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EDITORIALS
Mar 23, 2006

Trilateral breakthrough Down Under

Japan, the United States and Australia last weekend held historic trilateral talks in Sydney to discuss their views of the region and the world. The three countries have a range of shared interests and concerns. Only by working together can they ensure that their strengths and diplomatic tools are used...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Mar 23, 2006

A grand splash

Just before Japan's economy took a downturn, the Tokyu railroad conglomerate celebrated good times with the construction of the splendidly designed Bunkamura arts complex just behind its flagship department store in Tokyo's Shibuya district.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 22, 2006

Japan defeats Cuba to win first World Baseball Classic

SAN DIEGO -- So much for history. Well, for reliving it anyway.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Mar 22, 2006

Self-interest and those Greenland pigs

Why do some societies last for hundreds, even thousands, of years, while others soar, dazzle but then fizzle like short-lived summer fireworks?
JAPAN
Mar 21, 2006

Contractors hit by public works ban

Authorities said Monday they have suspended eight construction companies charged with bid-rigging in defense-related public works projects from participating in government projects for up to five months.
JAPAN
Mar 21, 2006

Local hire pocketed visa overcharges at Indonesian Embassy

JAKARTA (Kyodo) A Japanese employee at the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo allegedly skimmed nearly $1.2 million from applications made to the mission's visa section in Japan, an Indonesian Foreign Ministry official said Monday.
BUSINESS
Mar 21, 2006

Veal blunder laid to bad communications

The veal shipment that arrived in January containing banned spinal cords was an isolated incident and "does not indicate weakness in the overall U.S. beef processing, inspection or export systems," the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a report released Monday.
JAPAN
Mar 21, 2006

Futenma relocation plan won't be tweaked, Abe says

The government does not plan any changes to the Japan-U.S. plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station within Okinawa, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said Monday.
JAPAN
Mar 21, 2006

Huts of homeless win architectural kudos

Like many Zen-inspired structures, Okawara's hut is a monument to simplicity. The size of a large tool shed, the wooden building blends seamlessly with the surrounding park. His door opens to a full view of Tokyo's Tama River.
BUSINESS
Mar 21, 2006

Softbank may prove worthy rival

Softbank Corp.'s announcement last Friday it was buying Vodafone K.K., a Japanese unit of Vodafone Group PLC, may give the Internet company a competitive edge in the mobile phone industry.
JAPAN
Mar 20, 2006

Half of big firms to hire more grads in '07: survey

Nearly half of major firms surveyed plan to increase hiring of recruits fresh out of school next spring, according to a Kyodo News survey released Sunday.
JAPAN
Mar 20, 2006

UNSC reform drive stalling

Japan is leaning toward giving up on its plan to submit a new resolution on expanding the United Nations Security Council because it fears it won't be able to get enough support, government sources said Sunday.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Mar 20, 2006

What the Merchant of Venice might think about BOJ policy

"The quality of mercy is not strained."
JAPAN
Mar 20, 2006

Poll win projected for Tanimoto

KANAZAWA, Ishikawa Pref. (Kyodo) Incumbent Ishikawa Gov. Masanori Tanimoto appeared poised to win his fourth four-year term in the gubernatorial election Sunday, according to projections by Kyodo News.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 19, 2006

Chicken farm operator held over obstruction

MITO, Ibaraki Pref. (Kyodo) Police said Saturday they arrested the former owner of a chicken farm operation in Ibaraki Prefecture on suspicion he colluded with other veterinarians at the company to obstruct inspections for avian flu.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 19, 2006

Africa's clock ticking on bird flu virus

NEW YORK -- The spread of avian flu to Africa and Europe, although expected, is unwelcome news. In the last few weeks the disease has reached several states in northern Nigeria and Niger. Together with other countries in West Africa, they are on the bird migratory route from Central Asia and the Middle...
Japan Times
Features / WEEK 3
Mar 19, 2006

Take note of how to sort out your life

Despite working late every day, Yukihiro Misawa always felt he wasn't getting enough done.
JAPAN
Mar 18, 2006

Envoy gets U.N. disarmament post

Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan Nobuaki Tanaka will assume the post of United Nations undersecretary general for disarmament affairs, Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Friday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 18, 2006

Lower House wants Nishimura to quit

The House of Representatives passed a resolution Friday urging former Democratic Party of Japan member Shingo Nishimura, who is on trial for allegedly violating the Attorney's Law, to step down.
BUSINESS
Mar 18, 2006

Insurers asked to clarify policies

The Financial Services Agency called on all 86 insurance firms in the nation Friday to check their sales material on savings-type insurance products after it discovered some firms had not been clearly explaining their policies.
CULTURE / Music
Mar 17, 2006

Kaela Kimura "Circle"

Columbia Records want you to think that Kaela Kimura is different from other idols, which is why they've manufactured her image out of the most adorably kooky component parts -- take the endearingly under-rehearsed dance routines of Tommy February6, quirky costumes stolen from Yuki's wardrobe, and then...
JAPAN
Mar 16, 2006

Abe issues call for all to snub Winny

Faced with government information leaks from privately owned computers, Tokyo issued a warning Wednesday to ministries, local governments and companies dealing with public infrastructure about the risks of using the Winny file-sharing software on computers used for work.
BUSINESS
Mar 16, 2006

Firms on a roll OK first raises since '01

Production workers at major automakers and electronics companies won increases in basic monthly pay Wednesday for the first time in five years, with Toyota Motor Corp. agreeing to the 1,000 yen raise demanded by its union.
BUSINESS
Mar 16, 2006

Nippon Oil to curb Iran imports

Nippon Oil Corp. will reduce its oil imports from Iran in view of uncertainties over the row between that country and Western nations about its nuclear designs, company President Fumiaki Watari said Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Mar 16, 2006

Single-rate consumption tax to stay

Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki on Wednesday told the head of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Tokyo that he will pursue continuation of the single rate consumption tax instead of the tiered sales levy used by other OECD members.
BUSINESS
Mar 15, 2006

New chief vows to steady JAL

Japan Airlines Corp. should restructure itself into an airline that can consistently make an operating profit of at least 100 billion yen so it can survive in volatile business conditions, the troubled carrier's incoming president said in an interview with The Japan Times.
JAPAN
Mar 15, 2006

Skymark maintenance oversight draws scrutiny

The Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry announced Tuesday it will tighten its inspections of Skymark Airlines after the carrier reported it had been operating a plane for about nine months past a repair deadline.
JAPAN
Mar 15, 2006

British troop adjustment no factor for SDF: Aso

Japan's decision on when to pull its troops from southern Iraq will not be affected by Britain's announcement Monday that it will scale down its military presence in the country, Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Tuesday.

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