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JAPAN
Jun 14, 2001

Launch date for spy satellites delayed until July 2003

The government decided Wednesday to postpone the launch of two of four domestically developed reconnaissance satellites by five months until July 2003, due to delays in parts procurement.
BUSINESS
Jun 14, 2001

Amazon Japan adds video tapes, CDs, DVDs

The Japanese unit of Amazon.com announced Wednesday its expansion to sell compact discs, digital versatile discs and video tapes, but said there was no sign of the company making a profit yet.
JAPAN
Jun 14, 2001

585,000 sign up for Koizumi's e-mail magazine

More than half a million people have registered their e-mail addresses to subscribe to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's e-mail magazine to be launched today, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Wednesday.
LIFE / Digital / SURFERSPUD
Jun 14, 2001

Going somewhere?

www.orbitz.com The five biggest U.S. airlines got together on Orbitz to offer cut-rate fares and other travel specials. But since United, American, Northwest Delta and Continental don't belong to any of Asia's ticket cartels, you're not gonna get a discount if you're living in Japan (the regulations...
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Jun 14, 2001

New hope for dementia

In 1906, a German doctor called Alois Alzheimer discovered strange clumps in the brain of a woman who had died of a then-mysterious mental illness.
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2001

Diplomat Togo finally gets Netherlands appointment

Kazuhiko Togo, former director general of the Foreign Ministry's European Affairs Bureau, was finally named Japanese ambassador to the Netherlands on Tuesday after weeks of waiting for a freeze on his transfer to be lifted, the ministry said.
CULTURE / Film
Jun 13, 2001

And now, the greatest heroine on earth

The Invisible Circus Rating: * * * *Japanese title:Yukaihan Director: Adam Brooks Running time: 93 minutes Language: EnglishOpens July 7 at Yurakucho Subaru-za As we know from Julia Roberts, it's hard to be a heroine in Hollywood and stay that way. By heroine, I mean the classic, old-school types...
BUSINESS
Jun 13, 2001

Low growth is the price of reforms

Japan will have to endure low economic growth over the next two to three years as the nation undergoes radical reforms, a key government economic panel said in the draft of a reform blueprint to be released later this month.
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2001

Tanaka awaits nod for Powell meeting

Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka said Tuesday she is awaiting Diet approval for a visit to Washington on Monday, during which she would hold her first talks with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.
CULTURE / Film
Jun 13, 2001

Somewhere over the DMZ

JSA Rating: * * * 1/2 Director: Park Chan Wook Running time: 110 minutes Language: Korean Now showing at Hibiya Scala-za and other theaters Two types of Korean movies used to be released in Japan. One was the art film, usually something dark, raw and intense. The other was the erotic film, usually...
EDITORIALS
Jun 12, 2001

Discord in the Foreign Ministry

The Foreign Ministry has been mired in an internal struggle between Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka and senior ministry bureaucrats. The faceoff shows no signs of ending, although Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has issued a warning to both Mrs. Tanaka and Vice Foreign Minister Yutaka Kawashima. Mrs....
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2001

Recession looms as GDP shrinks 0.2%

Japan's economy shrank during the last three months of fiscal 2000, according to government data released Monday, confirming fears that the world's second-largest economy is on the brink of another recession.
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2001

Rengo head Washio plans to retire

Etsuya Washio, president of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation, said Monday he will retire when his term expires in October.
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2001

More than 85% back Koizumi, Tanaka

The Cabinet of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi maintains a super-high public approval rating of 85.9 percent despite recent controversies surrounding Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka, according to an opinion poll released by Kyodo News on Monday.
BUSINESS
Jun 12, 2001

Economists expect further deterioration

Private-sector economists said Monday the economy will probably shrink further during the current business year, falling short of the government's macroeconomic target of 1.7 percent growth.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 10, 2001

Lemerre surprised by Nakata's absence

YOKOHAMA -- France manager Roger Lemerre on Saturday expressed his surprise and disappointment at the news of Japan midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata's departure from the national team ahead of Sunday's final of the Confederations Cup.
CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
Jun 10, 2001

A daughter of Madagascar traces a path home to Asia

"I feel at home in Asia," said Hanitra, leader of the group Tarika, during a recent visit to Tokyo. "Africa is more foreign to me."
BUSINESS
Jun 9, 2001

FRC wanted major changes at banks

The Financial Reconstruction Commission, the predecessor of the Financial Services Agency, set out to push through a major reorganization of 17 major banks immediately after its inauguration in December 1998, according to minutes of the FRC's meetings disclosed Friday by the FSA.
JAPAN
Jun 9, 2001

Killings shock parents, residents

OSAKA — Shock and disbelief gripped the city of Ikeda, an affluent Osaka suburb, Friday following the murder of eight elementary school children as parents, teachers and neighbors struggled to find an explanation for why it happened.
JAPAN
Jun 9, 2001

Tanaka promises figure for secret-use funds

Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka said Friday that the ministry will provide a numerical target for reducing its secret-use diplomatic funds in the fiscal 2002 budget, a step up from the wording used in the ministry's reform report released Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Jun 9, 2001

Budget ceiling in fiscal 2002 will be lower: Shiokawa

Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa indicated Friday that the ceiling on fiscal 2002 budget requests by ministries and agencies will be lower than the current year's level.
COMMENTARY
Jun 8, 2001

Reform easier said than done

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi replaced former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori on the grounds that he was a reformist and Mori was not. Yet Koizumi's first move was to cancel one of Mori's sensible reforms -- the bid to settle Japan's Northern Territories dispute with Moscow by first accepting the two...
JAPAN
Jun 7, 2001

Chiba sees needs for press clubs

Chiba Gov. Akiko Domoto, a former TV reporter, said Wednesday that the prefectural government needs a press club due to the need for speed and accuracy in media coverage.
JAPAN
Jun 7, 2001

Secret-use funds to be cut, scrutinized

The Foreign Ministry, in the wake of an embezzlement scandal involving a senior bureaucrat, will cut its discretionary diplomatic funds, step up its inspections and let the foreign minister have the final say on spending, it announced Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jun 6, 2001

Doubt cast over Tanaka's pending U.S. trip

Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka's reported criticism of a U.S. missile defense plan makes her planned visit to the U.S. unlikely, government sources said Tuesday.
CULTURE / Film
Jun 6, 2001

Now you see her, but know you don't

Malena Rating: * * * * Director: Giuseppe Tornatore Running time: 92 minutes Language: Italian/EnglishOpens June 9 These days, we've become used to women in cinema meeting certain standards. They should be visually stunning, but they must also be brave, self-assertive, sometimes violent, smart and...
CULTURE / Film
Jun 6, 2001

The toughest journey for Japan's toughest guy

Hotaru Rating: * * * 1/2 Director: Yasuo Furuhata Running time: 114 minutes Language: JapaneseNow showing at Toei Marunouchi and other theaters National cinemas from Hollywood to Bollywood have their icons -- veteran actors who have become box-office powerhouses less for their performances than...

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji