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COMMENTARY
Apr 20, 2002

Comedy on the heels of traged

As the saying goes, "tragedy at first, followed by comedy." Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's dismissal of Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka on Jan. 29 was a tragic event in the political world. The collapse of the Koizumi-Tanaka team, at the forefront of the government that emerged in April 2001 to tremendous...
JAPAN / KANSAI BEAT
Apr 20, 2002

NGOs target immigration center

OSAKA -- Amid concerns over allegations of human rights abuses at the West Japan Immigration Detention Center in Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture, local nongovernmental organizations will form an immigration watchdog group later this month.
COMMENTARY
Apr 19, 2002

West's terror goes unpunished

Call me old-fashioned, but was not the deliberate use of force by one nation against another nation once labeled as aggression? And was not aggression once seen as a war crime? Certainly a large number of Japanese and German leaders once were hanged for just that kind of behavior. Yet today's U.S. and...
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Apr 18, 2002

The invasion and colonization of Europe

Cooperation is the key to the evolution of life, even though natural selection favors genetic selfishness. Since all complex life, whether it's a tree or a whale, reproduces through sex, genes have only a 50 percent chance of getting into an egg or a sperm. This means that even genes have to cooperate,...
BUSINESS
Apr 17, 2002

BOJ voted 8-1 in favor of liquidity drive

The Bank of Japan Policy Board in February voted 8-1 to boost liquidity in the banking system by increasing the central bank's outright purchases of government bonds, according to minutes released Tuesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Apr 17, 2002

All we know of heaven and need of hell

There may indeed be "more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of" in human philosophy, as Hamlet told faithful Horatio, but when it comes to hell, the human imagination needs little prompting. From Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy" to the Bible itself, hell and its tempting concomitant, sin, have...
BUSINESS
Apr 17, 2002

Forum to tackle product piracy

A group of companies and industry associations set up Tuesday a forum to tackle what they see as increasing overseas infringement of intellectual property rights, especially in Asia.
BUSINESS
Apr 17, 2002

Japan faces tough sell at G7

Japan is expected to re-emphasize its resolve to achieve structural reforms aimed at revitalizing its economy when finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of Seven major economic powers gather this week in Washington.
BUSINESS
Apr 17, 2002

Japan will fight U.S. curbs with EU: Hiranuma

Trade minister Takeo Hiranuma has reconfirmed that he will make joint efforts with the European Union to fight U.S. import curbs on steel products, a ministry official said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Apr 16, 2002

Ex-Daiwa Toshi president denies 2.9 billion yen scam

OSAKA -- Former Daiwa Toshi Kanzai President Hiroshi Toyonaga pleaded not guilty Monday to defrauding clients out of 2.9 billion yen through sales of securities by the failed mortgage-backed securities broker that were later found to be worthless.
JAPAN
Apr 16, 2002

Tokyo-Seoul history panel holds first meeting

A Japan-South Korea panel tasked with selecting members for and supporting the activities of a planned joint history research committee held its first meeting Monday afternoon in Tokyo.
BUSINESS
Apr 16, 2002

Australia seeking to boost economic ties with Japan

Australian Trade Minister Mark Vaile on Monday said he is seeking an expanded economic relationship that would activate economic interactions between Japan and Australia, a Foreign Ministry official in Tokyo said.
BUSINESS / ANALYSIS
Apr 16, 2002

Economic panel wants to go its own way on FTAs, farm trade

In a rather belated move aimed at giving the languishing Japanese economy a badly needed shot in the arm, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's key economic panel has put yet another sacred cow on its reform agenda: agriculture.
JAPAN
Apr 16, 2002

Yohei Kono readied to receive son's liver

Former Foreign Minister Yohei Kono, who is suffering from hepatitis C, may undergo a transplant operation Tuesday in which he will receive part of his son's liver, hospital sources said Monday.
BUSINESS
Apr 16, 2002

Debate brews over easing trade with poor countries

A tug-of-war is brewing behind the scenes within the government over whether Japan should do more to help the world's poorest countries by granting their products, especially seafood, greater access to its lucrative market.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 14, 2002

Britain and the euro: victory for the brave

BRUSSELS -- The introduction of the euro in 12 of the 15 member states of the European Union has been an unqualified success. The changeover had none of the hitches and glitches that many -- including myself -- thought would mar its early days.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / JAZZNICITY
Apr 14, 2002

Bigger, fresher, louder

In the last Jazznicity column, I focused on meat-and-potatoes big bands in Tokyo. But in addition to those bands that work directly in the jazz tradition, there are many others seeking to extend its range of possibilities.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Apr 14, 2002

It's spring and renewal is in the air

English teachers will definitely want to check out Sunday's two-hour "SmaStation Spring Berabera Festival" (TV Asahi, 6:56 p.m.). "SmaStation" is the latest SMAP-related hit variety series, normally broadcast Saturday nights at 11 p.m. Taking its name from TV Asahi's influential nightly news program,...
SOCCER / World cup / EXCERPTS FROM PHILIPPE TROUSSIER'S BOOK
Apr 14, 2002

We mustn't forget our humanity

"Passion" is the story of Japan soccer team coach Philippe Troussier, his struggle to make it as a player and manager and his travels around France, Africa and Japan. In the book, Troussier also details his philosophy and thinking as he prepares for the World Cup in June.
JAPAN
Apr 13, 2002

Environmentalist says Japan should roll out solar energy Marshall Plan

Japan is in a unique position to help promote sustainable development in Asia and in developing countries in the area of solar power, an influential U.S. environmental pundit said in an interview.
MORE SPORTS
Apr 13, 2002

Oji Papers to disband team

Officials of Oji Paper Co., Japan's largest manufacturer of paper products, announced Friday that the company's 67-year-old speed-skating club will be disbanded at the end of April.
JAPAN
Apr 13, 2002

Obituaries: Keizo Takahashi and Hideki Nakazono

Keizo Takahashi, a former popular announcer at NHK and ex-member of the House of Councilors, died Thursday night of kidney failure at a hospital in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward, his family said Friday. He was 83.
BUSINESS
Apr 13, 2002

Audi plots huge campaign in Asian, Pacific markets

German automaker Audi AG plans to increase its presence in the Asian and Pacific markets, targeting annual sales of 80,000 to 90,000 units -- or 10 percent of the firm's global sales -- in five years, an Audi executive said Friday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / PERSONALITY PROFILE
Apr 13, 2002

Yasmina Karem

This year marks the 49th annual Cherry Blossom Charity Ball sponsored by the international Ladies Benevolent Society. A major fundraising event for charitable causes, the ball is also a starred occasion on Tokyo's international social calendar.
BUSINESS
Apr 13, 2002

Honda, Sanyo tie up on nickel-hydrogen batteries

OSAKA -- Honda Motor Co. and Sanyo Electric Co. have agreed to jointly develop nickel-hydrogen batteries for use in Honda hybrid automobiles, Sanyo officials said Friday.

Longform

A sinkhole in Yashio, which emerged in January, was triggered by a ruptured, aging sewer pipe. Authorities worry that similar sections of infrastructure across the country are also at risk of corrosion.
That sinking feeling: Japan’s aging sewers are an infrastructure time bomb