Search - 2000

 
 
JAPAN
Jan 28, 2000

Obuchi calls for creation of level, not vertical, society

In a speech before a Diet devoid of opposition members, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi called Friday for the creation of a nation in which individuals are not submerged in society but showcase their abilities and help invigorate the country. The opposition decided to boycott the session to protest the...
COMMENTARY
Jan 10, 2000

Samurai values to the rescue

The biggest challenge for Japan as it greets the new millennium is implementing drastic political, economic and educational reforms, comparable to those carried out in the Meiji Restoration and after the end of World War II. Plans must include major fiscal reform, restructuring of the banking system,...
JAPAN
Dec 30, 1999

Japanese consumers opting for riskier, more rewarding investments

Staff writer Are the Japanese changing the way they save money, turning to risky but potentially rewarding financial investments? The rising popularity of investment trusts may provide a clue. Net assets of investment trusts, or mutual funds, amounted to 53.3 trillion yen at the end of November, up...
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 20, 1999

In the aftermath of the WTO debacle

WASHINGTON -- In the aftermath of the failed WTO meeting in Seattle last month, the big question is, "What now?"
JAPAN
Dec 15, 1999

Fields takes helm of Mazda

Mazda Motor Corp. announced Wednesday that President James E. Miller has been replaced by his 38-year-old deputy, Mark Fields. Fields, who became vice president only two weeks ago, has stepped up to the top post as the youngest to do so in the firm's history. Miller, 58, resigned from the presidency...
JAPAN
Dec 2, 1999

Y2K poll finds homes wary but unprepared

Roughly two out of three households responding to a recent survey said they were unconcerned about possible computer problems related to the start of 2000 and nearly 50 percent said they would not stock up on food and water as suggested by the government. With less than a month to go before the fated...
JAPAN
Nov 17, 1999

Metropolitan worker unions approve pay cut

After nightlong negotiations with Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, members of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government workers' unions agreed Wednesday to a two-year pay cut of 4 percent across the board and to cancel its two-hour strike planned the same day.
JAPAN
Nov 16, 1999

Tax panel stuck between state finances, election

Staff writer
JAPAN
Sep 10, 1999

Diplomacy central to Obuchi's APEC agenda

Staff writer
JAPAN
Aug 27, 1999

New coast guard unit sought against intruders

The Defense Agency plans to set up a coast guard unit separate from the Maritime Safety Agency that would use high-speed patrol boats, according to papers submitted to a Liberal Democratic Party meeting Friday.
JAPAN
Aug 27, 1999

Educators seek funds for computerization

The Education Ministry will ask for nearly double its previous share of tax money in fiscal 2000 to put more of the nation's schools online, according to its draft budget request for next year, released Friday.
JAPAN
Aug 3, 1999

Brief JR service stoppage planned for New Year's Eve

East Japan Railway Co. will halt trains at stations for a few minutes shortly before midnight Dec. 31 to forestall possible Year 2000 problems, JR East sources said Tuesday.
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 2, 1999

DPJ bill targets political donations

In an attempt to block a move by some members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, the Democratic Party of Japan will submit a bill to revise the Political Funds Control Law to ensure politicians will be banned from receiving political donations from companies and other organizations beginning January...
JAPAN
May 10, 1999

Landowners delay second Narita runway

The Transport Ministry officially dropped plans Monday to build a second runway at Narita airport by March 2001 after failing to break an impasse with landowners opposed to the expansion.
JAPAN
Sep 29, 1998

Japan, U.S. support Y2K contingency plans

Japan and the United States should draw up contingency and backup plans to secure critical services in case some computer systems do not correctly identify 2000, a senior U.S. government official in charge of millennium bug crisis management said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Sep 28, 1998

Japan, U.S. vow to cooperate on Y2K problem

Japan and the United States agreed Monday to deal more closely together with problems related to the millennium bug, as small and medium-size firms on both sides of the Pacific struggle to overcome the financial hurdle to remedy their computer systems by the turn of the century.
JAPAN
Apr 14, 1998

Russia turmoil mars Yeltsin treaty quest

First of two parts
JAPAN
Mar 27, 1998

MMC pushes back market-share target six years

KYOTO -- Mitsubishi Motors Corp. is set on obtaining a 15 percent share in the domestic market by 2006, not 2000 as originally targeted, MMC President Katsuhiko Kawasoe said March 27.
JAPAN
Mar 24, 1998

Number of mobile computer users ready to rise

In the 2000 business year, the number of users of mobile computers in Japan , excluding voice-service users, will be 20 times what it is in the current business year and is likely to total 13.63 million people, an industry group reported Tuesday.
JAPAN
Aug 18, 1997

Ford and Mazda moving in sync

Staff writer
JAPAN
Jul 28, 1997

Tokyo won't seek greenhouse gas target in Bonn

Japan will attempt to build a consensus on a framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from 2000 but will not propose numerical targets, at an upcoming meeting in Bonn, government officials said July 28.
JAPAN
Jul 11, 1997

Sato to take 'strict stance' on environment in Australia

Stiffening its policy on the environment, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry drew a clear line July 11 separating itself from Australia, which advocates a flexible approach to tackling global warming.
JAPAN
Jul 9, 1997

Japan firms urged to take lead in environment

The World Wide Fund for Nature has called on Japanese businesses to establish a council to fight global climate change and take a leading role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions before a key conference in December in Kyoto.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 12, 2023

Former LDP kingmaker Mikio Aoki dies at 89

Aoki, known as the “don of the Upper House” for his influence inside and outside the LDP, served as a lawmaker in the chamber between 1986 and 2010.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Mar 28, 2023

World Bank warns of 'lost decade' in global growth without bold policy shifts

Failure to reverse the expected slowdown in GDP growth would have profound implications for the world’s ability to tackle climate change and reduce poverty, new report claims.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 5, 2023

China’s big dilemma: What to do about an aging nation

Chinese policymakers must somehow implement policies to reduce the cost of raising children without crashing the economy.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 23, 2023

ASEAN finds itself stuck between the U.S. and China

To build resilience at a time of great-power rivalries, Southeast Asian countries must strengthen regional cooperation.
On July 17, Jiyugaoka in western Tokyo held its summer Bon Odori Festival for the first time in four years. While the pandemic spelled the end of the road for some longstanding local events, others weathered the storm.
CULTURE / Longform
Jul 24, 2023

Fate of the fete: Japan’s matsuri fight to survive

While COVID-19 was the final nail in the coffin for many of the country's smaller festivals, others have clung on and are making a determined comeback this year.
The natural beauty of Minakami has attracted hundreds adventure tourism companies, but there's still no overarching network of safety protocols in place.
LIFE / Travel
Jul 15, 2023

In Japan’s adventure tourism mecca, the rush comes with risk

Minakami has come a long way since the early days of its adventure tourism beginnings, but if it wants to last well into the future, regulation may be key.

Longform

Growing families are being priced out of Tokyo’s condo market, forced to choose between downtown convenience and suburban space.
Is living in central Tokyo still affordable?