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BUSINESS
Nov 28, 2003

Life insurers surviving but see business shrink

Stable stock prices have eased concerns about potential failure at the nation's nine largest life insurance companies, but they continue to struggle against shrinking business volume, according to interim reports announced as of Thursday.
BUSINESS / FRONT-RUNNERS
Nov 26, 2003

Matsui Securities owes success to efficient online trading service

A Tokyo-based securities house that posted first-half operating revenue of just 10 billion yen happens to be one of the nation's strongest brokerages, as its profit margin was 50 percent.
COMMENTARY
Nov 24, 2003

Stub out the smoking habit

The Tokyo District Court has rejected a damage suit filed against Japan Tobacco Inc. and the national government by seven former smokers who said they developed cancer and other health troubles from long years of smoking. The suit, filed by victims of lung cancer, cancer of the larynx and emphysema,...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / PERSONALITY PROFILE
Nov 22, 2003

Nicola Townsend

An Australian arts festival that began a six-month run last July in Japan is giving presentations of a variety of culturally diverse art forms. Events, still being held in different venues, project "a distinctive Australian art scene bursting with vitality." The Australian government in partnership with...
BUSINESS
Nov 21, 2003

Matsumotokiyoshi profit logs slide

Matsumotokiyoshi Co., Japan's largest drugstore chain, reported Thursday profit declines for the half year ending Sept. 30 amid higher cost burdens despite solid growth in group sales.
BUSINESS
Nov 21, 2003

Firm offers fund to invest in pinup girls

Why spend money on a pinup girl's book, when you can cash in on her success?
BUSINESS
Nov 21, 2003

Starbucks Japan profit sinks 58%

Starbucks Coffee Japan Ltd. said Thursday its profit for the first half of fiscal 2003 plummeted 58 percent to 93 million yen due to costs associated with closing unprofitable stores.
BUSINESS
Nov 18, 2003

Public assistance helps stem bankruptcy rate

The number of corporate bankruptcies in Japan fell 18.7 percent in October from a year earlier to 1,387, down for the 10th consecutive month, Teikoku Databank Ltd. said Monday.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 17, 2003

A weak dollar for a strong economy?

GUATEMALA -- Since mid-March, the dollar's value measured by a trade-weighted index against a basket of currencies has declined by 6 percent and by 9.6 percent for the entire year. Some economists, businessmen and politicians in America believe that a weaker dollar will be "good" for the U.S. economy....
BUSINESS
Nov 15, 2003

Yakult Honsha sees net profit slide

Yakult Honsha Co. said Friday its group sales and pretax profit for the first half of fiscal 2003 declined slightly from year-before levels.
BUSINESS
Nov 13, 2003

MMC eyes North American strategy

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. will release a strategic review of its North American operations early next year.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 12, 2003

Man who gave us loose white socks eyes comeback

The man behind the "loose socks" fad among schoolgirls had enough of the phenomenon long before it died out.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 11, 2003

Japan Post begins selling 4.4 billion New Year's cards

A ceremony Monday at the Tokyo Central Post Office in Chiyoda Ward marked the nationwide launch of New Year's postcard sales.
BUSINESS
Nov 11, 2003

Softbank loss widens in first half

Softbank Corp. said Monday its net loss widened during the first half as it continued to spend heavily in an effort to attract new subscribers for its broadband Internet service.
BUSINESS
Nov 11, 2003

Olympus posts record first-half profit

Robust sales of digital cameras helped Olympus Corp. post a record profit in the fiscal first half to Sept. 30.
BUSINESS
Nov 8, 2003

Toray net profit explodes 754.6%

Toray Industries Inc. said Friday its group net profit for the six months to Sept. 30 soared 754.6 percent from a year earlier to 10.95 billion yen, due to aggressive structural reforms and the solid performance of its core textile business.
BUSINESS
Nov 7, 2003

Disneyland enjoys birthday windfall

Oriental Land Co., operator of Tokyo Disney Resort, said Thursday it posted record first-half sales and profit for the second consecutive year, powered by special events celebrating the 20th anniversary of Tokyo Disneyland.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 6, 2003

Durex gears for Japan condom market beachhead

Japan's condom market, which has remained virgin territory for outsiders for a long time, may be in for an Earth-moving change with the recent entry of the world's largest brand.
BUSINESS
Nov 6, 2003

Power Rangers help Bandai post 5.3% profit increase

Bandai Co., Japan's leading toy maker, on Wednesday reported a 5.3 percent increase in operating profit for the first half, boosted by its Power Rangers and Mobile Suit Gundam products.
EDITORIALS
Nov 2, 2003

Long words for a short bear

'I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words Bother me," Winnie-the-Pooh once famously said. Words like "merchandising" would certainly have Bothered him, or "licensing rights" or even "royalties." Those were all buzzing around the Pooh legacy like bees around a honey pot last week, after a U.S....
BUSINESS
Nov 1, 2003

Fujitsu sets up semiconductor unit

Fujitsu Ltd. said Friday it has established a subsidiary in Shanghai to reinforce its semiconductor business in the growing Chinese market.
BUSINESS
Oct 25, 2003

Auto giants increase production in first half

Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co. and Mazda Motor Corp. increased global vehicle production in the first half of fiscal 2003 to meet growing overseas demand.
BUSINESS
Oct 25, 2003

PC price reductions exacerbate Toshiba loss

Toshiba Corp. said Friday its net loss widened during the first half due to sharp price reductions in its PC business.
BUSINESS
Oct 24, 2003

Mitsukoshi's group net profit falls

Department store operator Mitsukoshi Ltd. said Thursday its group net profit for the six months to Aug. 31 fell 19.5 percent from a year earlier to 2.06 billion yen.
BUSINESS
Oct 22, 2003

Surging ad revenues boost Yahoo Japan profits

Major Internet portal site operator Yahoo Japan Corp. said Tuesday its group net profit for the fiscal second quarter more than doubled to 5.91 billion yen, powered by record advertising revenue.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 22, 2003

Former smokers denied in health compensation claim

A group of sick and dying former smokers seeking compensation from Japan Tobacco Inc. and the government had their case thrown out of the Tokyo District Court on Tuesday because the judge ruled they had taken up smoking of their own free will.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 21, 2003

GM chasing bigger slice of Asia mart

General Motors Corp. wants a bigger piece of rapidly growing markets in the Asia-Pacific region and will strongly promote cooperation with its three Japanese partners, a top GM executive said Monday in Tokyo.
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Oct 17, 2003

Yao signing with Reebok to have huge impact on market

NEW YORK -- Never has a seven-story man, elite or otherwise, created any noteworthy noise in sneaker sales, not even when Devious Darryl Dawkins tried to get rich in a hurry by advertising a different brand on each foot.
BUSINESS
Oct 16, 2003

Toray raises earnings forecast again

Toray Industries Inc. said Wednesday it has again raised its group earnings forecast for the fiscal first half, having already done so in August.
BUSINESS
Oct 16, 2003

Government says economy remains on track for recovery

The government said Wednesday the economy remains on a recovery track, but it cautioned against a possible adverse impact from fluctuations in the foreign-exchange and stock markets, as well as turbulence in the global economy.

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