Search - 2002

 
 
JAPAN
Sep 25, 2003

Test tube baby born using eggs frozen in 1995

A Hokkaido woman gave birth to a boy last year using fertilized eggs frozen in 1995, which may be the longest time in Japan that such eggs have been used after being in storage, according to her doctors.
MORE SPORTS
Sep 25, 2003

Tosa may miss Tokyo Marathon

World silver medalist Reiko Tosa twisted her left ankle and may be unable to take part in the Tokyo International Women's Marathon this fall, marathon sources said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Sep 24, 2003

Child abuse cases hit record 23,738

A record 23,738 cases of child abuse were reported to child welfare centers nationwide in fiscal 2002, topping the previous year's record by 464, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said.
JAPAN
Sep 24, 2003

Pump firm slapped on wrist for concealing 290 million yen

The Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau has judged that plant engineering firm Ebara Corp. concealed 290 million yen in income over a two-year period ending in March 2002, sources said Monday.
JAPAN / CABINET INTERVIEW
Sep 24, 2003

Kawaguchi eyes bigger SDF role

The government should pursue a more flexible interpretation of the Constitution's war-renouncing Article 9 and allow the Self-Defense Forces to make a greater contribution to global peacekeeping efforts, according to Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / NEW ART SEEN
Sep 24, 2003

Ito's embroidered art has got it all stitched up

The Watari-Um Museum of Contemporary Art in Shibuya is one of Japan's most respected private museums. Now, it seems, the beautiful, Mario Botta-designed art space has also become one of the country's leading supporters of young artists.
JAPAN
Sep 23, 2003

More police, immigration officers sought

Seven prefectures in the Kanto and Kansai regions jointly filed a request Monday with the central government to increase the number of police and immigration officers assigned to major prefectures.
EDITORIALS
Sep 23, 2003

Mr. Koizumi gets down to business

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reshuffled his Cabinet Monday after his victory in Saturday's Liberal Democratic Party presidential election. The new Cabinet demonstrates the prime minister's determination to push his mandate without being swayed by forces that oppose his policy line.
COMMENTARY
Sep 23, 2003

LDP factions losing clout

The Liberal Democratic Party is an assemblage of factions. Since it has held the reins of government almost continuously, the LDP has derived much of its vitality from factional power struggles for the party presidency and the prime ministership.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Sep 22, 2003

Dwindling benefits cast doubt on rigid pension and deposit schemes

An insurance policy is an agreement whereby the payment of premiums and the receipt of benefits are inseparable. However, this fundamental principle is now being challenged by the nation's public insurance systems, which are creating anxiety and discontent by gradually denying policyholders freedom of...
COMMENTARY
Sep 22, 2003

Decentralization will finish road to democracy in Japan

Some independent or reformist prefectural governors have come out with their own plans to revitalize local politics and economies. Their ultimate goal is to end the centralization of administrative power that dates back to the Meiji Restoration and establish real local autonomy. To achieve the goal,...
JAPAN
Sep 20, 2003

Group-use discounts for expressways to be stopped

Japan Highway Public Corp. will abolish toll discounts extended to group users of expressways in a bid to ensure fairness, transport minister Chikage Ogi said Friday.
JAPAN
Sep 20, 2003

Ebara suspected of padding bills

Plant engineering firm Ebara Corp. allegedly netted 300 million yen in taxpayers' funds by having a subcontractor pad bills tied to a garbage incinerator construction project in Chiba Prefecture in 2001, sources said Friday.
COMMENTARY
Sep 20, 2003

Liberal ideals gain ground in the Asia-Pacific region

MANILA -- In past decades, liberal democracy and economic freedom have made great advances in all parts of the world. This general trend also applies to Asia, as is documented in the annual "Freedom in the World" surveys published by the Washington-based Heritage Foundation and the "Economic Freedom...
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Sep 19, 2003

Outrage by managers on diving never includes own players

LONDON -- Robert Pires is unique.
JAPAN
Sep 19, 2003

More support urged for foreign students

The government and universities need to improve the support system and quality of education for the increasing number of foreign students in Japan, an advisory panel of the education ministry said Thursday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 19, 2003

Yamaha Motor eyes big bio-business growth

Yamaha Motor Co. has developed a photosynthesis technology capable of mass-producing a type of rare phytoplankton used in fish farming.
BUSINESS
Sep 19, 2003

Starbucks looks to hot food for Japan sales boost

Starbucks Coffee Japan will offer hot food items at its outlets next month in an attempt to woo back customers, the company said Thursday.
EDITORIALS
Sep 18, 2003

One year after the Pyongyang summit

Wednesday marked the first anniversary of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's historic visit to North Korea, during which he met face to face with General Secretary Kim Jong Il. The meeting produced a joint declaration calling for, among other things, an early normalization of relations between the two...
JAPAN
Sep 18, 2003

National divorce rate hits another record high

Japan's divorce rate hit a new record high last year, reflecting an increasing number of middle-aged and older couples who are parting ways.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Sep 18, 2003

Who will be the CL (and Tigers) MVP?

Congratulations to the Hanshin Tigers for winning the 2003 Central League pennant. It took a while to wrap it up, but it's always better when a team clinches the flag at home as the Tigers did on Sept. 15, a full one month and three days prior to the Oct. 18 start of the only post-season play in this...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 18, 2003

Pyongyang given ultimatum on anniversary of summit

The government's top spokesman reiterated Wednesday that Japan will not resume normalization talks with North Korea unless it allows the family members of abductees who returned last year to also come to Japan.
MORE SPORTS
Sep 18, 2003

Ito joins L'Aquila

Flyhalf Hiroaki Ito has joined five-time Italian league champion L'Aquila, rugby sources said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Sep 17, 2003

10% of public school students eligible for welfare

The prolonged economic slump has extended into the nation's classrooms, with around 1.15 million public elementary and junior high school students qualifying for financial aid in fiscal 2002.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 17, 2003

New Mazda chief sets sights on U.S., China

Mazda Motor Corp. is gearing up to gain ground on rivals, especially in the United States and China, according to President Hisakazu Imaki.

Longform

Rock group The Yellow Monkey played K-Arena Yokohama in June as part of a nationwide tour. Concerts are increasingly popular in the age of social media as users value in-person experiences.
Inside Japan’s arena boom: Sports, sound and city-building