Search - 2004

 
 
JAPAN
Dec 24, 2003

Tokyo hesitant to grant Iraq debt relief

There are no doubts about Japan's support for the United States in Iraq. Tokyo was a strong backer of the U.S.-led invasion, is a top contributor to reconstruction and just approved a plan to send troops to the region.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Dec 23, 2003

Train trips, veggies and stitch-ups

Moonsky star trip Further to last week's information on where to buy tickets for the Trans-Siberian railway, Colette in Yokohama describes the trip she took in 1993 as, "one of the most amazing experiences of my life." She organized her journey through Moonsky Star, a travel agent based in Beijing that...
JAPAN
Dec 23, 2003

Ministry vows immediate steps to improve correctional system

The Justice Ministry announced Monday it will act immediately to improve the correctional system and prison conditions, including taking steps to reduce inmates' mandatory work hours, allow outsiders to visit prisons and revamp all padded cells.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Dec 21, 2003

Hot spots hear gospel

Christmas Gospel Concert by Fukuoka Community Gospel Choir -- at Izumi City Culture Center, Bunka-cho 23, Izumi, Kagoshima Pref. Takes place Dec.21 at 6 p.m.; 300 yen. For details, call (0996) 63-2106.
JAPAN
Dec 19, 2003

Smaller yearend shrine turnout expected

Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples are expected to draw fewer visitors during the upcoming New Year's holidays than they did in 2003, the National Police Agency said Thursday.
EDITORIALS
Dec 19, 2003

Juggling act obscures real threat

The two ruling parties, the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, earlier this week agreed on plans to shore up the faltering pension system for private-sector employees. The package calls for painful adjustments beginning in fiscal 2004: higher premium rates and lower benefit levels. What is missing...
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Dec 19, 2003

F.A. ruling on Ferdinand certain to make some unhappy

LONDON -- Eric Cantona's record ban of eight months is unlikely to be beaten, but sometime Friday a Football Association disciplinary commission will decide whether Rio Ferdinand is guilty of "the failure or refusal to submit to drug testing as required by a competent official."
BUSINESS
Dec 19, 2003

3G phones to boast music, animation

Animation attachments for e-mail, complex role-playing video games and Hollywood film cuts as screen savers will be some of the features offered in new third-generation cell phones from Japan's top mobile carrier.
COMMENTARY
Dec 19, 2003

Bush rightly responded to Chen's tactics

SINGAPORE -- U.S. President George W. Bush got it just about right last week when he publicly criticized Taiwan's leader during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Washington. Accusations from "friends of Taiwan's democracy" notwithstanding, Bush was not kowtowing to China; he was merely expressing...
SOCCER / J. League
Dec 17, 2003

Buchwald to Reds

The Urawa Reds said Tuesday they have reached a basic agreement with former German international defender Guido Buchwald to make him the new coach of the J. League first division side beginning Feb. 1, 2004.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 17, 2003

Isuzu nourished by overseas revenue

Isuzu Motors Ltd.'s group revenues from overseas operations are expected to reach 80 percent of its overall revenues by the end of fiscal 2007, Isuzu President Yoshinori Ida said in a recent interview with Kyodo News.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / NEW ART SEEN
Dec 17, 2003

A family unit to value in tech's brave new world

The Hara Museum of Contemporary Art in Shinagawa used to be a family home, and it must have been a very nice one because it is a beautiful place, designed and built in the late 1930s in the Bauhaus style. The hardwood floors and comfortably high ceilings create a relaxing atmosphere in the one-time dining,...
JAPAN
Dec 13, 2003

Prize curbs an own goal for lotto?

The National Agency for the Advancement of Sports and Health, which operates the J. League soccer lottery, is worried about poor ticket sales.
JAPAN
Dec 13, 2003

Record child asthma rates tied to pollution, diet

The proportion of elementary and junior high school pupils with asthma marked a record high during health checkups last spring, up almost 2.5 times from a decade ago, according to a survey by the education ministry.
BUSINESS
Dec 13, 2003

Haneda airport runway plan moves ahead

The government and four municipalities have agreed on a funding program for the construction of a fourth runway at Tokyo's Haneda airport, paving the way for the launch of the 900 billion yen project in fiscal 2004.
BUSINESS
Dec 13, 2003

Toshiba develops LCD privacy filter

Toshiba Corp. said Friday it has developed a filter that makes the liquid crystal display screens of personal computers and mobile phones visible only to users.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 12, 2003

Climber's next ascent: the Upper House

Ken Noguchi, who in 1999 became the world's youngest person to conquer the highest peaks on seven continents, is contemplating running in the next House of Councilors election on the Liberal Democratic Party ticket, according to party lawmakers.
BUSINESS
Dec 12, 2003

Regional bank bailout plan gets LDP nod

The Liberal Democratic Party approved a plan Thursday that will give the government greater freedom to inject public funds into troubled regional banks and credit unions.
BUSINESS
Dec 11, 2003

Firms create a prototype for multi-OS

Denso Corp. and Toshiba Corp. said Wednesday they have jointly developed what they believe to be the world's first prototype of a multioperating systems environment that will support both the Windows and Tron OSs.
BUSINESS
Dec 10, 2003

Mitsubishi Motors may sell truck unit to DaimlerChrysler

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. may sell its 42 percent stake in Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corp. to DaimlerChrysler AG and Mitsubishi group companies, MMC sources said Tuesday.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Dec 8, 2003

Think carefully before embarking on tax and pension system reforms

With the House of Representatives election over and the roster for the policy panel of the ruling coalition set, discussions on tax reform for the next fiscal year have finally gotten under way -- half a month later than average. I would like to mention some points we would like to emphasize on this...
JAPAN
Dec 7, 2003

Parking fine cash to go to local authorities

The government plans to transfer some 30 billion yen in annual revenues from parking fines to local governments' coffers from fiscal 2006, government sources said Saturday.

Longform

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