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COMMENTARY
Jun 14, 2000

The chancy politics of weather

In less than two weeks, on Sunday, June 25, Japanese voters will cast their ballots in what will be Japan's last general election of the 20th century. This may well turn out to be the most important Japanese general election since July 18, 1993, which resulted in the inauguration, on Aug. 9 of that year,...
JAPAN
Jun 14, 2000

Ballots from abroad begin arriving

The government began accepting ballots Tuesday for the June 25 Lower House election from Japanese living abroad or aboard ships — the first time overseas voting has been permitted for a national election.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / GETTING THINGS DONE
Jun 14, 2000

Winding down

In Sunday's column, I told readers why I will be leaving Japan while, appropriately, explaining what is required for foreigners to get married in Japan, which is what we did. I also said I would explain what would replace this column. Actually, I can't do that. It is up to you. I know there are a lot...
LIFE / Travel
Jun 14, 2000

Bombardiers and polar bears

TORONTO -- The Bombardier died about 10 km out of Arviat, and that was a stroke of luck. It's nearly 800 km from Churchill to Rankin Inlet as the snowmobile travels and there are only two settlements along the way. We broke down close to one of them.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 14, 2000

Ripples from Assad's death will extend far

So the Lion of Damascus is, at last, no more. For some people, he has been an unconscionable time dying. I remember when, back in 1983, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and his loyalist guerrillas were fighting a desperate rearguard action against the Syrian Army in the northern Lebanese town of Tripoli....
ENVIRONMENT
Jun 14, 2000

Growing in the shadows and shady corners

Your condominium may have a north- or east-facing balcony, or the building next door may block out the sun for the best part of the day. Even if you are lucky enough to have your own garden, there will always be some corner that is shady. Finding plants that will thrive in these areas can be tricky,...
BUSINESS
Jun 14, 2000

Economic news shines, but many remain in the shade

The latest batch of economic reports has given the public reason to take heart. The Finance Ministry's quarterly business survey, released last week, found busi- ness-fixed investment rose 3.3 percent in the January-March term, the first year-on-year rise in nine quarters.
BUSINESS
Jun 13, 2000

Money supply growth eases off

Japan's key indicator of the money supply grew at an average pace of 2.2 percent in May from a year earlier, a slowdown from the 2.9 percent gain in April, the Bank of Japan said in a preliminary report released Monday.
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2000

Speed controllers sought for trucks

An panel advised the Transport Ministry on Monday to require automakers and trucking firms to put speed governors on large trucks to reduce fatal traffic accidents on expressways, the ministry said.
EDITORIALS
Jun 13, 2000

Relief for the workaholic headache

Nearly everyone has heard of sick leave, the time that people are allowed off from work to recover from an illness, whether real or feigned. More people also are becoming aware of child-care leave, the time off that companies are supposed to allow to mothers or fathers of a newborn child. Now the Osaka-based...
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2000

Mori receives radioactive mail

Envelopes containing small amounts of a radioactive substance were mailed last week to Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori's Official Residence, as well as to the Science and Technology Agency and seven other government offices, police sources said Monday.
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2000

16% of pollees will back LDP in proportional vote

Sixteen percent of people surveyed say they will vote for the Liberal Democratic Party in the proportional representation section of the June 25 House of Representatives election, according to a Kyodo News poll released Monday.
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2000

DPJ offers bitter medicine as poll strategy

Yukio Hatoyama, head of the Democratic Party of Japan In campaigning for the Lower House election, the Democratic Party of Japan will push policies that may seem to voters like "bitter medicine," such as lowering the minimum taxable income level, to show the party is thinking seriously about the nation's...
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 13, 2000

Nakamura earns Japan 1-1 draw with Slovakia

RIFU, Miyagi Pref. -- Shunsuke Nakamura curled in a stunning 25-meter free-kick Sunday to earn Japan a 1-1 draw with Slovakia in the opening match of the Kirin Cup in front of 45,831 fans at the new Miyagi Stadium.
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2000

Two injured in law office mail bomb explosion

A parcel delivered to a Tokyo law office Monday afternoon exploded just as a female employee opened it, police said.
BUSINESS
Jun 13, 2000

BNP punished for hiding losses

The Tokyo Stock Exchange imposed a range of punitive measures Monday on the securities unit of BNP Paribas, a large French bank, for helping three of its Japanese corporate clients hide latent losses on derivatives products it sold them, the TSE said.
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2000

Asian minorities hope election spurs change: scholar

The June 25 Lower House election will test Japan's commitment to carry out reforms of its inward-looking political circles and accommodate various Asian views in the 21st century, Zhu Jianrong of Toyo Gakuen University said, noting the expectations of various non-Japanese Asians living in the country....
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2000

Party leaders debate policy; Mori defends LDP-led bloc

In a rare opportunity Monday for the leaders of the seven major political parties to debate policy, Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori went on the attack over the Liberal Democratic Party's ability to carry the June 25 Lower House election.
EDITORIALS
Jun 13, 2000

A positive precedent for pets

Pet shops are proliferating, reflecting the demand for companionship among lonely urban dwellers. Yet animal-protection agencies note a growing tendency for people with busy lives to physically abuse their pets in frustration over the routine care and feeding they require, or even to abandon them when...
BUSINESS
Jun 13, 2000

Nonaka demands faster cuts in NTT fees

Hiromu Nonaka, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, called on NTT Corp. Monday to quickly reduce the interconnection fees it charges other carriers to access its network.
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2000

Couple held for growing marijuana

Police have arrested a 32-year-old Ghanaian businessman and his Japanese wife on suspicion they grew marijuana at their home in Tokyo, police said Monday.
BUSINESS
Jun 13, 2000

More TV shopping coming thanks to QVC, Mitsui tieup

QVC Inc., the world's largest TV shopping retailer, will enter the Japanese market next year through a joint venture with trader Mitsui & Co., executives of the two firms announced on Monday.
BUSINESS
Jun 13, 2000

'Happoshu' shakes up beer market

Low-priced "happoshu" beverages accounted for 24.2 percent of Japan's beer market in May, according to statistics released Monday by the nation's four largest brewers.
MORE SPORTS
Jun 13, 2000

Chiba comments on JASF dispute

National champion Suzu Chiba on Monday made her first public comments about the decision of the Japan Amateur Swimming Federation to leave her off the national team for the Sydney Olympics in September.
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2000

Embassy mourns Assad's death

The Syrian Embassy in Tokyo invited people Monday who wish to remember the country's late President Hafez Assad, who died in Damascus on Saturday, to sign a condolence book.
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2000

Campaigns begin today for June 25 election

The official campaign period for the June 25 Lower House election kicks off today with nearly 1,400 candidates vying for 480 seats nationwide.

Longform

Dangami House is a 180-year-old former samurai residence of the Kato clan, who ruled over Ozu, Ehime Prefecture, until the Meiji Restoration.
A house, a legacy and the quiet work of restoration in rural Japan