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JAPAN
Feb 14, 2003

Former minister halfway to prison

Former Construction Minister Kishiro Nakamura was turned over Thursday to the Tokyo Detention House in line with the Supreme Court's dismissal of his final appeal against a bribery conviction.
JAPAN
Feb 14, 2003

Promotion of nuclear power should be national policy: LDP

A Liberal Democratic Party policymaking panel agreed Thursday that the government should promote nuclear power as a national policy.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 14, 2003

Loan sharks feasting on ballooning number of people deep in debt

With the economy in the doldrums for years and unemployment at a record high, Japanese are racking up debts, falling prey to loan sharks and declaring bankruptcy by the thousands.
MORE SPORTS
Feb 14, 2003

Pavlicevic named Japan coach

The Japan Basketball Association said Wednesday it has hired Zeljko Pavlicevic of Croatia as the new manager for the men's national team on a four-year deal.
JAPAN
Feb 14, 2003

Japan NGO demands Beijing release 120 North Korean refugees, supporters

A Japanese nongovernmental organization helping North Koreans who have fled to China demanded Thursday that Beijing release at least 120 refugees and their supporters allegedly detained since October.
BUSINESS
Feb 14, 2003

Tokyo new condo supply slips 2.8%

The number of new condominiums put on sale in the Tokyo metropolitan area in January fell 2.8 percent from a year before to 3,327 units, the Real Estate Economic Institute said Thursday.
JAPAN
Feb 14, 2003

Osaka unveils slimmer draft budget

OSAKA -- The city of Osaka unveiled on Thursday a belt-tightening 1.78 trillion yen draft budget for fiscal 2003 featuring cuts in subsidies, public projects and personnel outlays.
BUSINESS
Feb 14, 2003

MMC pursues performance-linked wages

The union and management of Mitsubishi Motors Corp. have agreed to replace the seniority-based wage structure with a performance-based system, sources close to the talks said Thursday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 14, 2003

Japan urged to take lead in easing of drug patents

As host of an informal ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization, Japan should take the initiative in easing rules on pharmaceutical patents so developing countries can have better access to desperately needed drugs, according to Dr. Tatsuo Hayashi, president of Africa-Japan Forum.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 14, 2003

Farm chief nixes WTO proposal

Farm minister Tadamori Oshima on Thursday rejected a WTO panel chief's proposal that would cut import tariffs on farm produce by up to 45 percent.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / VINELAND
Feb 14, 2003

A 'petite' varietal that punches above its weight

We were recently guests at a food and wine pairing session run by renegade chef Eric Gower (his second cookbook, "The Breakaway Japanese Kitchen," will be released this fall by Kodansha International). One wine on the table that stood out above all the rest was a 1997 Arciero Petite Sirah from California....
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Feb 14, 2003

Newcastle hoping lighting strikes twice in Champions League

LONDON -- If a week is a long time in politics, two months is an eternity in the Champions League which resumes after its winter hibernation next Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Feb 14, 2003

Hitachi, Oracle to reinforce ties

Hitachi Ltd. and U.S. software company Oracle Corp. said Thursday they will reinforce their cooperation in the field of storage solutions.
JAPAN
Feb 14, 2003

Kyokushuzan named goodwill envoy

The Mongolian government appointed Kyokushuzan, the first Mongolian to wrestle in professional sumo's top division, as goodwill ambassador to Japan on Thursday in a bid to lure Japanese tourists to the country. During a ceremony at the Mongolian Embassy in Tokyo, Kyokushuzan received a blue satin band...
JAPAN
Feb 14, 2003

Japan eyes role in UNSC dialogue on North Korea

Japan plans to consult with members of the United Nations Security Council over the North Korean nuclear weapons standoff following a nuclear watchdog's decision to refer the issue to the top U.N. panel, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Feb 14, 2003

BOJ tallies bank shares bought

The cumulative value of shares the Bank of Japan has bought from commercial banks under a special program to ease their exposure to falling share prices came to 527.1 billion yen as of Monday, the BOJ said Thursday.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / THE WAY OF WASHOKU
Feb 14, 2003

Ultra-sweet treats to round off a kaiseki feast

The best way to close an impeccable kaiseki meal is perhaps a piece of seasonal, perfectly ripe fruit. A small pile of peeled Concord grapes or a honey-sweet muskmelon signal the time of year and leave the palate clean and refreshed. There are, however, a few popular washoku desserts that may be prepared...
BUSINESS
Feb 14, 2003

Beer, 'happoshu' shipments fall 4%

Combined shipments of beer and "happoshu," a low-malt, beerlike beverage, fell 4 percent in January from a year earlier, down for the fifth consecutive month, according to data released Thursday by Japan's five leading brewers.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Feb 14, 2003

Take your lover to Hevin and back

What is it about Japan and chocolate and Feb. 14? For the past two weeks and climaxing today, the entire nation -- or at least the female half of it -- has been engulfed in the annual chocomania. And, if anything, this year the Valentine's Day frenzy has reached new heights.
BUSINESS
Feb 14, 2003

Confidence down in third quarter

Business confidence in Japan worsened for the second consecutive quarter in the October-December term, reflecting heightened geopolitical tensions and sluggish domestic stock performance, according to a government survey released Thursday.
BUSINESS
Feb 14, 2003

Sega and Sammy Corp. announce October tieup

Sega Corp. and pachinko machine maker Sammy Corp. announced Thursday that they will merge on Oct. 1, a move seen aimed at resolving Sega's financial troubles.
BUSINESS
Feb 14, 2003

Nisshin Fire, Tokio Marine to tie up

Tokio Marine & Fire Insurance Co. will take a one-third stake in Nisshin Fire & Marine Insurance Co. by March 2005, the nonlife insurers said Thursday.

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