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BUSINESS
Jan 24, 2001

Nichidan Life to take AXA name

Nichidan Life Insurance Co., which is under the umbrella of French financial group AXA, will change its name to AXA Group Life Insurance Co. on March 31 in a bid to highlight the AXA company name.
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2001

Split in Russia caused summit delay

A tug of war between Russian government officials has led Moscow to seek a monthlong postponement of the planned summit in Siberia between Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and Russian President Vladimir Putin, a senior Foreign Ministry official said Tuesday.
COMMENTARY
Jan 24, 2001

Time for Japan to root out corruption

LONDON -- Fifty years ago this year, the San Francisco Peace Treaty was signed and the Japanese government began preparing to resume full sovereignty. Then-Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida was a shrewd politician. He knew that the peace treaty, despite the difficulties some of the clauses would cause for...
BUSINESS
Jan 24, 2001

Softbank to be lead buyer of Taisho Life

Midsize life insurer Yamato Mutual Life Insurance Co. and a group led by Softbank Corp. plan to take over the failed Taisho Life Insurance Co., sources said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2001

Mori, Annan discuss UNSC

Visiting U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori agreed Tuesday to push forward reforms of the United Nations, although Annan stopped short of saying he supported Tokyo's proposal for a 24-seat Security Council and a permanent seat for Japan.
BUSINESS
Jan 24, 2001

Prefectures ran in the red in fiscal '99

Prefectural governments posted a combined 19.4 billion yen in budget deficits in fiscal 1999, which ended last March 31, the Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry said Tuesday.
LIFE / Digital
Jan 24, 2001

Internet reincarnations

www.geocities.com/lilgreen91/ Photographic evidence that an alien/human hybrid is among us. Or at least in someone's kitchen.
BUSINESS
Jan 24, 2001

Prudential to pay 23 billion yen for Orico Life

Prudential Corporation Holdings Ltd. will purchase a full stake in Orico Life Insurance Co. for 23 billion yen on Feb. 13 from its parent company Orient Corp., Prudential and Orient said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2001

Vajpayee sets Feb. 10-14 official visit

Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will make an official visit to Japan from Feb. 10 to 14 to meet with Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and other government officials, the Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Jan 24, 2001

BOJ eyes increase in liquidity

The Bank of Japan is compiling a list of measures to provide sufficient funds to banks in case of continued market volatility, BOJ Gov. Masaru Hayami said Tuesday.
ENVIRONMENT / GARDENING FOR ALL
Jan 24, 2001

See where the apricot (or is it plum) blossoms

Kairakuen Garden in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, is one of the three most celebrated gardens in Japan, located a very short distance from the city center.
BUSINESS
Jan 24, 2001

Suzuki may sell to Nissan

Suzuki Motor Corp. said Tuesday it is considering providing Nissan Motor Co. with Suzuki minivehicles.
LIFE / Food & Drink / KISSA KULTUR
Jan 24, 2001

Mariage Freres: A Ginza tea party

They haven't had to advertise in over 140 years. Of course, when your product is of the highest quality, word travels -- even to distant shores.
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2001

Obituary: Chong Sung Bak

Chong Sung Bak, a Korean writer based in Japan, was found dead Monday at his house in Sumoto, Hyogo Prefecture, friends said. He was 77.
LIFE / Digital / CYBERIA
Jan 24, 2001

Back in the loop

This is not what you would call a lede per se, but indulge me for a few paragraphs. This will take some explaining.
SOCCER / J. League
Jan 24, 2001

'Super League' talks

Japanese, South Korean and Chinese soccer officials are set to meet next month to discuss the possibility of a "Super League" involving club sides from the three countries, sports sources said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Jan 24, 2001

Microcomputer sets new high in energy efficiency

Toshiba Corp. has developed two types of microcomputer that operate at high speed with the lowest power consumption for their kind in the industry, the firm said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Jan 24, 2001

New head office for Merrill Lynch

Merrill Lynch and Co. will move its Japan headquarters to a building under construction on the site of the now-closed flagship outlet of Tokyu Department Stores Co. in Nihonbashi.
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2001

State minister Aso well-connected

Taro Aso, appointed minister for economic and fiscal policy and information technology on Tuesday, is a former Olympic competitor and grandchild of the late Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida.
BUSINESS
Jan 23, 2001

Garment makers target Uniqlo with import ban

Domestic garment manufacturers will formally ask the government to impose an import curb on inexpensive clothing that is fueling the rapid growth of the wildly popular Uniqlo chain, industry officials said Monday.
JAPAN
Jan 23, 2001

Ex-MITI chief Horiuchi to lead 'anti-Kato' faction

Former International Trade and Industry Minister Mitsuo Horiuchi was named Monday as the leader of a new faction in the Liberal Democratic Party formed by breakaway members of the faction headed by Koichi Kato, lawmakers said Monday.
BUSINESS
Jan 23, 2001

New century fails to lift stock market gloom

The decline in the Tokyo stock market continues despite the fanfare of entering the new century.
CULTURE / Film
Jan 23, 2001

Lock, stock and instant noodles

Here's a word association game for you. What comes to mind when you hear "Thai cinema?" A blank? Don't worry -- in Japan, you're hardly alone.
EDITORIALS
Jan 23, 2001

Mr. Kim's tutorial

Mr. Kim Jong Il's "secret" trip to China was one of the worst-kept secrets in recent history. Although the Chinese government refused to officially confirm the visit by the reclusive North Korean leader, the news was out as soon as Mr. Kim's special train crossed the border into China last week. If much...
SUMO
Jan 23, 2001

Injuries force Akebono into retirement

Yokozuna Akebono, sumo's first foreign-born grand champion, indicated Monday at a meeting with Japan Sumo Association Chairman Tokitsukaze that he will retire from the ring.

Longform

In 2020, 38% of all households were single-person. That figure is projected to rise to 44.3% by 2050.
The rise of AI companionship in a lonely Japan