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JAPAN
Mar 31, 2000

Local governments shy to follow in capital's tracks

Despite widespread public support for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's plan to levy a new tax on major banks, other local governments have been slow to follow suit -- because they realize the capital's situation is unique.
COMMENTARY
Mar 31, 2000

Obuchi heading for trouble

The sun may be setting on the administration of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi. Recent polls indicate that the Obuchi Cabinet's approval ratings have fallen sharply while its disapproval ratings have risen. The phenomenon is generally blamed on the continuing recession, a growing public-debt burden stemming...
JAPAN
Mar 31, 2000

Heart transplant boy is stable

OSAKA -- A heart transplant recipient, one of a series of patients who received organ transplants on Wednesday and Thursday, showed signs of recovery after undergoing an emergency operation following the transplant, doctors said.
BUSINESS
Mar 31, 2000

Hitachi, CSC to join in digital plan

Hitachi Ltd. and Computer Sciences Corp., a major U.S. system consulting firm, are discussing cooperating in the development of key component systems for Japan's "digital government" plan, industry sources said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Mar 31, 2000

Yen could test 115 to the dollar in summer

Judging from widening gaps in interest rates between Japan and other countries, the yen could possibly head to around 115 to the dollar this summer.
JAPAN
Mar 31, 2000

ODA guidelines set for Thailand, Bangladesh

The Foreign Ministry has issued policy guidelines for extending official development assistance to Bangladesh and Thailand, the first among nine initial country-by-country plans it has been preparing since November 1998.
COMMUNITY
Mar 31, 2000

Party offers gays more than just fun

Dancers in flamboyant costumes and heavy makeup performed for around 400 students at a small night club in Tokyo on Wednesday night as part of an event to raise money for HIV education and provide a supportive social network for young gays.
BUSINESS
Mar 31, 2000

Sony headquarters gets new moniker; call it eHQ

In a move to demonstrate its renewed focus on network business, Sony Corp. will rename its group headquarters "eHQ" -- short for e-headquarters -- effective Saturday, President Nobuyuki Idei announced Thursday.
BUSINESS
Mar 31, 2000

Toyota, NTT Com to invest in stores' e-trade venture

Toyota Motor Corp. and NTT Communications Corp. (NTT Com.) said Thursday that they will invest in an e-commerce venture designed by five Japanese convenience store operators.
CULTURE / Music
Mar 31, 2000

Evolution of grunge and the cutting edge of simian style

It used to be that a band had to be dead and buried for a good decade before popping up in interviews and liner notes as an "influence." Not anymore. Though Kurt Cobain has been dead less than 10 years, the reverberations of the Seattle sound are beginning to be felt in Tokyo's live houses, most especially...
JAPAN
Mar 31, 2000

Osaka considers Tokyo-style bank tax

OSAKA -- The Osaka chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party on Thursday submitted a bill that would impose a tax of between 2 percent and 3 percent on the gross profits of large banks in the prefecture.
JAPAN
Mar 31, 2000

Coordination needed on North Korea

Japan, the United States and South Korea reaffirmed their commitment Thursday to closely coordinate policies toward North Korea in an effort to draw positive steps from Pyongyang for improving its relations with the three countries.
JAPAN
Mar 31, 2000

Tokai disaster no closer to resolution

Many things have been said about last September's fatal nuclear accident at the JCO Co. uranium processing plant in Tokai, Ibaraki Prefecture.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 31, 2000

Sharpening Japan-U.S. strategic ties

U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen's recent visit to Tokyo demonstrates the immaturity of the U.S.-Japan alliance, particularly from a strategic point of view.
JAPAN
Mar 31, 2000

Tokyo approves tax plan for big banks

Less than two months after the plan was first announced, the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly voted almost unanimously Thursday to levy a controversial size-based corporate tax on major banks operating within the metropolis.
JAPAN
Mar 31, 2000

Japan praises 'successful' handling of Y2K problem

The government released a report Thursday on the measures it took to combat the Year 2000 computer bug and leap-year glitch, concluding that its handling of the situations was "very successful."
EDITORIALS
Mar 30, 2000

The real need for foreign workers

Japan must soon get ready to accept, even to welcome, a far greater number of legal foreign workers in its midst. The possibility is not remote, in view of plans just announced by the Justice Ministry's Immigration Bureau to relax visa procedures for non-Japanese workers in a wider range of fields than...
BASEBALL / MLB
Mar 30, 2000

Aaron says time is right for 'real' World Series

It's been more than a quarter of a century now since he surpassed baseball's most hallowed record, but Hank Aaron still carries a big stick when it comes to his thoughts on the future of the game.
SUMO
Mar 30, 2000

Musoyama promoted

on Wednesday approved the promotion of Musashigawa stable wrestler Musoyama to the sport's second-highest rank of ozeki following his runnerup finish at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament. Musoyama, who won his first Emperor's Cup in the New Year tourney with a 13-2 record, posted 12 wins at the just-concluded...
JAPAN
Mar 30, 2000

Liberals' place in triumvirate shaky

Liberal Party leader Ichiro Ozawa indicated Wednesday that a final decision on whether he will take the party out of the ruling coalition will be made after he receives word from the Liberal Democratic Party on the possibility of further electoral cooperation.
BUSINESS
Mar 30, 2000

Car sales help February industrial output leap 3%

Industrial output grew 3 percent in February from the previous month, thanks to strong sales of new-model automobiles and extra working hours because of the leap year, according to a preliminary report issued Wednesday by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.
BUSINESS
Mar 30, 2000

Sony eyes Sakura as key Internet bank partner

Sony Corp. plans to have Sakura Bank become a major investor in an Internet-based bank it hopes to set up next year, industry sources said Wednesday.
MORE SPORTS
Mar 30, 2000

Japan Under-23 side outkicks Kiwis 4-0

Buy your lottery tickets now and get Sanfrecce Hiroshima manager Eddie Thompson to select your numbers.
JAPAN
Mar 30, 2000

Two face prison in sale of arms parts to Iran

Prosecutors on Wednesday demanded prison terms for two former executives of a defunct Tokyo trading firm charged with illegally shipping parts for antitank rocket launchers to Iran.

Longform

Japan's growing ranks of centenarians are redefining what it means to live in a super-aging society.
What comes after 100?