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JAPAN
Oct 19, 2001

First meeting of Asian city leaders outlines 15 projects to boost region

Leaders of major Asian cities issued a declaration Thursday, outlining 15 joint projects that include the development of the region's air industry, online education and environmentally friendly vehicles.
BUSINESS
Oct 19, 2001

Yanagisawa bank plan under review

The chairman of the Trust Companies Association of Japan said Thursday that a proposal under which certain banks would discontinue their retirement allowances to board members constitutes one option to counter the nation's financial problems.
BUSINESS
Oct 19, 2001

KDDI directors getting a 10% cut in pay

KDDI Corp. will implement a 10 percent reduction in directors' remuneration for a three-month period beginning in October, KDDI President Tadashi Onodera said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Oct 19, 2001

Ministry moves ahead with extra budget

The Finance Ministry will push ahead with its plan to earmark 2.7 trillion yen for a supplementary budget for fiscal 2001, despite the ruling coalition's rejection of the plan, Vice Finance Minister Toshiro Muto said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Oct 18, 2001

Pocari Sweat gets space-based ad

Advertising agency Dentsu Inc. said Wednesday it will head into space to shoot a television commercial on the International Space Station for the popular sports drink Pocari Sweat.
JAPAN
Oct 18, 2001

GSDF reprimands officers over misfired howitzer shell

The Ground Self-Defense Force announced Wednesday that it punished the commanding general of the 6th Division and 11 other officers for the accidental firing of a 155mm howitzer shell out of the practice range and over a hot spring resort in Fukushima Prefecture on Sept. 7.
BUSINESS
Oct 18, 2001

Toshiba, Matsushita plan two joint ventures

Toshiba Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. announced Wednesday they will set up two joint ventures in April, each dealing with a different type of electronic display.
BUSINESS
Oct 18, 2001

Bond cap pledge no longer a pledge

The government will consider making antiterrorism measures and logistic support to U.S. military operations in Afghanistan exempt from the 30 trillion yen cap on new bond issues for this fiscal year, Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Oct 18, 2001

Most local governments unable to dispose of MBM

Most local governments are ill-equipped to immediately dispose of meat-and-bone meal, which is suspected of spreading mad cow disease, according to a survey released Wednesday.
JAPAN
Oct 18, 2001

Ex-Afghan ambassador fears statelessness

Former Afghan Ambassador to Japan Hassani Mohammad Asif says his greatest worry as U.S.-led forces pound his native land is that he and his family will be left stateless.
JAPAN
Oct 18, 2001

Powder sent to Koizumi's residence

As fears of anthrax letters continued to spread around the globe, the Prime Minister's Official Residence, the Defense Agency and some media organizations on Wednesday received envelopes containing white powder that turned out to be starch.
BUSINESS
Oct 17, 2001

Takenaka hints that economy may shrink

Heizo Takenaka, minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, hinted Tuesday that the government will revise downward its economic growth forecast for fiscal 2001 to around minus 1 percent from the current 1.7 percent.
JAPAN
Oct 17, 2001

Beef safety to be stated Thursday before new cow tests

The government plans to issue a statement declaring the safety of Japanese beef on Thursday, when the health ministry is to begin more rigorous examinations for mad cow disease on all cows meant to be processed for human consumption.
CULTURE / Stage
Oct 17, 2001

Revenge drama: keeping it in the family

During the 17th and 18th centuries, news of successful acts of revenge (katakiuchi) by samurai circulated fast among ordinary people in Japan. Many of these stories were highly dramatic and became sources of inspiration for kabuki and bunraku dramas.
JAPAN
Oct 14, 2001

New mad cow suspect tests negative

An animal that was believed to be Japan's second case of mad cow disease has tested negative after a more thorough inspection for the brain-wasting illness, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare reported late Friday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Oct 14, 2001

Easing the way for U and I

For rural areas suffering from depopulation, it can only be good news if city-folk want to move to the country.
BUSINESS
Oct 14, 2001

Singapore free trade pact set to be signed by yearend

Japan and Singapore effectively concluded negotiations on a comprehensive free trade arrangement Friday, opening the way for Japan to conclude its first FTA by the end of this year.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Oct 14, 2001

Country roads take them to new homes

Get away. Away from squeezing yourself into a packed train, making your way in a slow-moving human tide up stairs and through ticket gates. From walking in a crowd like a soldier ant, trotting ahead to avoid cigarette smoke from a man in front, only to breathe in foul diesel fumes at intersections on...
JAPAN
Oct 14, 2001

Nuclear firms not fearful of terrorism

Japan's electric power companies are continuing to allow the public to visit their nuclear facilities despite security concerns in the wake of last month's terrorist attacks on the United States, company officials said Saturday.
JAPAN
Oct 13, 2001

Second mad cow case reported

Initial tests on the brain of a cow that was butchered at Tokyo's central wholesale market indicate it had mad cow disease, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government said Friday. If confirmed, it would be the second case of the disease in Japan.
BUSINESS
Oct 13, 2001

NTT stalling on competition plan

NTT Corp. has yet to submit a plan aimed at promoting competition in the telecom market as it is still reluctant to reduce equity stakes in its group firms, telecom minister Toranosuke Katayama said Friday.
JAPAN
Oct 13, 2001

Minamata poisoning continues in southwest Japan

Minamata poisoning continues to spread in southwestern Japan and as many as 2 million people may have contracted it since the early 1950s, a researcher has said, citing new scientific studies.
JAPAN
Oct 13, 2001

Singapore free trade pact seen concluded by yearend

Japan and Singapore effectively concluded negotiations on a comprehensive free-trade arrangement Friday, opening the way for Japan to conclude its first FTA by the end of this year.
JAPAN
Oct 12, 2001

UBC exec made a packet on client's shares

Prosecutors are investigating an executive at UBC Corp., a Tokyo data-processing company linked to the nation's largest labor union, who made huge personal gains by selling shares in a client company, sources said Thursday.
JAPAN
Oct 12, 2001

U.S. forces launch heaviest strikes yet

Compiled from wire services Taliban officials reported scores of mostly civilian deaths across the country and accused the U.S. of deliberately hitting civilian targets.

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