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BUSINESS
May 26, 2001

Lower House OKs bill to reform pension plans

The Lower House on Friday approved a new defined-benefit pension bill that will drastically reform the corporate pension system.
COMMENTARY
May 26, 2001

Feud serves nation poorly

The new administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is enjoying a high public-approval rate of around 80 percent. But although he may be able to carry out his economic and domestic agenda, I have some reservations about his ability in the field of diplomacy.
JAPAN
May 26, 2001

Koizumi pitches privatization plan

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has called for the reorganization of government-affiliated corporations and pointed to the need for sweeping privatization, government officials said Friday.
BUSINESS
May 26, 2001

Two major banking groups suffer losses

Bad loans continued to make a dent in major banks' profits in fiscal 2000, even as the heat intensified to get to the bottom of the problem, according to fiscal earnings reports announced by Friday.
JAPAN
May 26, 2001

Koizumi, coalition to be tested in July

Although Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his Cabinet continue to enjoy record-high public approval ratings, the real test for the new administration will come in the July House of Councilors election.
JAPAN
May 26, 2001

Lee should get visa again: Mori

Japan should not deny a visa for former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui if he makes another request to visit the country for medical treatment, former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori was quoted as saying Friday by Taiwan's visiting Nationalist Party leader.
BUSINESS
May 26, 2001

Foreign investors calm down

Foreign investors remained net buyers of Japanese stocks for the ninth straight week last week, although their buying excess visibly narrowed.
BUSINESS
May 26, 2001

Lower fees drag Wowow into red

Satellite broadcaster Wowow Inc. said Friday it fell into the red for the first time in six years in fiscal 2000 due to cuts in subscription fees and growth in costs for adding subscribers.
BUSINESS
May 26, 2001

Daikin in tieup on mobile products

Daikin Industries Ltd. and Sauer-Danfoss Inc. of the United States will jointly set up a manufacturing and a sales firm for oil hydraulic products for use in mobile equipment, the two firms said Friday.
COMMENTARY / World
May 26, 2001

Charting a course as wide as the region

To understand the logic that is driving the Bush administration's redesign of U.S. military strategy, overlay two maps. The first focuses on wealth and population. It highlights Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore, some of the world's richest and most important trading nations. China, India and...
BUSINESS
May 26, 2001

Guidelines on debt waivers sought

Financial Services Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa said Friday he expects the Japan Bankers Association and the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren) to devise guidelines on debt waivers to corporate borrowers by the end of June.
COMMENTARY / World
May 26, 2001

Afghans' prospects grow worse by the day

KABUL -- Surrounded by squalor, 9-year-old Naim Gul raises his hand to beg for a cheap pen.
JAPAN
May 26, 2001

Firms plan free audio broadcast service on Net

Oita-based Internet service provider Coara and a South Korean company were set to jointly launch a service Friday that allows audio broadcasts to be sent over the Internet for free.
JAPAN
May 26, 2001

Human rights watchdog planned

The Justice Ministry's Council for Human Rights Promotion released a package of proposals Friday that includes establishment of an independent organ to beef up measures to counter abuses.
JAPAN
May 26, 2001

Metro poll may find LDP riding on leader's coattails

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's popularity is expected to change the nature of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election slated for next month.
SUMO
May 26, 2001

Taka virtually wraps up title

Yokozuna Takanohana weathered a fierce clash with Chiyotaikai and muscled out the upset-minded ozeki to virtually wrap up his 22nd Emperor's Cup at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Friday.
COMMENTARY / World
May 26, 2001

Blair's Labor looks set for the long haul

Britain's general election on June 7 is shaping up as the most important political event the country has seen since Margaret Thatcher began to change the way the country worked two decades ago.
BASEBALL / MLB
May 26, 2001

Lions nip Hawks 3-2 in ninth

Hiroyuki Shibata singled home the game-tying run and followup Kazuo Matsui hit an RBI double to bring home the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Seibu Lions beat the Daiei Hawks with a 3-2 victory at the Seibu Dome on Friday.
BUSINESS
May 26, 2001

Listed companies post sales, profit gains for 2000

The combined balance of consolidated sales and profit by listed companies was up for the first time in four years in fiscal 2000, according to a tally released Friday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
May 26, 2001

Thunderbird set to make history for second time

Charlotte Kennedy-Takahashi, as much at home in Tokyo's American Club as her local "izakaya," refutes any description of herself as the first non-Japanese woman to start her own business in Japan. But she does acknowledge herself as a pioneer, heading the first company founded by a foreigner to be granted...
MORE SPORTS
May 26, 2001

Japan captures East Asian Games soccer gold

Japan downed South Korea 4-3 on penalties Friday to clinch the gold medal at the East Asian Games and end their Asian archrival's hopes of a third straight title in the regional competition.
JAPAN
May 26, 2001

Net overseas assets rise above 133 trillion yen

Japan's outstanding balance of net assets abroad came to 133.47 trillion yen at the end of last year, a 57 percent increase from the year before and the second-largest total on record, the Finance Ministry said Friday.
JAPAN
May 26, 2001

Schools comply with Hinomaru directive

Almost all public elementary and junior high and high schools hoisted the Hinomaru flag at their graduation and entrance ceremonies this spring in accordance with instructions issued by the Education Ministry, according to a survey released Friday by the ministry.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / PERSONALITY PROFILE
May 26, 2001

Jane Finch

This year's Azalea Tea, the 46th sponsored annually by the Yokohama International Women's Club, was a sellout event. It featured a fashion show presented by international designer Takeo Nishida. As always, it ran a raffle for covetable prizes. Club President Jane Finch said she appreciates the friendship...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
May 26, 2001

Job-hunting tips for the nation's students

Japan's unemployment rate is the highest ever in the postwar era. This is especially bad news for students, who are finding it difficult to find jobs upon graduating. But don't despair, students, deep down the bubble economy is still bubbling! Japan is still paying people to do jobs that don't even exist...
EDITORIALS
May 25, 2001

Provoking the dragon

U.S. President George W. Bush is performing a high-wire act with China. Even though tensions with Beijing were already running high, the president has approved two visits that will only further irritate the Chinese government. The United States is free to host whomever it wants, and no U.S. government...
BUSINESS
May 25, 2001

Banks cautioned against second waivers

A second waiver for struggling companies whose debts were partially forgiven once should be given by banks only in exceptional cases, Financial Services Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa said Thursday.

Longform

Ichiro Suzuki, one of the most iconic players in NPB and MLB history, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame with 99.7% of the vote.
With Hall of Fame induction, Ichiro makes himself heard loud and clear