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JAPAN
Apr 22, 1999

Aum biologist unfazed by cult's sarin sample

An Aum Shinrikyo biologist testified at cult founder Shoko Asahara's trial Thursday that he did not think much about the sarin produced at an Aum facility when he was first shown a sample.
JAPAN
Apr 22, 1999

Doyukai chief calls group consolidation nonsense

As the ongoing economic slump continues to plague many firms, some company leaders argue that Japan's four major business organizations, which have separately published a number of reports on similar issues, should somehow be consolidated.
JAPAN
Apr 22, 1999

Sharp-tongued Aoshima exits Tokyo tight-lipped

Staff writer
EDITORIALS
Apr 21, 1999

MOF by any other name

The long-running debate over breaking up the Ministry of Finance has ended with a compromise that will keep the ministry more or less as it is -- the most powerful of Japan's government offices. The MOF will be renamed the "Treasury Ministry," and will be charged mainly with fiscal and budgetary affairs,...
JAPAN
Apr 21, 1999

Japan to pledge loans to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan

Staff writer
JAPAN
Apr 21, 1999

Hewlett Packard chief talks of split

The chairman and chief executive officer of Hewlett Packard Co. on Wednesday talked about the most difficult question his firm faced in deciding its future -- whether to keep the hard-copy unit with the computing unit.
JAPAN
Apr 21, 1999

JR West decides not to sue the state

West Japan Railway Co. decided Wednesday not to sue the national government over its decision to impose an additional burden on the firm related to the mounting debt left behind by the former Japanese National Railways.
LIFE / Digital / CYBERIA
Apr 21, 1999

Under your skin

Take a second, forget about trash-can icons and QWERTY keyboards and ponder the real interface -- our future interaction with technology. How will we navigate the infosphere in 10 years? Will we use mouses or cursors controlled by biofeedback? Will our browser windows be square and scrolled or dynamically...
JAPAN
Apr 21, 1999

Five people win refugee status

The Justice Ministry granted refugee status to five people Wednesday, bringing to seven the total number of refugees recognized this year.
JAPAN
Apr 21, 1999

Professor brings POW drama to stage

Staff writer
JAPAN
Apr 21, 1999

Trade surplus soared to 14 trillion yen in '98

The nation's surplus in merchandise trade in fiscal 1998 rose 23.1 percent from the year before to 14.1 trillion yen -- the second-largest figure ever after the 14.4 trillion yen surplus in fiscal 1986 -- with a decline in imports outpacing declining exports.
JAPAN
Apr 21, 1999

'Sokaiya' Koike sentenced to the max nine months

The Tokyo District Court sentenced "sokaiya" corporate extortionist Ryuichi Koike to the maximum nine-month prison term Wednesday for extorting 12.4 billion yen in loans and payoffs from the nation's four top securities houses and Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank.
JAPAN
Apr 21, 1999

Empress, Foley laud CWAJ feats

Several hundred past and present members of the College Women's Association of Japan, which promotes international education and cross-cultural exchange, celebrated the group's 50th anniversary Wednesday at a luncheon with the Empress and U.S. Ambassador Thomas Foley.
JAPAN
Apr 21, 1999

Survey shows children abused by 9% of moms

About 9 percent of mothers rearing preschool children repeatedly abuse them by beating or denying them necessary care, according to a survey released Wednesday by a Tokyo-based social welfare organization.
EDITORIALS
Apr 20, 1999

Foot-dragging in South Korea

The signs from South Korea are promising. After shrinking 5.8 percent in 1998, the economy registered 3.1 percent growth in the first quarter of 1999. Analysts now forecast that the economy will expand nearly 4 percent this year, twice the original predictions. In one indication of the new mood, government...
JAPAN
Apr 20, 1999

Bankers rename group, welcome foreign members

The Federation of Bankers Associations of Japan officially changed its name Tuesday to the Japanese Bankers Association and decided to include 22 foreign bankers in its membership.
JAPAN
Apr 20, 1999

