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JAPAN
Nov 12, 2003

Foreign student numbers in Japan up 14.6% to 109,508

There were 109,508 foreign students studying in Japan as of May 1, up 14.6 percent from a year earlier, the education ministry said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Nov 12, 2003

Record 124 women to be bureaucrats

The number of women to be hired as fast-track career bureaucrats will reach a record 124, or 19.3 percent of the 642 potential recruits for fiscal 2004, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Tuesday.
COMMENTARY
Nov 12, 2003

Democracy: a most contentious ideal

MANILA -- No other philosophical or political idea is as contentious as the concept of freedom. All principal writings of political philosophers deal with the issue of freedom in one sense or another, leading to an enormous -- and at times confusing -- body of sources. Freedom defines the relationships...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Nov 12, 2003

A mini 'Mahabharata' of epic proportions

How is your "geijitsu no aki" going? If you haven't got out to enjoy the splendors of "artistic autumn" yet, the Ku Na'uka Theatre Company's new play, "Mahabharata-Nalacaritam (Prince Nala's Adventure)" is as romantic and colorful a spectacle as any laid on by nature.
EDITORIALS
Nov 11, 2003

A viable two-party system?

In Sunday's election, the voters opted for stability -- with a twist. They gave the three-party ruling coalition led by the Liberal Democratic Party a continued mandate to run the country but, at the same time, handed the LDP a slap on the wrist: the loss of a majority in the 480-seat influential Lower...
JAPAN
Nov 11, 2003

One less woman in Lower House

Sunday's general election installed 34 women to the House of Representatives, one fewer than the record high -- under the present Constitution -- of 35 elected in the last Lower House election, in June 2000.
JAPAN
Nov 11, 2003

Tax increase to aid welfare has broad support

More than 40 percent of the House of Representatives members elected in Sunday's general election support a rise in the consumption tax to promote welfare programs.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 11, 2003

Japan Post begins selling 4.4 billion New Year's cards

A ceremony Monday at the Tokyo Central Post Office in Chiyoda Ward marked the nationwide launch of New Year's postcard sales.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 11, 2003

Barber chain QB Net's innovations clipped by tight regulations

The experiences of one Tokyo-based hair-cutting operator seem to show how archaic rules in Japan can stifle innovative business ideas.
BUSINESS
Nov 11, 2003

Planned bank edges toward fruition

The planned Nippon Industrial Bank, which will specialize in extending loans to small and midsize businesses, was granted a preliminary license from the Financial Services Agency on Oct. 31 to open in April, planners said Monday.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Nov 11, 2003

Lease rights, house-buying and classes

Contract issues On the subject of Amy's renewal of lease (Lifelines; Oct. 12), Robert writes in that under the "old" contract system, if the landlord wants her to move, he/she should offer to pay for the costs related to same, including agent commission, etc.
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Nov 11, 2003

Running the sex trade gantlet

It could be a scene from most neighborhoods in urban Japan but it happened to be mine in Hashimoto, Kanagawa Prefecture.
JAPAN / ELECTION 2003
Nov 11, 2003

SDP, JCP setbacks spell trouble for Constitution

The setbacks suffered by the Social Democratic Party and the Japanese Communist Party, which were both reduced to less than 10 seats in Sunday's House of Representatives election, mark a sharp decline in forces committed to opposing any change to the war-renouncing Constitution.
BUSINESS
Nov 11, 2003

Business leaders welcome inroads by DPJ, urge LDP to focus on economy

Business leaders on Monday cautiously welcomed the electoral inroads made by the Democratic Party of Japan, expressing hope its gains will lead to healthy competition between the ruling and opposition parties.
BUSINESS
Nov 11, 2003

Deflation still Koizumi's bane

With the ruling coalition having won Sunday's House of Representatives election, albeit with a smaller majority, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is expected to stick with his structural reform agenda.
JAPAN
Nov 11, 2003

China official to discuss North Korea

China's Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo will come to Japan on Wednesday to meet with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and senior government officials to discuss North Korea's suspected nuclear arms development.
JAPAN / ELECTION 2003
Nov 11, 2003

Vote validates SDF's Iraq dispatch: Koizumi

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Monday that the solid majority won by the ruling coalition in the House of Representatives election represents a public vote of confidence in his intention to send Self-Defense Forces units to Iraq.
JAPAN
Nov 11, 2003

Fraudulent bond seller loses appeal

The Tokyo High Court on Monday upheld a three-year prison term and 64 million yen fine imposed on a former Tokyo branch manager of Cresvale International Ltd. for selling "Princeton bonds" and falsely claiming they were redeemable.
BUSINESS
Nov 11, 2003

Softbank loss widens in first half

Softbank Corp. said Monday its net loss widened during the first half as it continued to spend heavily in an effort to attract new subscribers for its broadband Internet service.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ELECTION 2003
Nov 11, 2003

Scandal-tainted politicos ousted

The results of Sunday's election may have left a bitter taste in the mouths of some of the nation's big names.
BUSINESS
Nov 11, 2003

Yamaha net profit surges 160.6%

Yamaha Corp. said Monday its group net profit for the six months to Sept. 30 surged 160.6 percent from a year earlier to 26.26 billion yen, amid rising overseas sales of musical instruments.
JAPAN
Nov 11, 2003

LDP may win majority in July race: simulation

The governing Liberal Democratic Party is expected to maintain its majority in the House of Councilors in the Upper House election in July.

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’