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JAPAN
Jul 31, 2004

Ministry allays 'hijiki' arsenic fears

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry on Friday assured Japanese consumers that "hijiki" seaweed is fine in moderation, after British food safety officials recently warned that it contains high levels of arsenic.
JAPAN
Jul 29, 2004

Mayors fight Zama troop increase

The mayors of Sagamihara and Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture lodged a joint petition with Tokyo on Wednesday opposing a reported plan to increase the number of U.S. troops at Camp Zama, which stretches across the two cities.
BUSINESS
Jul 29, 2004

Aozora to boost overseas operations

Aozora Bank, the privatized successor of the nationalized Nippon Credit Bank, plans to expand lending and investing operations in foreign markets, mainly the United States and Europe, an Aozora Bank official said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jul 29, 2004

UFJ fights to keep MTFG merger hopes alive

UFJ Holdings Inc. said Wednesday it has filed an appeal against a court order to suspend its merger negotiations with Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group Inc., stressing it plans to go ahead with the merger.
BUSINESS
Jul 28, 2004

Panel looks to scrap NTT line fee by 2010

The 72,800 yen upfront fee charged to land-based telephone line subscribers should be phased out by fiscal 2010, a telecommunications ministry panel said in a report released Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 2004

Nuclear fuel report just another coverup?

Revelations that the government apparently buried for a decade a report that says reprocessing spent atomic fuel is much more expensive than burying it is causing a political furor that industry analysts say may pull the plug on the nation's nuclear recycling policy.
JAPAN
Jul 27, 2004

Aoki promoted despite July election blemish

Mikio Aoki, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party's Upper House caucus, was promoted Monday without opposition to the position of caucus chairman.
BUSINESS
Jul 27, 2004

Like NTT phone fee, line brokers face extinction

Kanji in the window of a three-story building near JR Okachimachi Station in central Tokyo advertise "denwa tokubai" (discounted telephone lines).
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 26, 2004

Providing the social tools to cut poverty

Today we live in a world of sharp contrasts. There has been great progress in human and economic development as well as great opportunities for reducing poverty in the globalizing economy. Information flows more freely than ever before. Yet deep-seated imbalances threaten socio-political sustainability....
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 26, 2004

Flawed homeland security

LAS VEGAS -- The dispute between Washington and Tokyo over the fate of Army Sgt. Charles Jenkins, whom the United States accuses of defecting to North Korea some 40 years ago, is more than a case of American legalism vs. Japanese ad hoc policy and humanitarian instincts. The issue goes much deeper into...
COMMENTARY
Jul 26, 2004

Beijing entering Hong Kong cul-de-sac

HONG KONG -- On July 1, Hong Kong, figuratively speaking, stuck to its democratic guns. It was just as well since China, naturally, has stuck to its antidemocratic guns.
JAPAN
Jul 24, 2004

State panel gives scientists green light to clone embryos for medical research

A government advisory panel on Friday gave scientists formal approval to produce cloned human embryos for basic research in the hopes that they will be useful in regenerative medicine.
BUSINESS
Jul 24, 2004

Crown Prince gets first glimpse of Tokyo bourse

Crown Prince Naruhito on Friday visited the Tokyo Stock Exchange in the Kabutocho financial district for the first time.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 23, 2004

IPO boom prompts overheating concerns

Japan's initial public offering market is booming, with the number of IPOs in the first half of this year topping 70 and expected to exceed the 120 of last year.
BUSINESS
Jul 23, 2004

Business chiefs blame officials for shortcomings of Japan

OYAMA, Shizuoka Pref. -- Business leaders must lead the nation in soul-searching debate on Japan's security, diplomacy and constitutional issues, Hiroshi Okuda, chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren), said Thursday.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Jul 23, 2004

Do the Dogashima

Less than an hour by shinkansen from Tokyo, touristy Atami is no one's idea of a quiet little getaway. From there down to the tip, Shimoda -- of Black Ship Festival fame -- this eastern side of the Izu Peninsula is the busy, developed one. This is where you go to check out such cultural hot spots as...
JAPAN
Jul 22, 2004

Rabies regime to target import pets at source

Japan plans to require cats and dogs that are being brought from areas with rabies to undergo a new double-vaccination regime outside the country, according to farm officials, a move that will drastically cut the imports of such animals younger than 10 months.
JAPAN
Jul 22, 2004

Japan in 'no rush' to resume normalization talks with North

Japan is in "no rush" to resume normalization talks with North Korea, even though the conditions for returning to the negotiating table have been met, government sources said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jul 21, 2004

Boy extorts 1 million from classmate

A Japanese sixth grader bullied a classmate into giving him more than 1 million over several years so he and his friends could buy video games, fishing gear and snacks, an official said Tuesday.
CULTURE / Music
Jul 21, 2004

Summer festivals on parade

Rock Odyssey 2004July 24-25
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Jul 20, 2004

Bill of rights

As the government moves to beef up the country's military preparedness, once again the issue of the protection of foreigners' rights has been raised.
COMMUNITY / LIFELINES
Jul 20, 2004

More credit and readers need help

More free credit Reader "Tokyo Angel" got a no-charge credit card after hunting around for a while. She currently has a Nicos Visa card through the post office (application forms are available from all post offices) that has no annual fee and which includes full travel insurance aswell, even if you don't...
Japan Times
Features
Jul 18, 2004

Woe betide the accused

Japan Times
Features
Jul 18, 2004

Rural revelations and a sake to go

Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 18, 2004

Dental donation scandal widens

Tamisuke Watanuki, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, has admitted to accepting a 5 million yen donation from the scandal-tainted Japan Dental Association, his office said Saturday.
JAPAN
Jul 17, 2004

Jenkins should confess, plea-bargain: Baker

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Howard Baker suggested to senior lawmakers of the ruling coalition Friday that Charles Jenkins, an alleged U.S. Army deserter to North Korea, should seek a plea bargain, officials said.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 17, 2004

Kurdish asylum-seekers stage sit-in in Shibuya

Two Kurdish families are staging a sit-in outside the United Nations University in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward over the Justice Ministry's rejection of their applications for refugee status.

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