Pharmaceutical wholesaler Goliath in the making

Kuraya Corp., Sanseido Co. and Tokyo Iyakuhin K.K. have agreed to merge next April 1 to create the nation's largest pharmaceutical wholesaler with sales of 918 billion yen for fiscal 2000, the three firms said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Apr 20, 1999

State to subsidize R&D at smaller firms

The government said Tuesday it will grant a subsidy of 11 billion yen in the current fiscal year to small and medium-size enterprises in promoting development and research of innovative industrial technology, officials said.
JAPAN
Apr 20, 1999

Panel calls for emissions-linked car taxes

The Council for Transport Policy, an advisory panel to the transport minister, wrapped up a recommendation draft Tuesday to adopt different car tax rates based on fuel-efficiency.
JAPAN
Apr 20, 1999

Woman escapes train between the rails

A woman who fell off a platform Tuesday morning in front of an approaching train at JR Shinanomachi Station in Tokyo narrowly escaped death by lying flat between the rails as the train roared over her, police said.
JAPAN
Apr 20, 1999

Finance panel urges redesign of Asia forex system

Japan should actively participate in designing new foreign exchange systems for crisis-hit Asian countries, an advisory panel to the finance minister said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Apr 20, 1999

U.S. English study fair now touring

A fair to provide information about intensive English-language courses at U.S. colleges and other academic institutions will travel to Fukuoka, Osaka and Tokyo later this month.
JAPAN
Apr 20, 1999

Small-business innovation key to revitalization: report

Creation of new businesses and more innovative management at smaller firms are key to revitalizing the economy and boosting employment in this period of industrial maturity, according to a white paper issued Tuesday by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency.
JAPAN
Apr 20, 1999

Readers Prize deadline near

The deadline is now approaching for readers of The Japan Times to apply for a total of 4.5 million yen worth of shopping coupons. The Readers Prize will offer 50,000 yen in vouchers to 30 subscribers and a 10,000 yen coupon to 300 other readers.
CULTURE / Books
Apr 20, 1999

Learning from the real world, not the schoolroom

LEARNING IN LIKELY PLACES: Varieties of Apprenticeship in Japan, edited by John Singleton. Cambridge University Press, 376 pp. For many foreigners living here, the chance to study some Japanese art or craft, be it aikido, shakuhachi or tea ceremony, is very much a part of their "Japan experience."...
JAPAN
Apr 20, 1999

Focus: Economy's implications for Japan-U.S. ties

Japan's economic recovery and U.S. ties Demand deficit, overcapacity called highest hurdles to recovery Firms urged to cut labor excess, foster market dynamism A weak Japan seen as a bigger threat
CULTURE / Stage
Apr 20, 1999

Nakamuras highlight double-suicide plays

During the month of April, the Kabukiza in Ginza is offering its annual Nakamura-kai program, featuring such major actors as Kichiemon, Jakuemon, Ganjiro, Tomijuro and Baigyoku, who belong to the Nakamura line of kabuki actors.
JAPAN
Apr 20, 1999

Teen girls held in phone club assault

Two teenage girls have been arrested on suspicion of assaulting and robbing a 35-year-old corporate worker after meeting him through a telephone dating club in Machida, western Tokyo, police said Tuesday.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 20, 1999

East Timor reveals West's hypocrisy

Two places on opposite sides of the world share similar circumstances: innocent people killed and displaced by government forces and paramilitaries. The violence on one side of the world begets harsh condemnation and a series of threats from Western powers, followed by a massive bombing campaign. The...
JAPAN
Apr 20, 1999

Coupons fail to spur shopping, but 'dango' sales up

Although municipalities have finished distributing the central government's shopping coupons to the public, the result of the hard-fought effort to boost domestic demand seems as flat as the vouchers themselves.

Longform

A sinkhole in Yashio, which emerged in January, was triggered by a ruptured, aging sewer pipe. Authorities worry that similar sections of infrastructure across the country are also at risk of corrosion.
That sinking feeling: Japan’s aging sewers are an infrastructure time bomb