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JAPAN
Feb 3, 2002

TV anchor aims to set new standards for news reporting

Most television news programs in Japan neglect their responsibility to inform people of what is happening in society by failing to present news in an understandable way.
LIFE / Food & Drink / NIHONSHU
Feb 3, 2002

Clearly making the grade isn't such an easy task

One of the biggest barriers to learning about sake is the terminology used to define the various grades. It is not a simple linguistic matter, as even the average Japanese person, more often than not, does not know specifically to what the terminology refers. These terms were not coined at once, nor...
SOCCER / J. League
Feb 2, 2002

Antlers, FC Tokyo to kick off season

J. League champions the Kashima Antlers will visit FC Tokyo at Tokyo Stadium on Saturday March 2 to kick off the 2002 J. League season, the league announced Thursday.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 2, 2002

Tackling global terrorism

It is clear now that Afghanistan had been taken hostage by the murderous cabal of the Taliban and al-Qaeda. As the U.S.-supported Northern Alliance liberated the country from the grip of the terrorists, it was interesting to witness the depth of the Afghan people's hatred for the foreign fighters who...
JAPAN
Feb 2, 2002

Nago mayor race seen as base litmus test

Many in Tokyo and Washington will be keeping a close eye on a mayoral election Sunday in Okinawa that is likely to affect a matter of long-standing concern between the two governments.
BUSINESS
Feb 2, 2002

Diet passes 2.5 trillion yen extra budget

The Diet on Friday passed the government-proposed 2.5 trillion yen second supplementary budget for the current fiscal year, securing funds for programs to shore up the economy and prevent it from falling into a deflationary spiral.
BUSINESS
Feb 1, 2002

Ministry panel to weigh creation of economic zones

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry asked an advisory panel Thursday to look into the creation of more special economic zones in Japan in an attempt to reinvigorate the sluggish economy.
BUSINESS
Feb 1, 2002

Manufacturer overtime decreased 8.5% last year

Overtime in the domestic manufacturing sector fell 8.5 percent from the previous year to an average of 12.6 hours a month in 2001, according to a government survey released Thursday.
BUSINESS
Feb 1, 2002

NEC to slash 14,000 workers worldwide before March 31

Computer maker NEC Corp. said Thursday that it will reduce its global workforce by 9.3 percent, or 14,000 jobs, by the end of March, doubling the number of jobs to be slashed from the figure it announced in late October.
JAPAN
Jan 31, 2002

U.S. urged to strengthen intelligence

U.S. author and terrorism expert Martin Keating said Wednesday that the United States must build a stronger human intelligence network after the failure of intelligence-gathering networks in preventing the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S.
COMMENTARY
Jan 30, 2002

Japanese-British links after 100 years

LONDON -- The Anglo-Japanese Alliance was signed on Jan. 30, 1902. It was a significant and unique step for both countries. Britain had not previously concluded alliances of this nature in an area so distant from its shores; it was Japan's first alliance with a European power and confirmed its status...
SOCCER / World cup
Jan 30, 2002

Get your Japan friendly tickets

Tickets for Japan's first World Cup warmup against the Ukraine, slated for March 21 (kickoff at 6 p.m.) at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, will go on sale Feb. 6-11 for anyone registered at FamilyMart's ticket service, "Famima club."
JAPAN
Jan 29, 2002

First tests on suspect chemicals complete

The Environment Ministry said Monday it has finished a preliminary assessment to determine if 39 chemicals pose a potential danger to humans and wildlife, and will perform in-depth tests on five chemicals that appear especially pernicious.
BUSINESS
Jan 29, 2002

BS digital TV shipments crawling

Shipments of TVs and tuners for broadcast satellite digital broadcasting services have slumped and probably won't reach the industry's goal of 10 million units sold within 1,000 days of December 2000, an industry association said Monday.
JAPAN
Jan 27, 2002

Playwright offers art to lift Japan out of crisis

In these gloomy times, it seems everyone in Japan is chanting the mantra of structural reform, yet progress is excruciatingly slow. The greatest obstacle is not the political old guard nor the foot-dragging banks. Instead, the main problem is lack of art, according to playwright Oriza Hirata.
JAPAN
Jan 27, 2002

Grandson of Jews saved from Nazis by Sugihara meets diplomat's relatives

The grandson of one of the 6,000 Jewish people saved by a Japanese embassy official during World War II met with the diplomat's relatives in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward on Saturday.
COMMUNITY
Jan 27, 2002

Eating disorders claiming ever younger victims

Aya Omiya was only 12 years old when she was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. She was 17 when she died.
JAPAN
Jan 26, 2002

Snow to halt beef sales

Snow Brand Food Co., which has admitted to relabeling imported beef to get domestic subsidies, said Friday it will suspend beef-related operations, while its president indicated he may resign to take responsibility for the company's crooked behavior.
JAPAN
Jan 25, 2002

Trade surplus fell 38.3% in '01

Dogged by a global economic slump that started early last year, Japan's merchandise trade surplus in 2001 plunged 38.3 percent from the previous year to 6.61 trillion yen, marking the biggest percentage fall in 31 years, the Finance Ministry said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Jan 25, 2002

Seibu may shut five bleeding stores

Seibu Department Stores Ltd. is considering closing down about five loss-making outlets in rural areas over the next three years, company sources said Thursday.
COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE
Jan 24, 2002

A case for campaign finance reform

WASHINGTON -- Controversy is raging about the Enron collapse. Is it a political story? Is it a criminal story? Is it a business story? Is it a story about personalities? The Enron story is all three. The real question is which category is the most important. and that all depends on your perspective....
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2002

Alleged crime boss gets new warrant

A man believed to be the leader of the largest Chinese crime syndicate in Japan has been served a fresh arrest warrant on suspicion of entering false information on a government document, police said Wednesday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 24, 2002

Swift decision eyed on state-backed financial firms

Nobuteru Ishihara, state minister in charge of administrative reform, told business leaders Wednesday he wants to reach a conclusion on the reform of government-backed financial institutions as quickly as possible.
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2002

Iranian foreign minister denies arms-smuggling allegations

Visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi on Wednesday denied Israeli allegations his country tried to smuggle arms on behalf of the Palestinian Authority.
JAPAN
Jan 23, 2002

Japan preparing to salvage ship sunk in shootout

Japan is preparing to salvage the mystery ship that sank last month in a battle with coast guard vessels in the East China Sea, Chikage Ogi said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Jan 23, 2002

Koizumi eyes deflation with extra budget

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reiterated Tuesday his resolve to avoid a deflationary spiral by compiling a second supplementary budget for fiscal 2001.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 22, 2002

Japan should salvage the mystery vessel

Many Japanese might have rejoiced while watching television footage showing the recent sinking of an unidentified ship following an exchange of gunfire with Japanese Coast Guard cutters, but I was dismayed by Japan's fragile national defense system that was exposed by the incident in the East China Sea....
JAPAN
Jan 22, 2002

Foreigners play host at new home stays

A citizens' group working to promote mutual understanding between Japanese and foreigners living in Japan announced Monday that it will hold a one-day home stay program in which participants spend a night at the homes of non-Japanese residents in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Longform

A small shrine perched atop rocks braves the waves hitting the shoreline during a storm in Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture. The area is under threat of a possible 31-meter-high tsunami if an earthquake strikes the nearby Nankai Trough.
If the 'Big One' hits, this city could face a 31-meter-high tsunami