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JAPAN
Jan 21, 2003

Ministry to subject teachers to performance-linked pay

The education ministry plans to evaluate public school teachers and reflect the assessments in pay raises and personnel moves nationwide beginning in fiscal 2007, government officials said.
JAPAN
Jan 21, 2003

Wakayama and Hokkaido focus of new mad cow probe

Farm ministry investigators will descend on Wakayama Prefecture and Hokkaido in response to the discovery of Japan's sixth case of mad cow disease, the ministry said Monday.
SUMO
Jan 21, 2003

Kaiho hands Asashoryu first loss of basho

High-flying sumo star Asashoryu failed to impress the sumo world on a day when yokozuna Takanohana retired, falling to his first loss at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at the hands of rank-and-filer Kaiho on Monday.
BUSINESS
Jan 21, 2003

Firms may team up on paint solvent

Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co. and Showa Denko K.K. may team up on the production of the paint solvent ethyl acetate, the firms said Monday.
JAPAN
Jan 21, 2003

Geothermal heat pump systems to get trial use

The Environment Ministry plans to introduce an experimental program to use a geothermal heat pump system for public facilities as part of Japan's efforts to curb global warming, ministry officials said Monday.
BUSINESS
Jan 21, 2003

Recovery projection pushed back

Driven by deep recession at home and a cloudy economic outlook abroad, a key government panel said Monday it will postpone the target year of an expected economic recovery by about two years.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jan 21, 2003

Leaving Japan, getting organized and cash refunds

Being thankful Hello from Tokyo. For all of our complaints, isn't it wonderful to be in Japan? With war, hunger and strife rampant in the world, Japan, with all its problems, is an oasis. It's a good time to be thankful, as we enter the new year, for the simple blessings of peace, trains that run on...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Jan 21, 2003

Gadgets gnaw at polite society

A funny thing happened to me on the train home the other day. I had a conversation with a total stranger.
COMMENTARY / JAPAN IN THE GLOBAL ERA
Jan 20, 2003

Intellectual alienation spawns hazy polic

WASHINGTON -- The main purpose of my visit to Washington at the beginning of 2003 was to carry out discussions on U.S. perspectives, policies and strategies for the Doha Development Round, in particular, and global economic policy in general. Meetings were held with U.S. government departments, foreign...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 20, 2003

Kawaguchi backs U.S. noninvasion vow

Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi expressed support Sunday for a proposal by the United States to give North Korea written assurance that the U.S. will not invade the country, ministry officials said.
JAPAN
Jan 20, 2003

Emission-trading trials planned

The Environment Ministry is planning a test trial to trade carbon dioxide emission rights in fiscal 2003, beginning April 1, ministry officials said Sunday.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 20, 2003

The folly of inflation targets

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said recently the next governor of the Bank of Japan must take aggressive action to fight deflation, giving rise to expectations of inflation targeting among government and ruling coalition officials. I doubt, however, that inflation targeting will cure deflation. In...
SOCCER / J. League
Jan 20, 2003

New Shonan manager outlines plans

HIRATSUKA, Kanagawa Pref. -- Following a four-year spell as assistant coach to the Japan national team, new Shonan Bellmare manager Samir plans to introduce a playing system that mirrors that used by the national team in his quest to win promotion to Division One.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 20, 2003

Australian attitudes harden against illegals

SYDNEY -- Burn, baby, burn. That's how arsonists among illegal arrivals held in detention centers across Australia greeted the new year. What an inglorious way to start 2003!
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Jan 20, 2003

Hike in consumption tax center of lobby's vision

The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) on Jan. 1 released a grand vision aimed at reviving Japan into a vigor- ous and attractive nation.
SUMO
Jan 20, 2003

Asashoryu maintains lead as Takanohana loses again

Yokozuna Takanohana lost for the second straight day Sunday while ozeki Asashoryu maintained his lead on the eighth day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.
JAPAN
Jan 20, 2003

State seeks control of nuclear plants in crisis

The government will propose new legislation giving it the authority to shut down nuclear power plants and other facilities handling dangerous substances in the event of a military attack, it was learned Sunday.
JAPAN
Jan 20, 2003

North Korea ignoring payments on debt to Japan

North Korea has failed to pay interest on rice-related loans provided by Japan and may even fail to repay the original principal, it was learned Sunday.
COMMENTARY
Jan 20, 2003

Call for U.S. conscription is misplaced

WASHINGTON -- New York Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel opposed the U.S. congressional resolution supporting war in Iraq. He lost. So now he wants to draft young people into the coming conflict to ensure that Americans "shoulder the burden of the war equally."
JAPAN
Jan 20, 2003

Japan may support solo attack on Iraq

Taku Yamasaki, secretary general of Japan's governing Liberal Democratic Party, suggested Sunday that Japan may cooperate with the United States if it decides to attack Iraq without a U.N. resolution.
JAPAN
Jan 20, 2003

Amusement park in Seto Sea going under: railway

OSAKA -- Keihan Electric Railway Co. will close an amusement facility at the end of March that it operates on the island of Yoshima in the Seto Inland Sea, it was learned Sunday.

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