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COMMENTARY / World
Jul 3, 2000

Australia pays for security on the cheap

Last week, the Australian government released a discussion paper on defense. As in other mature democracies, it's not easy to sustain support for defense spending when no threat is imminent. But Australia's U.N.-authorized intervention in East Timor last year showed the risks of seeking defense on the...
COMMENTARY
Jul 3, 2000

Japan's money-loving youth

With industrialized economies entering the postindustrial age, key issues in domestic politics are shifting their focus from materialism to postmaterialism. The "materialistic" issues include economic growth, income redistribution, welfare, employment, industrial development and international trade....
EDITORIALS
Jul 2, 2000

Dumb and dumber

There is a wonderful anecdote about Oscar Wilde in Richard Ellmann's monumental biography of the Victorian wit, aesthete and playwright. In 1882-3, Wilde undertook a North American lecture tour, with the aim of bringing the gospel of beauty to the New World. A highlight of the tour was his stopover in...
JAPAN
Jul 2, 2000

International preschool not just about English

On the wall of a gray concrete apartment building on Kawasaki's Shinkawa-dori Avenue a colorful sign reads "Kincarn International Preschool."
JAPAN
Jul 2, 2000

Six farm officials punished over bribes

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has reprimanded six officials in connection with a bribery scandal involving an agricultural cooperative from Kagawa Prefecture, a ministry official said Saturday.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jul 2, 2000

Hanshin pinstripes a good fit for Franklin

Micah Franklin shakes hands with Hanshin Tigers official Katsuyoshi Nozaki during a press conference Thursday at the club office in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture. I'd like to think Micah Franklin took my advice.
JAPAN
Jul 2, 2000

Ex-lawmaker Utsunomiya dies at 93

Tokuma Utsunomiya, a former Diet member and advocate of disarmament, died of pneumonia Saturday morning at a hospital in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, his family said. He was 93.
JAPAN
Jul 2, 2000

Cabinet OKs Diet session to pick prime minister

Members of the Cabinet on Saturday approved the convening of a special three-day Diet session from Tuesday to select a prime minister, launch a new Cabinet and hold deliberations.
SOCCER / J. League
Jul 2, 2000

Verdy too hot for Reysol

KAWASAKI -- Verdy midfielder Kentaro Hayashi's first-half goal on a penalty gave Kawasaki a 1-0 win over Kashiwa Reysol in J. League Division One action Saturday.
JAPAN
Jul 2, 2000

Putin to pay official visit Sept. 3 to 6

Japan and Russia have agreed in principle to schedule an official visit to Japan by Russian President Vladimir Putin from Sept. 3 to 6, several sources close to the Japanese government said Saturday.
JAPAN
Jul 2, 2000

Milk production line found contaminated

OSAKA -- Bacteria has been discovered on the production line of a Snow Brand Milk Products Co. factory here that processed low-fat milk believed to have made nearly 5,000 people ill, the company's president said Saturday.
JAPAN
Jul 2, 2000

The 'island' village among giants

Though it's one of Tokyo's busiest school districts, the area around JR Yoyogi Station lacks the lively atmosphere that marks other teenage haunts.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jul 2, 2000

Yamamoto goes the distance as Dragons get past Swallows 4-1

Masahiro Yamamoto fanned eight batters in his first complete-game victory of the season to lift the Chunichi Dragons over the Yakult Swallows 4-1 at the Nagoya Dome on Saturday.
JAPAN
Jul 2, 2000

New bank regulator inaugurated

The Financial Services Agency on Saturday replaced the Financial Supervisory Agency as the nation's top bank regulator, assuming the duty of salvaging Japan's bad loan-swamped banking industry.
JAPAN
Jul 2, 2000

Kozu hit by strong temblor; one killed

A strong earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale jolted the island of Kozu in the Izu island chain on Saturday, killing at least one person, officials said.
COMMUNITY
Jul 2, 2000

Noh master calling U.K. college alumni

There was some initial confusion when Naohiko Umewaka requested help in finding graduates of Royal Holloway. What was he talking about? The only Holloway known to this Londoner is the district north of the River Thames best known for the prison of the same name. Now here was a story! Japan's best known...
JAPAN
Jul 2, 2000

Text drafts say less on wartime aggression

Textbook publishers have devoted less space to Japan's history of wartime aggression in Asian countries in their drafts of new textbooks submitted to the Education Ministry for screening, ministry sources said.
COMMUNITY
Jul 2, 2000

His first dance with the bulls

Last October, one Japanese graced the covers of several local newspapers in Huelva, Spain. Taira Nono made headlines in his debut fight by kneeling on the ground and confronting the bull. It was a breathless moment for 2,000 spectators. The newspapers praised the Asian bullfighter's bravado and discussed...
CULTURE / Art
Jul 2, 2000

Prime: color and form again the norm

"Prime" at Tokyo Opera City is a magnificent demonstration of color, form and size. Sparse yet well displayed, this exhibition breathes freely and expressively in the high open space, which in Tokyo is a rare and valuable experience. Each artist is chosen to develop various aspects of curator Santo Oshima's...
JAPAN
Jul 2, 2000

LDP works out city merger strategy

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party has decided on a plan to encourage towns and villages across the country to merge into cities, party sources said Saturday.
JAPAN
Jul 2, 2000

Measles up sharply among adults

The number of adults suffering from measles has risen sharply in recent months, with a Tokyo hospital reporting about 20 such cases in the last two months, according to officials at the Health and Welfare Ministry.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Jul 2, 2000

Way too much jello has been going to waist

My husband is in to soft-porn: the Victoria's Secret catalog. Whenever a new catalog comes in the mail, he's got it ripped open before I even get a glance at the latest cheetah-print lingerie Naomi Campbell is modeling. Victoria's Secret is most famous for their lingerie, but they also sell an array...
JAPAN
Jul 2, 2000

Iranian family granted special residence permits

Justice Minister Hideo Usui has granted special residence permits to an Iranian family of four who have overstayed their visas, lawyers representing the family said.
CULTURE / Art
Jul 2, 2000

Adeagbo seeks animistic roots in Japan

The Toyota Municipal Museum has become the first institution in Japan to invite Georges Adeagbo, an award-winning West African artist, to create a site-specific installation, which is open to the public now until Sept. 2.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / GETTING THINGS DONE
Jul 2, 2000

Remembrance

"Sensei." Along with "sayonara," that is one of the first words most of us learn when we come to Japan. Though the image has been somewhat tarnished in these recent years of school disorders and juvenile delinquency, traditionally the word sensei, or teacher, has been one of the most honorific terms...
CULTURE / Music
Jul 2, 2000

High art from cold metal: Brass music matures at last

There is something powerfully appealing about an ensemble of brass players. Brilliant trumpets and trombones, mellow horns and tubas -- when they are beautifully played, the sound, the strength and the artistry of the playing is quite compelling.
JAPAN
Jul 2, 2000

Japan's major airlines begin Tokyo-Osaka shuttle service

Japan's three major airlines on Saturday began daily shuttle flight services linking Tokyo's Haneda airport, Itami airport in Hyogo Prefecture and Kansai International Airport near Osaka.

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