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JAPAN
Mar 22, 2001

King and queen of Norway to visit

King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway will visit Japan on Saturday, according to the Foreign Ministry.
LIFE / Food & Drink / NIHONSHU
Mar 22, 2001

What's in a number?

At the end of each Nihonshu column, a recommended sake is introduced to readers. Along with the name and grade, three "vital statistics" are also given. These numbers -- the nihonshu-do, the acidity and the seimai-buai -- are supposed to give a clue as to how the sake might taste.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Mar 22, 2001

I'll see your spell and raise a goblin

Akira Kan wipes away the beads of sweat rapidly gathering on his forehead. The 15,000 yen that Pavel Matousek is asking for Juzam Djinn is beyond his budget. But the alternative -- trade in his Mox Pearl and Island of Wak-Wak -- seems like a bum deal.
JAPAN
Mar 22, 2001

Murakami indicted over 72 million yen in KSD bribes

Public prosecutors indicted former House of Councilors member Masakuni Murakami on Wednesday on charges of taking 72 million yen in bribes from KSD, a government-authorized foundation for small businesses.
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Mar 22, 2001

Islands in the stream of Indian cuisine

It was no accident that led us to Athara Petara -- we always keep an ear to the ground for the latest of good new venues for foods from other parts of Asia. But anyone fortunate enough to stumble upon this friendly little eatery by chance will understand immediately why the word serendipity was coined...
EDITORIALS
Mar 21, 2001

Welcome return to zero-interest rates

In yet another move to roll back deflationary pressures, the Bank of Japan on Monday decided to increase the money supply and bring the key overnight money-market rate back to zero. The decision, which follows a round of marginal interest-rate cuts in February, indicates that the central bank is pulling...
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 21, 2001

President Bush, be cautious with Iraq

When he ended his recent visit to the Middle East, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell implied that sanctions against Iraq needed to be revised to make them more acceptable to other countries in the region. He noted, however, that such a revision would be viewed as a softer approach to Iraq and might...
JAPAN
Mar 21, 2001

Used appliance shops seeing silver lining

The coming introduction of the appliance recycling law will put extra financial burdens both on consumers and manufacturers.
BUSINESS
Mar 21, 2001

Haneda to begin simultaneous landings

Tokyo's Haneda airport on Thursday will start allowing simultaneous landings using two parallel runways to help reduce rush-hour delays, airport officials said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Mar 21, 2001

Economists unconvinced by leaders' talks

Economists reacted coolly Tuesday to Monday's Japan-U.S. summit, which saw economic issues take center stage and Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori pledge to embark on structural reforms to mend Japan's ailing economy.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 21, 2001

Dissenting from globalism

In discussions with frontline humanitarian agencies, it becomes clear that they are experiencing a mild backlash against global human-rights instruments. Some countries have become apprehensive of signing agreements for fear of later intervention by outside powers on grounds of noncompliance.
JAPAN
Mar 21, 2001

Group urges state to aid survivors of sarin gassing

A support group for survivors of the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system is urging the central government to provide support for those who still suffer from physical and psychological pain from the incident.
JAPAN
Mar 21, 2001

FAQ on new recycling regulations

Questions and answers relating to the Home Appliances Recycling Law.
JAPAN
Mar 21, 2001

Koizumi hints at bid for LDP presidency

CHIBA -- Junichiro Koizumi, the No. 2 man in the Liberal Democratic Party faction led by Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, suggested Tuesday he may be ready to run in a party race to choose a new leader to succeed Mori.
BUSINESS
Mar 21, 2001

U.S. power reforms, IT sparking change in Japanese industries

The rapid liberalization of the U.S. electric power industry and the worldwide development of information technology are prompting key Japanese industries to change their structure and management styles.
MORE SPORTS
Mar 21, 2001

Isuzu nets sixth JBL championship

The Isuzu GigaCats clawed they way back in a low-scoring fourth quarter Tuesday to defeat the Toyota Alvark 72-69 and claim their sixth Japan Basketball League title after a hard-fought final series.
BUSINESS
Mar 21, 2001

FSA eases stance to speed up loan disposal at banks

The Financial Services Agency has said it will not order banks to improve their operations even if they fall into the red -- provided they clear their net business profit targets and adhere to other criteria.
JAPAN
Mar 21, 2001

Labor dispute lawsuits topped 2,000 last year

The number of labor dispute lawsuits filed across the country in 2000 topped the 2,000 mark for the first time, the Supreme Court revealed in a recent report.
JAPAN
Mar 21, 2001

U.S. warships not welcome in Hokkaido

While U.S. Ambassador Thomas Foley was receiving an award Jan. 9 aboard the USS Blue Ridge for his contribution to increased visits by U.S. naval vessels to Japanese ports, the mayor of Tomakomai, Hokkaido, was expressing opposition to a planned February visit to his town by the flagship.
BUSINESS
Mar 21, 2001

S&P drops Aozora Bank to BB-pi

U.S. credit-rating agency Standard & Poor's has assigned Aozora Bank a credit rating of BB-pi, which is considered speculative.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 21, 2001

An Asian financial crisis, Chinese-style

CAMBRIDGE, England -- The Chinese government has announced that death sentences have been imposed on seven people for tax fraud, in this case fraudulent claims for value-added-tax refunds on export sales. More death sentences, followed quickly by executions, are expected during what Premier Zhu Rongji...
JAPAN / GREENING PAINS
Mar 21, 2001

Recycling law lets producers off hook, taxes consumers: critics

Eleven days from now, Japan will usher in a new era of recycling. For the first time, consumers will have to foot the bill to recycle and dispose of four major home appliances -- refrigerators, televisions, washing machines and air conditioners.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji