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JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jun 15, 2003

The albatross of nuclear power in Japan

According the Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), the residents of the greater Tokyo metropolitan area are facing the crisis of a power shortage this summer because most of the company's nuclear reactors will remain shut down for inspections and repairs stemming from last year's discovery that the...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST
Jun 14, 2003

Swallowing hook, line and endoscope

I am not squeamish by nature.
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Jun 12, 2003

Duncan not interested in Kidd stuff, says Spurs need a big man

NEW YORK -- "Did you hear New Jersey is offering to sign and trade Jason Kidd for Tony Parker?" I asked Tim Duncan while walking him to the team bus following Game 3 of The NBA Finals, whose highlight, so far, is Dikembe Mutombo turning 90 before the Nets did.
EDITORIALS
Jun 11, 2003

A new order of peace in East Asia

The state visit to Japan by South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun -- the first since he took office in February -- has produced a positive result: a mutual commitment to develop future-oriented relations. In a joint statement issued Saturday, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and President Roh also agreed...
COMMENTARY
Jun 10, 2003

'Soviet-style' reforms won't improve national universities

The Upper House of the Diet is debating legislation aimed at turning national universities into "independent agencies."
JAPAN
Jun 8, 2003

Koizumi, Roh set Pyongyang policy

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun agreed Saturday that both dialogue and pressure are needed to prod North Korea into abandoning its nuclear weapons programs, although Roh preferred to place more emphasis on discussions.
JAPAN
Jun 8, 2003

War veteran Ota questions new law

After 90 percent of the Diet endorsed the government's war contingency laws Friday, former Okinawa Gov. Masahide Ota said the politicians and government officials who pushed the legislation do not understand the "horror and reality of war."
JAPAN
Jun 8, 2003

Koizumi, Roh set Pyongyang policy

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun agreed Saturday that both dialogue and pressure are needed to prod North Korea into abandoning its nuclear weapons programs, although Roh preferred to place more emphasis on discussions.
JAPAN
Jun 8, 2003

Koizumi, Roh set Pyongyang policy

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun agreed Saturday that both dialogue and pressure are needed to prod North Korea into abandoning its nuclear weapons programs, although Roh preferred to place more emphasis on discussions.
JAPAN
Jun 7, 2003

Official denies fiddling with text of Koizumi-Bush talks

Deputy Foreign Minister Hitoshi Tanaka denied Friday that he attempted to delete the word "pressure" from documents prepared to brief reporters on the outcome of last month's Texas summit between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U.S. President George W. Bush.
JAPAN
Jun 7, 2003

Official denies fiddling with text of Koizumi-Bush talks

Deputy Foreign Minister Hitoshi Tanaka denied Friday that he attempted to delete the word "pressure" from documents prepared to brief reporters on the outcome of last month's Texas summit between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U.S. President George W. Bush.
JAPAN
Jun 7, 2003

Official denies fiddling with text of Koizumi-Bush talks

Deputy Foreign Minister Hitoshi Tanaka denied Friday that he attempted to delete the word "pressure" from documents prepared to brief reporters on the outcome of last month's Texas summit between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U.S. President George W. Bush.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Jun 4, 2003

'Chicago': After the movie, we had it coming

Bathed in bright lights, but almost shrouded by the haze of jazz, booze and dancing, lies a story of adultery, murder and greed. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to "Chicago."
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 1, 2003

Contradictory U.S. triumph

An unusual, and thus intriguing, feature of the Iraq war is how both proponents and opponents feel passionately vindicated by what happened. The switch in justification -- from finding and destroying Iraqi weapons of mass destruction before the war to the humanitarian liberation of Iraqis from a murderous...
COMMENTARY / World
May 30, 2003

Hollingworth affair can frazzle Australia's royal links

SYDNEY -- Sex, religion, politics -- what an explosive combination to hit Australia! And just as everyone is welcoming home troops from the Iraq war and the economy is looking good.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 30, 2003

Is Resona the tip of the iceberg?

The whistle-blowing erupted a few days before May 17, the day Resona, the nation's fifth-largest banking group, announced its capital had tumbled below regulation levels.
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
May 29, 2003

Don't count out Nets in matchup against Spurs

SAN ANTONIO -- So, here we are, just one more run-of-the-mill Texas execution away from the first All ABA-NBA Finals. Somewhere, Dave DeBusschere, George Mikan and the rest of the red, white and blue revue are beaming.
BUSINESS
May 27, 2003

Accounting panel against freezing real-time rules

An influential accounting board reached a consensus Monday in opposing a proposal by ruling coalition lawmakers that would allow companies to hide unrealized losses on their shareholdings.
BUSINESS
May 27, 2003

Norway to push whale meat exports

Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, who arrived Monday in Tokyo, will promote controversial plans to export whale meat to Japan during three days of trade and business talks.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / NOTES FROM THE SMOKE
May 27, 2003

Japan's cup, it runneth over

This week, Notes From the Smoke features a saucy deviation from the usual format.
COMMENTARY
May 26, 2003

French reforms under fire

PARIS -- Six weeks ago, his strong opposition to the war in Iraq won French President Jacques Chirac overwhelming support in the polls. Today he has been forced to turn away from the international scene and face a rapidly developing social crisis centered on pension and education reforms.
COMMENTARY
May 26, 2003

High cost of the farm lobby

The outlook for the World Trade Organization's new round of trade negotiations is uncertain after member nations failed to agree on farm-trade "modality" before the March 31 deadline. The U.S.-European split over the Iraq war has slowed the momentum for talks. The initial goal of reaching a comprehensive...
COMMENTARY / World
May 22, 2003

Aceh won't derail Indonesia

SINGAPORE -- Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri has signed a presidential decree putting Aceh under martial law and authorizing military operations after the latest peace talks collapsed in Tokyo last weekend.
COMMENTARY / World
May 22, 2003

Euro's supporters face uphill battle in Britain

LONDON -- If a strong economy and a strong currency are meant to go hand in hand, the 12-nation euro zone is disproving conventional wisdom, and posing stiff challenges for policymakers with implications for the wider world economy.
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
May 22, 2003

Mavs owner hatching plans

SAN ANTONIO -- Unless the Mavericks thoroughly disgrace themselves against the Spurs, we'll probably never be able to confirm what evil lurks in the heart of Mavs owner Mark Cuban regarding Don Nelson's coaching future in Dallas.
BUSINESS
May 21, 2003

Bill imminent to let insurers shirk on yields

The tripartite ruling coalition approved Tuesday an amended bill that would allow life insurers to cut yields guaranteed to policyholders, resulting in a possible cut in payouts, coalition officials said.
COMMENTARY
May 19, 2003

Strengthen Japan's deterrent

The ruling coalition and the top opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, have agreed to amend a package of government-sponsored war contingency bills, marking a turning point in Japan's security policy.
EDITORIALS
May 18, 2003

Washington and Seoul back on track

The United States and South Korea have found common ground. Last week's summit between U.S. President George W. Bush and South Korea's Roh Moo Hyun should allay concerns about a split between them. The two men reaffirmed their commitment to a peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear crisis while...
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
May 18, 2003

Tama-chan's secret link to white-robed cultists

You have to hand it to Tama-chan. The superstar bearded seal has caused some lively public discussion about important social issues. Because of Tama-chan, people have started talking about the disgusting state of the country's rivers, the cavalierly cruel treatment of animals, the impact that rubber-stamped...
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
May 15, 2003

Perspective often a casualty after a big win or loss

LOS ANGELES -- Experience testifies it's not a particularly good idea to get bent out of shape by either alarming defeats or elating victories.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji