Search - 2002

 
 
JAPAN
Mar 26, 2003

Road firms eye 20% cut to future building plans

Four road-related public corporations will revise future highway construction plans to shave some 20 percent, or about 4.5 trillion yen, from original budgets, the land ministry said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Mar 26, 2003

$22.62 million in Afghan aid planned

Japan will provide Afghanistan with $22.62 million in grants in aid for its reconstruction, Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Mar 26, 2003

Matsushita to close Argentina unit

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. said Tuesday it will shut down its Argentine sales subsidiary, Panasonic Argentina S.A. (PARSA), effective Monday.
BUSINESS
Mar 26, 2003

Starting April 1, all MMC pay will be merit-based

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. will entirely abandon seniority-based pay on April 1 in an effort to improve productivity.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 25, 2003

Olympus utilizes camera prowess to corner endoscope market

First in a series of occasional articles about Japanese firms that retain a global competitive edge
BASEBALL / MLB
Mar 25, 2003

Umpires back off threat of Opening Day strike

Japanese baseball umpires, who had threatened a walkout to coincide with the season openers this Friday, have averted a strike, officials of their union said Monday.
BUSINESS
Mar 25, 2003

Japan's land prices fall for 12th straight year

Land prices fell for the 12th straight year in 2002, the land ministry said in a report released Monday.
EDITORIALS
Mar 24, 2003

ICC takes another step forward

The world's first permanent international court of criminal justice opened for business earlier this month when the first 18 judges were sworn in. While the establishment of the International Criminal Court, or ICC, is a milestone, attention on March 11 was focused as much on the parties who were absent...
JAPAN
Mar 24, 2003

Water forum closes amid clash over privatization

KYOTO -- For eight days, and at a considerable cost to local taxpayers, the World Water Forum brought together international corporations in the water supply business, World Bank officials and a large number of Japanese construction and design firms, as well as senior government officials and thousands...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / PLAY BUTTON
Mar 23, 2003

A beautiful day in the life of sound

The phone line buzzes, the electric heater drones and the pitter-patter of rain can be heard in the background. Not the perfect sonic environment for a phone interview, but for Yuko Kitamura, it is perfect.
CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF
Mar 23, 2003

Lawyers: they're not all out for themselves

HUMAN RIGHTS IN JAPAN, South Korea and Taiwan, by Ian Neary. London, Routledge, 2002, 297 pp., $95 (cloth) It's not easy being a lawyer these days -- putting up with nasty jokes, scant respect and widespread suspicions that the public interest is way down on the list of priorities. Ian Neary reminds...
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 22, 2003

ASEAN counting on China

SINGAPORE -- As the third generation of Chinese leaders since 1949 hands power over to the fourth, Southeast Asia and the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are following the landmark political transition with keen interest. What does ASEAN expect from the transition?
BUSINESS
Mar 21, 2003

Carmakers predict slim sales growth

Some 5.85 million new vehicles are expected to be sold in Japan in the 2003 business year, up 0.4 percent from the forecast for 2002, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said Thursday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 21, 2003

Panel advocates teaching patriotism

The Fundamental Law of Education should be revised to include the concept of patriotism and the importance of educating students about religion, a key government panel said in a report submitted Thursday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 21, 2003

Sri Lankan makes a case for the right to water

KYOTO -- Sumika Perera is in the midst of a fight against the Sri Lankan government and international lending agencies, which are trying to privatize her country's water.
ENVIRONMENT
Mar 20, 2003

Campaigners contest water selloff Catch-22

As the Third World Water Forum enters its fifth day, debate over who should control the world's fresh water has become sharply polarized.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Mar 19, 2003

MLB Tour promises fun for everyone

Yes, I know, it's fans prediction week for Japanese baseball, but there were more entries than expected from Japan, North America and even New Zealand, and there just is not enough space to include all the picks and comments. Instead, let me tell you something about the Major League tour set to begin...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 19, 2003

Koizumi unequivocal on Iraq war

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi expressed unequivocal support Tuesday for U.S. plans to forcibly disarm Iraq.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 18, 2003

Hamburger chains trying new ways to lure back customers

Hamburger chains are shifting away from low-price strategies after cheap burgers failed to lure back customers following the outbreak of mad cow disease 1 1/2 years ago.
BUSINESS
Mar 18, 2003

Economic assessment upgraded

The government on Monday upgraded its assessment of the economy due to rising corporate earnings and capital investment, but expressed caution over effects from the looming U.S.-led war on Iraq.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Mar 18, 2003

Taking issue with a visa 'investigation'

"Dear Lifelines; I am a Hong Kong citizen with a British passport. I married a Japanese national in 1992 in Hong Kong. Three years ago, my husband was transferred back to Tokyo and so I came to Japan on a spouse visa, which is valid for three years.
JAPAN
Mar 17, 2003

Water forum under way as war concerns mount

KYOTO -- With war in Iraq possibly only days away, a leading delegate to the Third World Water Forum declared at the opening session that providing clean water is more important than the looming conflict.
BASEBALL / MLB
Mar 16, 2003

Forget about soccer -- baseball No. 1

The 2002 World Cup had limited effect on boosting the popularity of soccer in baseball-mad Japan, according to a survey by Japan's largest newspaper.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 16, 2003

U.S. risks danger of 'global overstretch'

SINGAPORE -- Although U.S. President George W. Bush appears determined to rid Iraq of President Saddam Hussein, the world is deeply divided. On one hand, Hussein has been ruthless, even with his own people, and may have hidden weapons of mass destruction and sponsored al-Qaeda terrorists. On the other...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Mar 16, 2003

Modern-day swordsmith forges perfection

Yoshindo Yoshihara is not looking forward to his trip to the United States this month. Ever since Sept. 11, Yoshihara, a master swordsmith, has had difficulty checking his baggage through U.S. airports. For security reasons, United Airlines has insisted that his chest of four swords, each one worth about...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Mar 16, 2003

Style police

The advertising executive for a multinational soft-drinks company gasps in horror as the gorgeous celebrity he has hired as the face of his multimillion ad campaign turns up for the photo shoot in a ketchup-stained T-shirt and jeans. No panic, though, because he's hired someone who earns a living making...

Longform

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