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BUSINESS
Nov 28, 2007

Loan guarantees slated for more small builders

The government has expanded loan guarantees for vulnerable small and medium-size firms in the construction and related industries as part of efforts to counter the recent plunge in housing starts that threatens economic growth, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Tuesday.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Nov 27, 2007

Japan zeroes in on homegrown jetliner

On Sept. 30, 2006, Japan retired the last of its only domestically produced airliner, the YS-11.
MORE SPORTS
Nov 26, 2007

Admire Moon ends career by winning Japan Cup crown

Admire Moon avenged his Emperor's Cup loss late last month with victory in the Japan Cup Sunday. Topping a field of 18, including four runners from overseas, Darley Japan's newly acquired treasure capped a bright career with a win by a head over Pop Rock, with race favorite Meisho Samson finishing in...
JAPAN
Nov 25, 2007

Taiwan's Ma winning converts in Nagata-cho

front-runner and "multiple Japanese government officials" Thursday. The meeting ranks as a first, a source in Ma's entourage said. That Tokyo would risk a row with China by allowing Cabinet officials to meet a Taiwanese presidential candidate speaks volumes about Japan's attitude toward Ma.
BUSINESS
Nov 23, 2007

JT, Nissin in tender offer for Katokichi

Japan Tobacco Inc. and instant noodle maker Nissin Food Products Co. announced Thursday they will acquire all the shares of scandal-tainted frozen food maker Katokichi Co. for ¥109 billion through a public tender offer.
BUSINESS
Nov 23, 2007

¥226 billion in subprime losses for banks here, survey finds

Japan's banks logged a combined ¥226 billion in losses due to the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis in the six months to September, the Financial Services Agency said Thursday.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 23, 2007

It's Taiwan's referendum

For China, the launch of the Fukuda Cabinet in late September was good news, so it must expect many things from the new administration. What concerns me now in this respect is Taiwan's move to hold a national referendum on whether to seek U.N. membership in the name of "Taiwan."
BUSINESS
Nov 23, 2007

Top bullion retailer pitches interest yield on precious metals to investors

Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K., Japan's largest bullion retailer, will pay an annual interest rate of 0.55 percent to investors who buy platinum through a company plan next year as it secures increased access to metal supplies.
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Nov 21, 2007

No market for malcontent Marbury

NEW YORK — It's pathetically entertaining to read speculation regarding which teams might take Stephon Marbury and what toxic waste may possibly be dumped in New York.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 21, 2007

Crime and punishment, refugee style

PRAGUE — The horrible murder of Giovanna Reggianni that took place near a Romanian refugee camp in the suburb of Tor di Quinto in Rome shocked both Italy and Romania. The case gained significance by adding fuel to the fiery public debates now under way not only in Italy but across Europe on the status...
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 21, 2007

Myth of U.S.-EU economic decoupling

PALO ALTO, Calif. — The fact that America's economy is slowing is bad news for Europeans, regardless of claims that Europe's economy has successfully decoupled itself from the United States. Decoupling is an idea that is based on bad economics — and on some Europeans' reluctance to accept the fact...
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Nov 20, 2007

A support service for sufferers

Phones ring off the hook in the office of VOL-NEXT, a Tokyo-based company that offers various goods and services for women battling breast cancer. Chiharu Soga, the demure 42-year-old who runs the three-year-old company, has just fielded a phone call made in desperation by the sister of a recently diagnosed...
BUSINESS
Nov 20, 2007

Finance panel urges more belt-tightening

An advisory panel to the finance minister urged the government Monday to stick to its belt-tightening policy to restore the government's debt-ridden finances as it compiles the budget for fiscal 2008.
EDITORIALS
Nov 18, 2007

New wine in old bottles

Seasons change in Japan in two ways, according to nature and according to marketing. This last week started the season for Beaujolais Nouveau, the freshly harvested wine that has become an annual worldwide phenomenon. Marketing and traditional values, the two major forces on Japanese consumer behavior,...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Nov 18, 2007

Hot hibachi league seems likely to burn all winter long

About this time of year, someone usually asks me, "Are you going to keep writing the column through the winter?" or "What is there to write about during the offseason?"
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Nov 17, 2007

England needs help from Israel to keep Euro hopes alive

LONDON — In August, England head coach Steve McClaren said the media should "judge me on results," so if the results are not good enough the man in charge will have his wish and be judged. The verdict will be guilty and the sentence loss of job.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Nov 17, 2007

No holds barred in fight for dolphins

Within minutes of meeting Allison Lance, one might start to wonder if she was a dolphin in a past life. Her enthusiasm and passion in her drive to protect her animal friends is so strong that it touches just about every area of her life.

Longform

Ichiro Suzuki, one of the most iconic players in NPB and MLB history, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame with 99.7% of the vote.
With Hall of Fame induction, Ichiro makes himself heard loud and clear