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EDITORIALS
Feb 28, 2006

Fueling trust in rocket science

In the short span of one month, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has successfully launched three rockets, each carrying a satellite. This success has increased trust in JAXA's technological capability, raising Japan's hopes of entering the commercial rocket business.
COMMENTARY / THE VIEW FROM NEW YORK
Feb 27, 2006

Criticism of Japan skips the finer points

NEW YORK -- By way of criticizing Taro Aso as "Japan's Offensive Foreign Minister," a Feb. 13 New York Times editorial came up with a sweeping condemnation of the Japanese and their society by asserting that "public discourse in Japan and modern history lessons in its schools have never properly come...
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Feb 26, 2006

It was downhill all the way in Japan's media coverage of Olympics

Were the Turin Winter Olympics really that boring or was it just the Japanese television coverage?
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Feb 26, 2006

Has America's conscience fallen victim to 9/11?

On the 15th of this month, the Australian television station SBS broadcast one of the most awful and horrendous programs I have ever seen. The images aired -- many for the first time anywhere -- were still photographs and raw videos of abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. These were abuses committed...
JAPAN
Feb 25, 2006

Number of official refugees up threefold in 2005

The government recognized 46 people as refugees in 2005, more than three times the figure for the previous year, the Justice Ministry said Friday.
JAPAN
Feb 24, 2006

Upgrade plan finds Shimokitazawa split

A popular Tokyo shopping and nightlife district is slated to get a major face-lift, and some local residents are resisting, saying they want their neighborhood to stay as is.
JAPAN
Feb 24, 2006

Rejection of land seizure for road reversed

The Tokyo High Court on Thursday overturned a lower court ruling that barred the Tokyo Metropolitan Government from expropriating land in Akiruno, western Tokyo, for a state-approved project to route an expressway through the site.
JAPAN
Feb 24, 2006

Court extends detention of Horie, four former executives

The Tokyo District Court on Thursday authorized a 10-day extension to the detention of former Livedoor Co. President Takafumi Horie and four other ex-executives.
SOCCER
Feb 23, 2006

Japan recovers to crush India

YOKOHAMA -- Japan recovered from a embarrassing first half against India to open its 2007 Asian Cup qualifying campaign with an ultimately convincing 6-0 win at Nissan Stadium on Wednesday.
OLYMPICS
Feb 23, 2006

Swiss skier Nef calls it quits

SESTRIERE, Italy (AP) Decorated Swiss ski veteran Sonja Nef announced Tuesday that she is retiring from competition after 12 seasons on the World Cup circuit because of poor health. Nef, 33, last raced in January and wasn't on the Swiss Olympic team. She intended to quit at the end of the World Cup...
JAPAN
Feb 23, 2006

Crown Prince avoids the succession issue at birthday news conference

Crown Prince Naruhito said Thursday he hoped all will go well with the pregnancy of his brother's wife, Princess Kiko, avoiding the issue of female succession, at a news conference the day before his 46th birthday.
BUSINESS
Feb 23, 2006

Toshiba faces major hurdles with Westinghouse

Toshiba's CEO had good reason to sound a trifle defensive about his company's $5.4 billion purchase of U.S.-based nuclear power company Westinghouse.
EDITORIALS
Feb 22, 2006

Expressway reform bears bitter fruit

A decision made earlier this month with regard to expressway construction underscores the concerns over expressway reform legislation that existed when Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi pushed it in 2004. He used to say that the reorganization of Japan Highway Public Corp. and three other expressway corporations...
BUSINESS
Feb 22, 2006

Mitsubishi Electric shuffles leaders

Mitsubishi Electric Corp. will promote Vice President Setsuhiro Shimomura to president, replacing Tamotsu Nomakuchi, who will become chairman, company sources said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Feb 22, 2006

Japan Post Corp. names eight execs

The board of Japan Post Corp., the holding company formed in January to prepare for the privatization of the country's postal system, appointed its eight senior executives Tuesday, including Sakon Uda, principal at McKinsey & Co., and Akira Uno, former chairman of SMBC Consulting Co., company officials...

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