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JAPAN
Dec 5, 2006

LDP reform foes' return slammed as betrayal

In August 2005, 37 Liberal Democratic Party members held their heads high as they voted against LDP President and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's bills to privatize the postal system, legislation they felt was being forced on them.
JAPAN
Nov 29, 2006

11 postal reform foes get nod to rejoin LDP and justify flip-flop

The 11 postal reform rebels Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is welcoming back into the ruling Liberal Democratic Party spoke Tuesday about why they voted against the legislation and then reversed themselves.
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2006

Postal rebels vow to follow party line for LDP return

Eleven of a group of 12 lawmakers kicked out of the Liberal Democratic Party last year for opposing postal privatization submitted a petition and special covenant Monday and are likely to be readmitted to the ruling party.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Nov 28, 2006

Cheap travel in Japan?

Full Moon Green Pass Jim writes that he and his wife (based near Sasebo in Kyushu) have heard about a special JR ticket that is a great deal.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Nov 19, 2006

Matsuzaka posting, 'gyroball' big topics of discussion

What an international baseball news week we had with the Daisuke Matsuzaka posting won by the Boston Red Sox and the rather surprising news the highest bid for Akinori Iwamura was submitted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
JAPAN
Nov 18, 2006

Education bill shifts power to the state

In the wake of Thursday's Lower House passage of the education reform bill, critics wonder whether news management may have been used to clear the path for what one commentator alleged to be a "fascist" power grab by the central government.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 15, 2006

Ogasawara, Fukudome given MVP awards for 2006 season

Right in the middle of important talks on where he plays next season, Tuesday was a rare day for Michihiro Ogasawara to show a relieved smile.
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Nov 7, 2006

Pulling the wool

I s the world's second-largest economy, Japan feels it deserves the respect and privilege accorded the club of rich countries.
SPORTS / E-LIST
Nov 2, 2006

'Babe Factor' puts butts in Sapporo seats

SAPPORO -- The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters have already won the first two Japan Series games played on the northern island, and they are about to win its first championship.More than 41,000 people have come out for each postseason game at Sapporo Dome, and the main reason for that is the "Babe Factor."...
BASKETBALL
Oct 31, 2006

Kawachi pleased with bj-league's success, hopes to serve up even better sequel

Bj-league commissioner Toshimitsu Kawachi believes the league's inaugural season was fairly successful. But he knows not to get too cocky, because fans will expect better for the second season.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Oct 29, 2006

Children's welfare in the doghouse

This past week the nation was shocked by the news of yet another small child who died at the hands of abusive and negligent adults.
COMMENTARY
Oct 26, 2006

Antidepressant drug raises new hopes

The news that Dallas Cowboys football player Terrell Owens had attempted to commit suicide because of depression alarmed sports fans worldwide, for whom he is one of the game's biggest stars. However, recent information on the uses of a drug with positive effects on depressed patients raises hopes that...
BUSINESS
Oct 25, 2006

Sony apologizes for defective batteries

Sony Corp. Vice President Yutaka Nakagawa apologized Tuesday for causing concern among customers over problems with its lithium-ion batteries that have led to a massive worldwide recall.
EDITORIALS
Oct 21, 2006

Surrogate births raise complex issues

News that a woman in her 50s has acted as a surrogate mother for her daughter and her daughter's husband underscores the need to enact a law governing how to legally treat children born in this way. The guidelines of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology prohibit doctors from engaging in surrogacy-related...
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 21, 2006

India-American nuclear deal foundering

MADRAS -- The Indian-American nuclear deal signed in New Delhi in March seems to be foundering. The pact, which would give India access to American civil nuclear technology, must be approved by the U.S. Congress before it can become law.
BUSINESS
Oct 20, 2006

WOWOW to give programs to SKY PerfecTV channel

Satellite broadcaster WOWOW Inc. will start supplying programs to SKY PerfecTV on Dec. 1, the two companies said Wednesday.

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