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JAPAN
Jan 10, 2004

Media urged to show restraint in reporting on SDF mission specifics

Citing security concerns, the Defense Agency called on the Japanese media Friday to exercise more restraint in their coverage of the deployment of the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq.
BUSINESS
Jan 10, 2004

U.S. eyes termination of beef ban; Japan seeks assurances on safety

WASHINGTON (Kyodo) Japan on Thursday called on the United States to introduce comprehensive measures to ensure the safety of its beef and beef products, while the U.S. asked Japan to lift a beef import ban as soon as possible and for cooperation to combat mad cow disease, Japan's trade minister said....
BUSINESS
Jan 9, 2004

Japan, U.S. plan to restore faith in beef

WASHINGTON (Kyodo) Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Shoichi Nakagawa and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman ended a meeting here Wednesday without discussing concrete steps toward lifting Japan's ban on imported American beef.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Jan 9, 2004

The great treasure hunt

A few months ago there was a news story about a painting bought at a flea market in France for around 200,000 yen that turned out to be by Vincent van Gogh and worth upward of 300 million yen.
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Jan 9, 2004

Scrutiny will increase if Eriksson becomes Chelsea manager

LONDON -- Will he stay or will he go?
BUSINESS
Jan 9, 2004

Takeda in diabetes tieup with U.S. firm

Takeda Chemical Industries Ltd. said Thursday it has agreed with Andrx Corp. of the United States to jointly develop a drug for diabetes on the basis of their existing products for treating the disorder.
JAPAN
Jan 8, 2004

Pyongyang sought talks with trade chiefs

North Korea sought a secret meeting in Beijing with Shoichi Nakagawa, minister of economy, trade and industry, as well as his predecessor, Takeo Hiranuma, late last year, sources close to bilateral affairs said Wednesday.
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Jan 8, 2004

Move for Marbury was a winner for New York Knicks

NEW YORK -- The answer: Burberry, Blackberry and now seats to see Marbury.
JAPAN
Jan 8, 2004

Fukuda wary of motive behind North Korea thaw

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda remained wary Wednesday over a string of events indicating a possible softening of North Korea's stance toward Japan.
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Jan 8, 2004

Corporate America's attack on common sense

Common sense may keep us out of harm's way and save us from terminally bad deciEsions, but a recently leaked chemical-industry memo inEsists that common sense is bad for business. Elsewhere in the corporate sector, too, common sense is increasingly seen as a dogged nuisance that hinders mindless conEsumption...
JAPAN
Jan 8, 2004

LDP mulls openness, primaries for candidates

A Liberal Democratic Party reform committee wants to adopt an open system for recruiting candidates to run in national elections, according to a draft of the plan made available to Kyodo News.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 7, 2004

Fukuda cool on specter of secular alternative to Yasukuni

It is premature for the government to establish a secular memorial as an alternative to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, which honors the nation's war dead, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Jan 7, 2004

Nakagawa to urge Washington to bolster U.S. beef safety

Trade chief Shoichi Nakagawa indicated Tuesday he will call on the United States during his upcoming visit to Washington to take steps to ensure the safety of American beef following the discovery of the first case of mad cow disease in the U.S.
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2004

NEC caught overcharging Defense Agency 63 million yen

NEC Corp. overcharged the Defense Agency a combined 63 million yen between 1997 and 2001 in five equipment contracts, according to internal agency documents obtained Monday by Kyodo News.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 6, 2004

Mobile phone giants strive for pre-eminence in 3G market

Anticipating that third-generation services will dominate the mobile phone market within a few years, NTT DoCoMo Inc., KDDI Corp., and Vodafone K.K. are rolling out new handsets with a range of advanced 3G functions.
JAPAN
Jan 4, 2004

North Korea blasts visit by Koizumi to Yasukuni

North Korea joined a chorus of criticism across Asia denouncing a surprise visit by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on New Year's Day to a shrine honoring the nation's war dead, warning Saturday it signaled a "revival of militarism."
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jan 4, 2004

Jong gets the gong in 2003 media awards

Media person of the year: Kim Jong Il
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2004

Koizumi takes more flak over new year Yasukuni visit

Protests continued Friday in Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo over Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's surprise visit to Yasukuni Shrine on New Year's Day.
JAPAN
Jan 1, 2004

SDF dispatch decision like a double-edged sword

When Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi voiced his unequivocal support of the U.S.-led war on Iraq in March, he was left with little choice but to commit Self-Defense Forces troops to the country's postwar reconstruction effort.
JAPAN
Jan 1, 2004

Decision to dispatch SDF troops to Iraq a watershed for defense, security policy

Japan's decision to send Self-Defense Forces troops to Iraq, coupled with the decision to introduce a missile defense system, marks a major turning point for the nation's defense and security policy. Never in its 50-year history has the SDF been mobilized for noncombat duties in a foreign country in...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 1, 2004

Japan needs to emerge from behind America's apron: Wolferen

Japan may be the world's No. 2 economic power, but where diplomacy is concerned, Karel G. van Wolferen likens it to a boy who has to ask his parents (i.e. the United States) if he can go outside to play.
BUSINESS
Dec 31, 2003

Automakers turn to 'telematics' to get tech lovers' attention

In the fight for a bigger share of the domestic car market, Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. have shifted to a new battlefield -- "telematics" informational network systems

Longform

Dangami House is a 180-year-old former samurai residence of the Kato clan, who ruled over Ozu, Ehime Prefecture, until the Meiji Restoration.
A house, a legacy and the quiet work of restoration in rural Japan