dubs those who support the attack on Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. It may have few active military members -- the United States, Britain plus...
JAPAN
Mar 29, 2003

Yakuza pestering civil servants

A National Police Agency poll of 2,956 local-government departments that deal directly with the public found that about 30 percent of them have had confrontations with gangsters, and around 70 percent of those faced extortionist demands in the past year alone.
BUSINESS
Mar 29, 2003

Koizumi rules out extra budget idea

Both Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa on Friday threw a wet blanket on expectations that the government will draft a supplementary budget.
BUSINESS
Mar 29, 2003

RCC buys more, pays more for soured loans

The state-run Resolution and Collection Corp. has bought 2.3 trillion yen worth of bad loans from hobbled banks since a revision of the financial-system revival law, the RCC said Friday.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 29, 2003

Bovine absurdity is taking India by storm

MADRAS, India -- The Indian cow is not mad. But it has enough clout to cause insanity among the country's political classes, and even the masses.
BUSINESS
Mar 29, 2003

China urged to deal with piracy

Japan urged China on Friday to crack down on piracy of video games, CDs and movies.
BUSINESS
Mar 29, 2003

Expanded deregulation plan OK'd

An expanded version of a three-year deregulatory program featuring 405 more items aimed at opening up the public sector to private firms was approved Friday by the government.
JAPAN
Mar 29, 2003

Koizumi says Japan ready to support efforts to reconstruct postwar Iraq

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Friday that Japan is ready to take some action to support the postwar reconstruction of Iraq even before a new law is enacted to facilitate a dispatch of Self-Defense Forces troops.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 29, 2003

Japan Post debut invokes wariness, hope

When the Postal Services Agency is reborn Tuesday as Japan Post, the public corporation is expected to increase its operational efficiency and better serve its customers.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Mar 29, 2003

Food displays and questions best unasked

Japan is very creative when it comes to the presentation of food. Indeed, much time and effort goes into making food look so good, you'll pay big bucks for it. Here are just some of the ways food is displayed in Japanese restaurants.
JAPAN
Mar 29, 2003

Hoya ordered to halt misleading ads for eyeglasses

The Fair Trade Commission said Friday it has ordered eyeglass manufacturer Hoya Corp. to stop making misleading claims about its products.
BUSINESS
Mar 29, 2003

Panel approves hike in NTT access fees

A government advisory panel on Friday approved a controversial plan to increase the interconnection fees NTT charges other firms to use its fixed telephone lines for fiscal 2003 and 2004.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / PERSONALITY PROFILE
Mar 29, 2003

Reiko Tsukamoto

The vineyards of Yamanashi excel as Japan's oldest and most successful wine producing districts. Canopies of grapevines spread across Yamanashi land, where sunshine, rainfall, the seasons and soil get together to bring on the growth of high quality grapes.
BUSINESS
Mar 29, 2003

Jumbo airline set to delay fare hike plan

The Fair Trade Commission has apparently thrown a wrench into plans by Japan Airlines System Corp. to break a promise that led to its recent merger and raise domestic fares.

Longform

Figure skater Akiko Suzuki was once told her ideal weight should be 47 kilograms, a number she now admits she “naively believed.” This led to her have a relationship with food that resulted in her suffering from anorexia.
The silent battle Japanese athletes fight with weight