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BUSINESS
Jan 31, 2007

Nikko Cordial execs aided fraud: panel

A special panel looking into accounting fraud at Nikko Cordial Corp. issued a report Tuesday saying top management was involved in inflating profits at the nation's third-largest brokerage.
JAPAN
Jan 27, 2007

Tsunoda exits No. 2 Upper House post over funds scandal

," Tsunoda said. "But there were indications and criticism that (I) did not fulfill my duties of accountability." However, Kyodo News reported earlier in the day that a combined 23 individuals, firms and organizations have said they made political donations to Tsunoda's campaign office during the 2001...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 26, 2007

Son boasts fashionable, functional '07 handset line

Fashionable may be the best word to describe the 2007 mobile phone industry, at least according to Masoyoshi Son, chief executive officer of Softbank Mobile Corp.
BUSINESS
Jan 23, 2007

New tax panel chief keeps cards close to his vest

At his debut news conference Monday as chairman of the government's Tax Commission, Yutaka Kosai was tight-lipped on the politically sensitive corporate and consumption tax rates, despite his reputation as an outspoken economist.
COMMENTARY
Jan 23, 2007

U.S. presence vs. the public will

A tense atmosphere prevails in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, during its centennial this year due to the planned deployment of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier at U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jan 21, 2007

The media merry-go-round fueled by sensational murders

On Jan. 5, 21-year-old Yuki Muto was arrested for murdering his sister, Azumi, on Dec. 30 at their home in Shibuya, Tokyo. He reportedly told police that he killed Azumi because she criticized his unsuccessful attempts to get into dental college and belittled his ambitions, later adding that he was under...
Reader Mail
Jan 21, 2007

Too much ink spilled over old milk

Another big food-safety scandal has made news media headlines and worried millions of consumers. This time a cake factory has committed the unforgivable crime of using 60 liters of milk that had passed its expiration date by one day.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 19, 2007

Ishihara defiant, teflon to scandal

Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, an ex-transport minister, award-winning writer, Yasukuni Shrine pilgrim known for firing racist and sexist remarks from the lips, has recently drawn flak for taking pricey trips on taxpayer money and nepotism for choosing his son to work on an event he sponsored in Switzerland....
EDITORIALS
Jan 19, 2007

'Peko-chan' takes a powder

'Peko-chan," the popular life-size mascot for major confectioner Fujiya Co., was born in 1950. But the eternally 6-year-old girl mascot, which has charmed people for decades and was registered as a three-dimensional trademark in 1998, has been withdrawn from many cake shops because of a scandal at her...
Japan Times
LIFE
Jan 14, 2007

Get out of this world

Forget Hawaii, Hong Kong, Bali, Britain or Paris -- before too long your family vacation choices will include staying at space hotels or taking a 10-day spin around the moon.
BUSINESS
Jan 11, 2007

PlayStation 3 shipments off global target

Sony's long-awaited PlayStation 3 may have missed its global shipment target and been beaten in its home market by rival Nintendo's surprise hit Wii video game system, new figures show.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jan 9, 2007

Igawa departs for Big Apple

Pitcher Kei Igawa left for New York on Monday to attend a news conference to mark his signing with the New York Yankees.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 6, 2007

2% economic growth seen in '07

Leaders of Japan's three major business lobbies were upbeat Friday about the country's economic prospects for 2007, saying the economy is likely to grow 2 percent this year on the back of a strong recovery in the business sector.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 4, 2007

Foes of female reign bask in prince's birth

"It's a boy!" The news spread like wildfire on red-letter Sept. 6 with the birth of Prince Hisahito, the first male born into the Imperial family in 41 years.
SOCCER
Jan 1, 2007

Goat head sent to Palermo GM

PALERMO, Sicily (AP) Palermo general manager Rino Foschi received a surprise in the mail for Christmas -- the severed head of a young goat, covered in blood.
COMMENTARY
Jan 1, 2007

Unwise gantlet for teachers

Certain professionals must pass state examinations to obtain licenses for their jobs. They include medical doctors, dentists, jurists, certified public accountants, architects, pharmacists and registered nurses, as well as primary, middle and high school teachers. Amid the severe employment situation,...
JAPAN
Dec 28, 2006

Reform minister Sata exits over fund snafu

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's three-month-old Cabinet suffered another setback Wednesday as administrative reform minister Genichiro Sata resigned after admitting accounting irregularities by one of his political support organizations.
JAPAN
Dec 26, 2006

Four sent to the gallows

The Justice Ministry sent four death row inmates to the gallows Monday, inflaming lawmakers and protesters over the first executions to be carried out in 15 months.
COMMENTARY
Dec 21, 2006

Al-Jazeera English: the plot is thickening

LONDON -- The launch of Al-Jazeera English, the English arm of Al-Jazeera Satellite Television, on Nov. 15 was a notable addition to the growing global efforts aimed at counterbalancing American-European domination over world media.
JAPAN
Dec 20, 2006

LDP will not accept contributions from banks, Abe decides

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday the ruling Liberal Democratic Party will not accept political donations from major banks, whose plans to resume contributions have drawn heavy criticism.
BUSINESS
Dec 16, 2006

'Tankan' rise fuels rate hike talk

Business confidence at large manufacturers rose slightly in the three months to December, according to the Bank of Japan's quarterly "tankan" survey released Friday, fueling speculation the central bank's second interest rate hike in about six years could come next month.
JAPAN
Dec 9, 2006

Kyuma admits Tokyo backed Iraq attack

attends an extraordinary Cabinet meeting Friday with Prime Minister Shinzo Ane and health minister Hakuo Yanagisawa. KYODO PHOTO

Longform

A sinkhole in Yashio, which emerged in January, was triggered by a ruptured, aging sewer pipe. Authorities worry that similar sections of infrastructure across the country are also at risk of corrosion.
That sinking feeling: Japan’s aging sewers are an infrastructure time bomb