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JAPAN
Aug 11, 1999

BT touts venture as 'family of alliances'

British Telecommunications PLC's recent agreement on capital participation in Japan Telecom Co. is part of its strategy to form a "family of alliances" that will help it become the most successful carrier in the global market, BT chief executive Sir Peter Bonfield said Wednesday in Tokyo.
JAPAN
Aug 10, 1999

Yosano agrees to U.S. steel talks

The minister of international trade and industry expressed readiness Tuesday to hold bilateral steel talks with the United States, noting that Japan will take the opportunity to address Washington's overuse of antidumping measures.
JAPAN
Aug 10, 1999

State specifies guidelines for Hinomaru, 'Kimigayo'

Following Monday's approval of legislation legally recognizing the Hinomaru as Japan's national flag and "Kimigayo" as the anthem, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka announced Tuesday guidelines regarding the official symbols for government organizations to follow.
EDITORIALS
Aug 9, 1999

Rethink North Korea policy

The four-way Korea peace talks are again in the news as negotiators from North and South Korea, the United States and China return to the table in Geneva. Few people are holding their breath, and no one should. Diplomacy has hit a bind as Pyongyang keeps the world guessing about its intentions to develop...
JAPAN
Aug 9, 1999

No progress but Obuchi, Ozawa continue talks

Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and Liberal Party leader Ichiro Ozawa met Monday and confirmed they will "make efforts till the last minute to realize their policy agreement."
JAPAN
Aug 9, 1999

Finance jumped gun on making Namihaya: Usui

Vice Finance Minister Nobuaki Usui on Monday admitted the ministry was less than thorough in inspecting the failed, Osaka-based Namihaya Bank's predecessors and added that the state's inability to help the bank rebuild is "regrettable."
COMMUNITY / How-tos / GETTING THINGS DONE
Aug 9, 1999

A learning experience

It is interesting to follow the drinking culture of Japan. In times when "Japaneseness" is being emphasized, sales of "Nihon-shu" (sake) and "shochu" (an indigenous distilled beverage that uses a variety of things that will ferment but mainly sweet potatoes) tend to increase. Beer is seldom affected...
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 8, 1999

Japan makes its mark in U.S.

ALFRED BALITZER Special to The Japan Times The town of Kanab, population 4,500, is located on a two-lane highway between Zion National Park and Lake Powell in southern Utah. The country is filled with breathtaking scenery -- tall, lonesome bluffs, massive rock formations the color of copper, natural...
EDITORIALS
Aug 7, 1999

A summer of new health threats

During what is proving to be one of Japan's hottest summers in recent memory, most people are concentrating on ways to beat the heat. Heat-related ailments pose a great health risk, especially among the very young and very old. It appears, however, that this summer the public should be paying even more...
EDITORIALS
Aug 5, 1999

China's East Wind blows ill

Earlier this week, China test-fired a ballistic missile. The practical significance of the test is minimal; it does little, if anything, to change the regional balance of power. Its timing, on the other hand, could not be worse. The launch sends the wrong message to every government with interests in...
JAPAN
Aug 5, 1999

State won't appeal base noise suit

The government will not appeal a high court ruling on a damages suit in which residents living in areas surrounding the Atsugi air base in Kanagawa Prefecture sought to halt evening and early morning flights of Self-Defense Forces and U.S. military aircraft, Defense Agency chief Hosei Norota said Thursday....
JAPAN
Aug 5, 1999

Japan, South Korea hold first joint naval drill

Staff writer
JAPAN
Aug 5, 1999

Japan to reward UNIDO reforms with $830,000 in aid

The government will offer $830,000 in fiscal 1999 to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in appreciation of its administrative reform efforts, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said Thursday.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Aug 5, 1999

Emperors, journalists, critics and other influential people

Several weeks ago Time Magazine's Tokyo bureau asked Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi to nominate someone for the magazine's series of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century, and Obuchi chose Emperor Showa.
JAPAN
Aug 4, 1999

LDP lawmakers want remittances to North halted

Japan should suspend cash remittances to North Korea if Pyongyang test-launches a second ballistic missile, Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Aug 3, 1999

Justice Ministry to exempt media from wiretaps

The Justice Ministry has decided in principle to exempt the media from being wiretapped in a bill currently before the Diet, ministry sources said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Aug 3, 1999

New Komeito rails against Diet seats bill

New Komeito chief Takenori Kanzaki warned Tuesday that further Diet deliberations on a bill aimed at cutting 50 proportional representation seats from the Lower House would "seriously affect" his party's upcoming talks on entering the Liberal Democratic Party's ruling coalition.
JAPAN
Jul 30, 1999

Sanwa-led alliance to rival financial giants

Sanwa Bank and five other financial institutions will form a comprehensive alliance to cooperate in areas such as retail marketing and asset management, the six firms announced Friday.
JAPAN
Jul 30, 1999

Analysis: Credit Suisse case seen as a warning

Staff writer
LIFE / Digital / CYBERIA
Jul 28, 1999

The little claimer that could

While companies, especially computer makers, have been eager to promote the Internet as a global bazaar and amusement park rolled into one, they are quickly learning that there's a little more to it than that. The tools that are supposed to help the customer are the same ones that can empower the unhappy...
JAPAN
Jul 28, 1999

Honor your notes: Taiwan lawmaker

A Taiwanese politician criticized the Japanese government Wednesday for refusing to honor wartime military bank notes and former German marks that Japan distributed in Taiwan when it colonized the area during World Wars I and II.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 1999

Cohen wants cooperation

The United States, Japan and South Korea want cooperation -- not confrontation -- with North Korea, visiting U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen said Wednesday, urging Pyongyang to show restraint in attempting to launch another missile.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 1999

Second extra budget may be needed: Miyazawa

The government may have to prepare a second supplementary budget even if the 0.5 percent growth target for this fiscal year looks certain to be achieved in September, Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa indicated Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jul 27, 1999

Airlines to review hijack manuals

The Transport Ministry will instruct domestic airlines to thoroughly review their manuals on hijacking, Transport Minister Jiro Kawasaki said Tuesday, noting that All Nippon Airways "failed to prevent a knife-carrying passenger from boarding a plane and hijacking it."
JAPAN
Jul 26, 1999

Sakura, Fujitsu to set up electronic bank

Sakura Bank and Fujitsu Ltd. announced Monday they have agreed to jointly form the nation's first bank specializing in online operations.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 25, 1999

Soong's presidential bid is good for Taiwan

No one blinked when longtime Kuomintang politician James Soong (Sung Chu-yu) announced last week that he would defy party elders and run independently for president of the Republic of China on Taiwan in the March 2000 elections.
JAPAN
Jul 23, 1999

Norota urges new heliport site by yearend

Defense Agency chief Hosei Norota expressed hope Friday that the site to relocate U.S. Marine Corps helicopter operations at Futenma Air Station in Okinawa will be selected by the end of the year.
JAPAN
Jul 23, 1999

LDP may have to walk political tightrope

Staff writers
JAPAN
Jul 23, 1999

ANA pilot slain during skyjacking

The captain of an All Nippon Airways jumbo jet bound for Sapporo was stabbed to death Friday by a knife-wielding hijacker who flew the plane for a short time after the stabbing, police said.
JAPAN
Jul 23, 1999

Yosano declares Japan ready for steel talks

Japan is ready to hold talks with the United States over the contentious issue of steel trade, International Trade and Industry Minister Kaoru Yosano said Friday.

Longform

An illustration features the Japanese signs for "ganbare" (good luck) and the Deaflympics, which will be held between Nov. 15 and 26.
A century of Deaf sport finds its moment in Tokyo