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EDITORIALS
Jun 3, 2001

A candle that won't go out

Forty years ago, a British lawyer named Peter Benenson read in his morning paper about two Portuguese students who had been arrested in a Lisbon cafe and sentenced to seven years in prison for having drunk a toast "to freedom," a code phrase for opposition to the government of then dictator Antonio de...
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jun 3, 2001

It's all about manners (cough, gasp), not health

It's not surprising that the local media glossed over the World Health Organization's 14th annual World No Tobacco Day last Thursday. The government, a member in good standing of the United Nations and a conscientious contributor to its causes, didn't start preparing a seminar to mark the occasion until...
BUSINESS
Jun 1, 2001

Fiscal panel eyes release of public entities

A key government panel on economic and fiscal policy is expected to recommend next month a partial privatization of employee pension programs and sweeping deregulation, government sources said Thursday.
JAPAN
Jun 1, 2001

Romance, danger lurk in e-mail personals

Upon meeting her 28-year-old date, "Koneko" found him to be as cool as she had imagined from his countless e-mails.
BUSINESS
May 31, 2001

IMF chief urges expanded disclosure of bad loans

International Monetary Fund chief Horst Koehler encouraged the Financial Services Agency on Wednesday to step up disclosure of its assessments of banks' problem loans.
JAPAN
May 31, 2001

Work of Canada's 'tragic historian' now regaining spotlight in Japan

The life and work of Edgerton Herbert Norman, a Canadian diplomat and researcher of modern Japanese history who committed suicide in the 1950s amid allegations that he was a communist sympathizer, is now being spotlighted.
COMMENTARY / World / GUEST FORUM
May 31, 2001

Globalization leaves too many casualties in its wake

The forces and processes of globalization -- increased trade liberalization, improved environmental standards and "universal" human rights -- have disillusioned a majority of the world's population. Thanks to the Seattle fiasco and street demonstrations in Prague, it is clear that no matter how hard...
BUSINESS
May 31, 2001

Computer firms embrace Linux

IBM Corp., Fujitsu Ltd., Hitachi Ltd. and NEC Corp. said Wednesday they have agreed to develop a computer operating system for corporate use by enhancing the open source Linux operating system.
EDITORIALS
May 30, 2001

Toward a basic law on human rights

The Council for Human Rights, an advisory panel to the justice minister, has submitted a report calling for the creation of an independent organization to provide relief for victims of discrimination, child abuse and other human-rights violations. The proposed body, tentatively called the "human-rights...
BUSINESS
May 30, 2001

Fate of Nikkei tied to Koizumi's policies

Although the stock market has reacted positively to the inauguration of the reformist Cabinet of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, doubts linger.
CULTURE / Art
May 30, 2001

Futura 2000 is now

A graffiti legend from the very earliest days of New York's underground hip-hop movement, Futura 2000 is presently being elevated to iconic status by his progeny. At 46, he is old enough not only to be their father but also to know better.
BUSINESS
May 29, 2001

Thales seeks ATC system bid

The government should consider foreign players when it procures air traffic control systems, according to the head of the Japanese operation of Thales, a leading avionics maker based in France.
COMMENTARY / World
May 29, 2001

Slyly, China extends its reach

Since early April, three Chinese vessels have been conducting marine research operations in the East China Sea, on the Japanese side of the midway line between Japan and China. These activities are based on a memorandum that the Japanese and Chinese governments exchanged in February. In accordance with...
BUSINESS
May 29, 2001

More range-bound fluctuations expected

The Tokyo stock market appears likely to remain on a roller coaster ride for some time, keeping the benchmark 225-issue Nikkei average seesawing between 13,500 and 14,500.
JAPAN
May 28, 2001

Koizumi eyes higher burden for seniors

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is intent on capping medical expenditures and calling on wealthy senior citizens to bear more of the financial burden for social security, according to a draft version of his economic and fiscal policy seen by Kyodo News on Sunday.
LIFE / Food & Drink / NIHONSHU
May 27, 2001

Worth jumping off the train for

With the proliferation of bars and restaurants serving decent nihonshu, there is no need to make a big deal out of searching for a "proper" sake pub. Dotted throughout the sprawling underground shopping areas that lie below many of the major stations in Japan are little sake havens. Take, for example,...
BUSINESS
May 26, 2001

Aid ready to be doled out to ensure African boats rise with IT tide

Japan is offering African countries a lifeboat to help keep them from drowning as the IT tsunami sweeps around the globe.
COMMENTARY
May 26, 2001

Feud serves nation poorly

The new administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is enjoying a high public-approval rate of around 80 percent. But although he may be able to carry out his economic and domestic agenda, I have some reservations about his ability in the field of diplomacy.
JAPAN
May 25, 2001

Japan's tour operators asked to join global battle against child sex trade

Leaders of the battle against child-sex tours have recently called on major Japanese travel groups to join a growing international campaign against the widespread practice.
BUSINESS
May 25, 2001

Nippon Steel profit margin jumped 137% in fiscal 2000

Nippon Steel Corp. said Thursday it posted a group net profit in fiscal 2000 of 26.49 billion yen, up by 137.1 percent.
BUSINESS
May 25, 2001

Japan preparing to discuss import quotas with China

The government is preparing to hold talks with China on the emergency import restrictions imposed on three agricultural products, a senior trade ministry official said Thursday.
JAPAN
May 25, 2001

Cabinet to reach out via e-mail magazine

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, basking in record approval ratings, hopes to score another hit with a weekly Cabinet e-mail magazine.
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE
May 25, 2001

Contribution to game will put Nomo into the Hall of Fame

"When he tossed his second career no-hitter on April 4 against the Baltimore Orioles, Nomo assured his entrance to the Baseball Hall of Fame."
JAPAN
May 25, 2001

Tanaka puts reforms ahead of diplomacy

Staff writer Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi took the nation by surprise in late April by appointing the key foreign ministry post to Makiko Tanaka, who despite her enormous popularity with voters obviously lacked experience in foreign policy.
BUSINESS
May 24, 2001

Employees encouraged to start ventures

When Noriyuki Ichihashi, an employee of Itochu Corp., proposed his idea to the firm's Internet venture incubation office about a year ago, the trading house was quick to give him the green light. Within a month, the 34-year-old had set up a planning company.
BUSINESS
May 24, 2001

Matsushita Electric allies with Hitachi

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and Hitachi Ltd. formally announced Wednesday an alliance to promote businesses centering on information services and home appliances.
BUSINESS
May 24, 2001

Mitsui hopes for listing on NYSE

Mitsui & Co. said Wednesday it will try to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange as early as next year as part of its new three-year management plan.
BUSINESS
May 23, 2001

Mitsui Fudosan logs first profit since '95

Major real estate firm Mitsui Fudosan Co. said Tuesday it logged its first consolidated net profit in five years in fiscal 2000, thanks to structural reforms in its management.

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