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Events
Feb 8, 2004

KANSAI: Who & What

Aquarium to bring snow to Osaka's children: Kaiyukan Aquarium, in Osaka's Minato Ward, is inviting people to a snow festival that features a field covered by natural snowflakes from Hyogo Prefecture today, Wednesday and Feb. 14 and 15.
COMMENTARY
Feb 5, 2004

Musharraf must convince skeptical public

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has taken the unprecedented step of ordering an investigation of some of the country's top nuclear scientists on charges that they helped transfer nuclear-weapons technology to Iran. While the investigation has been hailed in the West as a decisive...
JAPAN
Jan 31, 2004

Info slipups over Iraq situation might be due to staff shortage

Recent conflicting information on the local situation in Iraq might be due to Japanese staff shortages in the country.
JAPAN
Jan 28, 2004

Kyodo moves reporters over terror threat in Iraq

The government has obtained information that lodgings used by Japanese wire agency Kyodo News in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah could be targeted by terrorists or insurgents, sources said Tuesday.
EDITORIALS
Jan 26, 2004

Respecting a pillar of democracy

The government is apparently trying to restrict media coverage of the Self-Defense Forces' activities in Iraq. Earlier this month, the director general of the Defense Agency, Mr. Shigeru Ishiba, requested that newspapers, news agencies and networks exercise "self-restraint." He said he was only "asking"...
Events
Jan 18, 2004

KANSAI: Who & What

Osaka seminar to look into Belgian-Dutch ties: Flanders Center, a liaison office of the government of the Belgian region of Flanders, is offering five pairs of free tickets to a cultural seminar examining the friendship between Belgium and the Netherlands from 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 30 at the center in Tennoji...
JAPAN
Jan 10, 2004

Lay judges may be jailed for leaking private data

The government is studying the feasibility of imprisoning lay judges if they leak information pertaining to the privacy of people involved in trials, according to government sources.
JAPAN
Jan 10, 2004

GSDF advance unit given Iraq marching orders

Japan on Friday took another step closer to deploying troops in Iraq, with Defense Agency chief Shigeru Ishiba issuing an order for the dispatch of an advance team of Ground Self-Defense Force personnel.
JAPAN
Jan 10, 2004

Media urged to show restraint in reporting on SDF mission specifics

Citing security concerns, the Defense Agency called on the Japanese media Friday to exercise more restraint in their coverage of the deployment of the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 27, 2003

ASDF advance team off to Mideast

A 20-member Air Self-Defense Force team left Narita airport Friday for Kuwait and Qatar, spearheading Japan's deployment of military units to undertake humanitarian activities in Iraq.
Events
Dec 14, 2003

KANSAI: Who & What

Ninth annual luminaire to light up Kobe streets: The ninth annual Kobe Luminarie will light up the Kyu-gaikokujin Kyoryuchi (Old Foreign Settlement) district and Higashi Yuenchi park in Kobe's Chuo Ward, near JR Motomachi Station, between 6 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. until Dec. 25.
JAPAN
Dec 11, 2003

EU attack on press club rebuffed

The Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association on Wednesday rebuffed the European Union's calls for the abolition of the press club system, claiming it plays an important role in disseminating news among the public.
JAPAN
Dec 10, 2003

Ruling on quake insurance overturned

The Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned a lower court ruling that ordered seven nonlife insurance companies and an insurance group to pay damages to people whose homes were damaged in a fire caused by the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake in Kobe and its vicinity.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 3, 2003

Takefuji wiretapping scandal unfolds

More than a year after journalist Shunsuke Yamaoka first accused Takefuji Corp. of tapping his home phone, police have finally reached the top echelons of the country's leading consumer loan firm.
Events
Nov 30, 2003

KANSAI: Who & What

Planetarium to display stars at Osaka store: A display of the stars and the solar system is being offered free until Dec. 25 at a special planetarium dome set up at the Kintetsu Abeno department store in Abeno Ward, Osaka.
Events / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Nov 23, 2003

Kobe German school to host Christmas market

Deutsche Schule Kobe, a German school in the city's Nada Ward, is hosting a Christmas market between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Nov. 29.
JAPAN
Nov 12, 2003

Some diners on city's tab to remain secret

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that the identities of private citizens who dined at the Osaka Municipal Government's expense will remain a secret.
JAPAN / ELECTION 2003
Nov 5, 2003

Fate of justices in voters' hands

In the shadow of intense campaigning for Sunday's Lower House election, nine people are quietly waiting for voters to decide whether they deserve to stay in the nation's top judicial posts.
Events
Nov 2, 2003

KANSAI: Who & What

Foreigners invited on autumn colors tours: Non-Japanese are being invited to take part in tours by an English-speaking guide to view the autumn foliage in Nara every day in November except Saturdays.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Oct 21, 2003

Internet bill nightmare, pension payouts, and singing groups

Internet connection I have a problem that concerns with my Internet Service Provider. I was billed for over 100,000 yen for Internet connection and international calls. Most of the bill came from international phone calls, which I thought were free.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Sep 9, 2003

Scootering, start-ups and an update

Scooter licenses Maynard never learned to drive in Canada before moving here in 1972 ("yes, 31 years ago, sigh"). Living and working in Tokyo's Yoga district, he has had no need to drive a car, and is put off by the 250,000 yen starting price for local driving schools.
COMMENTARY
Aug 15, 2003

Talks on North Korea face usual impasse

HONG KONG -- At long last, the four major powers in East Asia and the two Koreas aim to honor Clause 60 of the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement. Clause 60 was supposed to have been implemented within three months of the July 27, 1953, signing of the ceasefire in the war. Now the stage looks set in Beijing...
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Jul 20, 2003

Get in touch with your inner Tarzan

It can be difficult to get my kids moving on weekends, but I knew just how to motivate them for an outing one Saturday. "Hey boys," I said. "Wanna go to a park where visitors fall into the water so often that they rent out spare clothes?"
JAPAN
Jul 18, 2003

Gene sampling study canceled in wake of protest by JMA

The education ministry canceled a gene sampling project Wednesday following a protest from the Japan Medical Association over ethical issues.
Events
Jul 13, 2003

KANSAI: Who & What

Visitors to Kagawa can fill up on 'udon' noodles: Every tourist who visits sightseeing spots in Kagawa Prefecture after crossing the Seto Ohashi Bridge until Aug. 31 will receive a package of "udon" noodles.
JAPAN
Jun 27, 2003

WHO doctor lauded for response to 'mysterious' outbreak in China

The number of victims from the SARS epidemic may have been greater if a Japanese doctor at the World Health Organization had not acted swiftly after receiving word about a new and deadly virus in southern China.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 27, 2003

WHO doctor lauded for response to 'mysterious' outbreak in China

The number of victims from the SARS epidemic may have been greater if a Japanese doctor at the World Health Organization had not acted swiftly after receiving word about a new and deadly virus in southern China.
Events
Jun 15, 2003

KANSAI: Who & What

Big shoes on sale in Kobe's Nagata district: A sale of large shoes is being held until Tuesday at Shoes Plaza in Nagata Ward, Kobe.
Events
Jun 15, 2003

KANSAI: Who & What

Big shoes on sale in Kobe's Nagata district: A sale of large shoes is being held until Tuesday at Shoes Plaza in Nagata Ward, Kobe.

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