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EDITORIALS
Nov 8, 2000

Reform is key to winning IT race

The world is gripped with IT fever. Despite linguistic differences, IT, shorthand for information technology, is a buzzword even here. It is believed to hold the key to the future development of the Japanese economy. That is why Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori is leading the drive for an IT revolution. ...
JAPAN
Nov 3, 2000

Ex-Sogo chief denies firm managed badly

Hiroo Mizushima, the longtime chairman of failed department store chain Sogo Co., on Thursday flatly denied that he sloppily managed the firm, although he said he is deeply aware of his responsibility as chief executive.
CULTURE / Books
Nov 3, 2000

Throwing out complication to embrace simple life

Reflecting the downbeat mood in Japan, book sales continue to be sluggish, especially of hardcover books and serious fiction.
JAPAN
Oct 27, 2000

Paper bottle invention could be rival to plastic

Kao Corp., a major manufacturer of soap and cleansing products, has developed what it claims is the world's first technology to make recyclable paper bottles that are as strong and versatile as plastic.
COMMUNITY
Oct 26, 2000

Hair today, gone tomorrow

With a father and grandfather who were both completely bald, sports journalist Nobuya Kobayashi had always suspected that he would turn out the same way. Yet, when he actually started losing hair in his late 20s, he was shocked and found himself unable to accept his fate.
COMMUNITY
Oct 22, 2000

ZERI student volunteer recalls Expo experience

Agreeing to be interviewed but only 18, Ikuko Sato brought along her elder sister Kyoko for support. Actually, Kyoko had her own motive for joining us. Soon to visit a Filipino friend in England, she wanted information on traveling in the U.K.: "Is there a special rail pass for tourists? And what do...
JAPAN
Oct 21, 2000

Troubled insurer Kyoei seeks court protection

Kyoei Life Insurance Co., a troubled midsize insurer with liabilities of about 4.5 trillion yen, filed for protection from creditors with the Tokyo District Court on Friday, making it the largest life insurer to collapse since World War II, company officials said.
COMMUNITY
Oct 19, 2000

Glittering prizes on the Ginza

There's a new tenant on Ginza's shopping street, a new jewel.
JAPAN
Oct 8, 2000

Metro government targets 'illegal light oil' mix

The chances of drivers being pulled over on Tokyo's main arteries will increase in upcoming months, but drunk drivers and speed demons will not be roadside enforcers' main targets.
COMMENTARY
Oct 4, 2000

Putin's key mission to India

NEW DELHI -- On the heels of a marked pro-U.S. shift in its foreign policy, India is now welcoming the president of its old friend, Russia. The focus of President Vladimir Putin's four-day visit is on reviving Russia's sagging ties with India.
OLYMPICS
Oct 2, 2000

Olympics draw to a close

SYDNEY -- They came, they saw and some even conquered, but Sydney was the undisputed winner as the Games drew to a close Sunday and the last medals were being decided. These Olympics will be exalted as the best Games ever.
JAPAN
Oct 1, 2000

Unsold land leaves cities in debt

As many as 31 municipalities in Tokyo and neighboring prefectures are suffering from the fiscal burden of long-unsold plots of land owned by public-sector developers to which they have provided loan guarantees, according to the latest survey by Kyodo News.
BUSINESS
Sep 30, 2000

KDDI aims to stay solid No. 2

A new stage of competition will begin Sunday in the telecom industry when three major firms merge into KDDI, a long-awaited rival to the behemoth telecom group led by NTT Corp.
BUSINESS
Sep 29, 2000

Stability, surge may be in store for stocks

The Tokyo stock market has remained in a corrective phase through much of this month, sending the key Nikkei average slumping to its year-to-date low.
BUSINESS
Sep 28, 2000

Chemical firms Mitsui, Takeda tie up

Mitsui Chemicals Inc. and Takeda Chemical Industries Ltd. said Wednesday that they have agreed to set up a joint venture by integrating their urethane chemicals and urethane composite materials businesses.
JAPAN
Sep 28, 2000

Folding bicycles smart choice in the city

OSAKA -- Folding bicycles have been gaining popularity among urban residents over the past few years because of their portability and improved design.
JAPAN
Sep 27, 2000

Snow Brand to cut 1,300 jobs, form alliance with Nestle

Snow Brand Milk Products Co., which was embroiled in a massive food-poisoning scandal this summer, unveiled a major restructuring plan Tuesday that includes cutting 1,300 jobs -- 20 percent of its workforce -- within 21/2 years and closing its Osaka plant.
BUSINESS
Sep 26, 2000

Domestic auto output up for seventh month

Domestic motor vehicle production in August rose 7.1 percent on the year to 695,620 units for the seventh straight month of year-on-year rise, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said Monday.
BUSINESS
Sep 26, 2000

Share prices give up most of recent gains

Although the Tokyo stock market is still in a bit of a corrective phase, a light is beginning to flicker at the end of the tunnel.
BUSINESS
Sep 23, 2000

NTT East, West mull further workforce cuts

NTT East Corp. and NTT West Corp. are contemplating deeper workforce "cuts" because the popularity of mobile phones and a future obligation to reduce the fees it charges other carriers are eating into their profitability, officials said Friday.
BUSINESS
Sep 20, 2000

Hitachi plans alliance with Clarity

Hitachi Ltd. said Tuesday that it will form an alliance with Clarity Group, a Los Angeles-based investment union, to operate businesses related to optical fiber components in the United States.
BUSINESS
Sep 19, 2000

Kumagai Gumi to restructure

Kumagai Gumi Co. unveiled a restructuring plan Monday under which the debt-ridden construction firm will ask 15 creditors to forgive debts totaling 450 billion yen.
BUSINESS
Sep 14, 2000

Nestle set to quench Japan's thirst for mineral water

KOBE -- It is cheap and safe to drink tap water in Japan. Still, the Nestle group, the world's top maker and supplier of mineral water, sees great potential for growth in the Japanese market.
BUSINESS
Sep 13, 2000

Three shipbuilders agree on alliance

Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. and Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co. have broadly agreed on a comprehensive shipbuilding alliance, industry sources said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Sep 7, 2000

Index remains above boom-bust threshold

Japan's index of coincident economic indicators came to a preliminary 85.7 percent in July, the 15th straight month it has remained above the boom-or-bust threshold of 50 percent, the Economic Planning Agency announced Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Aug 31, 2000

Tsutaya eyes ads on cellphone Web sites

A graphic small enough to be hidden under your thumb is expected to bring in millions of yen in revenues for Japan's biggest rental video chain, Tsutaya.
BUSINESS
Aug 31, 2000

Nissan releases first model under restructuring plan

Nissan Motor Co. President Carlos Ghosn leans against the automaker's new Bluebird Sylphy sedan at the car's press preview Wednesday in Tokyo. Nissan Motor Co. launched its new Bluebird Sylphy compact sedan Wednesday as the first of a series of models the struggling automaker plans to introduce during...
BUSINESS
Aug 29, 2000

Market to clear low hurdles, creep upward

The Tokyo stock market has rebounded strongly after confirming its bottom on Aug. 4, when the 225-issue Nikkei average hit 15,666.

Longform

Ichiro Suzuki, one of the most iconic players in NPB and MLB history, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame with 99.7% of the vote.
With Hall of Fame induction, Ichiro makes himself heard loud and clear