Search - news

 
 
BUSINESS
Jun 11, 2003

Reforms to set targets for transfer of tax funds

Four ministers decided Tuesday to set numerical targets as part of efforts to improve the flow of funds between the central government and local governments, with Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa proposing a 4 trillion yen cut in subsidies as part of the plan.
JAPAN
Jun 11, 2003

Nations pledge $4.5 billion to advance Sri Lanka peace talks

Donor nations pledged Tuesday to provide some $4.5 billion in aid to Sri Lanka over the next four years to help facilitate peace talks with rebel forces, which have been suspended for two months.
JAPAN
Jun 11, 2003

Nations pledge $4.5 billion to advance Sri Lanka peace talks

Donor nations pledged Tuesday to provide some $4.5 billion in aid to Sri Lanka over the next four years to help facilitate peace talks with rebel forces, which have been suspended for two months.
EDITORIALS
Jun 8, 2003

The case of the indignant diva

One of the odder human traits is our apparently inborn ambivalence toward celebrities. There would be no such thing as a celebrity if the rest of us did not, in some sense, celebrate certain people -- for their artistic gifts, their looks, their wealth, their charm, their brains or whatever else it is...
BUSINESS
Jun 5, 2003

IMF offers a solution to deflation

A top International Monetary Fund official urged Japan on Wednesday to adopt a medium-term inflation target to help the country break out of a crippling deflationary trap.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 4, 2003

Former prosecutor, out on parole, goes back on offensive

A public prosecutor arrested last year renewed his charges against his former colleagues Tuesday, repeating his claim that money meant to pay off informants is instead going toward wining and dining.
JAPAN
Jun 3, 2003

Aso says sorry for claiming Koreans wanted Japanese names during war

Taro Aso, policy chief of the Liberal Democratic Party, apologized Monday for infuriating Koreans during the weekend by claiming they voluntarily adopted Japanese names during World War II.
JAPAN
Jun 3, 2003

Aso says sorry for claiming Koreans wanted Japanese names during war

Taro Aso, policy chief of the Liberal Democratic Party, apologized Monday for infuriating Koreans during the weekend by claiming they voluntarily adopted Japanese names during World War II.
JAPAN
Jun 3, 2003

Aso says sorry for claiming Koreans wanted Japanese names during war

Taro Aso, policy chief of the Liberal Democratic Party, apologized Monday for infuriating Koreans during the weekend by claiming they voluntarily adopted Japanese names during World War II.
BUSINESS
May 28, 2003

Japan still aiming to meet WTO frameworks deadline

Japan will continue efforts during the ongoing World Trade Organization negotiations to set up frameworks for nonfarm trade liberalization by Saturday's deadline, trade minister Takeo Hiranuma said Tuesday.
COMMENTARY / THE VIEW FROM NEW YORK
May 26, 2003

Casualties soar in America's war on words

NEW YORK -- During war, news manipulation comes to the fore; so does language manipulation. In the latest war against Iraq, as in the Persian Gulf War, the Pentagon sold a "Star Wars" depiction of U.S. technological prowess, blithely hiding the carnage it created. And many American news organizations...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 24, 2003

Jury out on new bank's prospects

A new bank proposed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government appears to be good news for struggling smaller companies.
COMMENTARY / World
May 19, 2003

SARS sets off power struggle in Beijing

CAMBRIDGE, England -- The SARS epidemic centered in China has become a global issue. Most people in the world, even if they are not infected or in serious danger of infection, are indirectly affected by the restrictions on freedom of movement and economic downturns directly attributed to reactions the...
COMMENTARY / World
May 9, 2003

Postscript: The man who tore down the cloak of silence

BEIJING -- When SARS broke out in Guangdong Province, the government chose to keep quiet about it. It was a mistake that would not only endanger the world's health and economy, but also undermine the credibility of the Chinese government itself.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
May 4, 2003

New skipper Lee hopes to change fortunes of BlueWave

It was obvious some big news was coming when the Orix BlueWave indicated during their April 23 "nighter" against the Seibu Lions at Sapporo Dome there would be a press conference after that game. It came as little surprise when manager Hiromichi Ishige was fired, and a lot of eyes were opened when Californian...
JAPAN
Apr 26, 2003

Personal info bills OK'd by Lower House panel

A package of controversial bills aimed at protecting personal information was approved Friday by a special committee of the Lower House.
JAPAN
Apr 22, 2003

NCP to ban Matsunami from holding party posts

Despite mounting public pressure for Kenshiro Matsunami to resign from the House of Representatives, the New Conservative Party decided Monday it would only prevent him from holding any party posts.
JAPAN
Apr 15, 2003

Japan lauds North Korean olive branch on arms talks

Japan on Monday welcomed what appeared to be a softening in North Korea's stance toward multilateral talks on its suspected nuclear weapons program.
JAPAN
Apr 14, 2003

Kan voices concern over aiding Iraq via U.S. body

Naoto Kan, president of the Democratic Party of Japan, expressed reserve Sunday about sending Japanese officials to the U.S. Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance to assist in the reconstruction of post-conflict Iraq.
JAPAN
Apr 14, 2003

Ishihara wins in landslide as gubernatorial elections close

Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara was re-elected in a landslide in Sunday's nationwide local elections to choose governors and members of prefectural and municipal assemblies.
COMMENTARY
Apr 14, 2003

China stumbles on SARS and Pyongyang

LOS ANGELES -- Mistake-making is a common occupation of governments everywhere, but lately the Chinese government has made two monster blunders that uncomfortably reopen the question of whether China has made all that much progress after all. The issues concern North Korea and severe acute respiratory...
JAPAN
Apr 14, 2003

Concern mounts over Iraq money claims

Japan is getting increasingly worried about whether it will be able to collect some $5 billion in claims against Iraq now that the government of President Saddam Hussein has effectively collapsed.
JAPAN
Apr 13, 2003

Six months on, access to abductees remains an issue

OSAKA -- On Tuesday, six months will have passed since the five Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in 1978 returned home, an event that most Japanese media rated the No. 1 news story of 2002.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Apr 13, 2003

Matsui, Matsui . . . and a little more Matsui

Because of coverage of the invasion of Iraq, it feels as if we're being spared the all-Matsui-all-the-time media blitz we were promised last fall when the former Yomiuri Giants slugger, Hideki Matsui, signed with the New York Yankees. We aren't. Matsui madness is everywhere, but because the war has engaged...
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 13, 2003

Chinese deserve grown-up party leaders

SEOUL -- The leaders of the Chinese Communist Party want the world to believe that the government they control is fit to be accepted as a full-fledged mature member of the global community. But is it? There have to be some doubts.

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