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BUSINESS
Jun 21, 2001

Regional economies in recession

Regional economies are in the grip of recession, according to a quarterly survey released Wednesday by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
JAPAN
Jun 21, 2001

Death penalty upheld for killer of four women

OSAKA — The Osaka High Court on Wednesday upheld the death penalty for a man convicted of murdering four female bar managers in western Japan in less than a month in late 1991.
BUSINESS
Jun 21, 2001

JAS labor union strikes over bonuses

The Japan Air System labor union went on strike Wednesday for the first time in two years, demanding better summer bonuses and forcing the nation's third-largest carrier to cancel 172 domestic flights, company officials said.
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Jun 21, 2001

Living and dying by the sword

Alfred, Lord Tennyson famously drew attention to the rigors of the natural world when he wrote of "Nature red in tooth and claw." His poem, "In Memoriam," was published in 1859 (the same year as "The Origin of the Species"). But had Tennyson known of the sexual habits of the common bedbug, and if he...
JAPAN
Jun 20, 2001

Diet enacts expanded diesel pollution law

The Diet enacted legislation Tuesday that expands the scope of an air pollution law to cover particulate matter from diesel-burning automobiles and increases the responsibility of vehicle owners.
CULTURE / Film
Jun 20, 2001

Lord, bless this cinematic mess

The Guys From Paradise Rating: * * * 1/2 Director: Takashi Miike Running time: 114 minutes Language: Japanese Now showing at Shibuya Cine Palace and other theaters Takashi Miike may end up as the Seijun Suzuki of his generation. In the 1960s, Suzuki was a toiler on the Nikkatsu B-movie assembly line,...
JAPAN
Jun 20, 2001

Woman knifes teacher at school

A woman wielding a knife attacked a female teacher Tuesday morning at the gate of a kindergarten in Tokyo's Suginami Ward, police said.
BUSINESS
Jun 20, 2001

TSE, U.S. sign cross-listing deal for mutual funds

The Tokyo Stock Exchange and the American Stock Exchange signed a memorandum Tuesday on a strategic alliance to promote cross listings of exchange-traded funds. The organizations will jointly build a platform to enable investors to buy and sell ETFs, index-based mutual funds that can be traded throughout...
CULTURE / Film
Jun 20, 2001

Things go creep in the night

The Gift Rating: * * * 1/2 Director: Sam Raimi Running time: 119 minutes Language: English Now showing at Tokyu Bunka Kaikan and other theaters After a career in directing splatterific horror and postmodern comic-book flicks ("Evil Dead," "Darkman," "The Quick and the Dead"), Sam Raimi seemed to have...
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 20, 2001

Europe confronts new reality

LONDON -- From the moment that George W. Bush won the U.S. presidency, Europeans sensed that they were entering an new era. After eight years of generally good understanding with his predecessor, Bill Clinton, they now faced a man whose world view would not necessarily be in tune with theirs. As the...
JAPAN
Jun 20, 2001

Sex change no cure for torment

In 1987, Masae Torai caught a flight to the United States with 4 million yen in savings to undergo a sex-reassignment operation and fulfill a long-held wish to become male.
EDITORIALS
Jun 20, 2001

Overhaul fuel-cycle policy

The Japanese public is increasingly concerned about the nation's so-called pluthermal nuclear-energy project, which uses plutonium as reactor fuel. At issue is whether the project, now stalled because of objections from worried residents, should continue as scheduled. Plutonium, a radioactive element...
BASEBALL / MLB
Jun 20, 2001

Hawks soar past Fighters

Daiei catcher Kenji Jojima slammed a go-ahead, three-run homer off Nippon Ham closer Carlos Mirabal in the eighth inning as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks beat the Fighters 11-6 at the Tokyo Dome for the second straight night Tuesday. Trailing 6-3 in the eighth, the Hawks' Tadahito Iguchi drilled a two-run...
JAPAN
Jun 20, 2001

Takuma was hospitalized, but not charged, in '99

OSAKA — Mamoru Takuma, who is under arrest for the June 8 massacre of eight children at an Osaka elementary school, was forcibly hospitalized instead of indicted for a March 1999 assault, sources said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Jun 20, 2001

BOJ chief rules out extra liquidity for economy

Bank of Japan Gov. Masaru Hayami on Tuesday dismissed speculation that the central bank plans to inject more money into the economy in the near future.
CULTURE / Art
Jun 20, 2001

A Chinese treasure-trove of beauty

The most astounding piece in the ongoing exhibition of Chinese ceramics, art and objects at Shibuya's Shoto Museum is the large, partially glazed ceramic camel, expressively molded, that greets visitors as they enter.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jun 20, 2001

Dragons' Gomez back where he belongs

Leo Gomez is happy to be back where he belongs, playing third base and batting cleanup for the Chunichi Dragons.
CULTURE / Music
Jun 20, 2001

Fans of all stripes come together for the rock of ages

There were Mods, rockabillies, psychobillies, surf punks, indie rockers, metalheadz and Uniqlo/Gap kids. There were 12-year-old girls, 40-year-old salarymen, 18-year-old boys, young couples with toddlers and at least one very pregnant woman.
CULTURE / Stage
Jun 20, 2001

Weaving a web of destiny wherein ambition's caught

In 1957, Akira Kurosawa made a remarkable movie titled "Kumonosu-jo (Spider's Web Castle)," adapted from William Shakespeare's "Macbeth." The film is still admired today for its spectacular shots and the striking performances of Toshiro Mifune as the principal character Washizu Taketoki and Isuzu Yamada...
CULTURE / Film
Jun 20, 2001

Close encounters of the Gallic kind

New films by directors Jean-Jacques Beineix ("Diva," "Betty Blue") and Jacques Doillon ("Ponette") are just two of many good reasons to check out this year's Festival du Film Francais at Yokohama Pacifico. In addition to 19 new films, fans can enjoy a film-buff-friendly atmosphere, where the stars --...
BUSINESS
Jun 20, 2001

Credit-easing, devaluation of yen vex BOJ

Since the start of June, there have been several comments by government officials that could be construed as calls on the Bank of Japan to relax its monetary policy.
CULTURE / Music / J-POPSICLE
Jun 20, 2001

J-rap gets real

Most rap music leaves me cold. One reason is that, as a 42-year-old white Canadian male, I am culturally predisposed to dislike it. Another is that a lot of rap is crap: monotonous, rhythmically and melodically sterile, and full of violent, misogynistic, homophobic posturing.
EDITORIALS
Jun 18, 2001

A new look for U.S. defense

Speculation swirls around the defense-policy review being conducted by the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush. Surprising results are anticipated, not only because timorous guesses rarely command media attention, but also because the administration has shown no reluctance to challenge fundamental...
JAPAN
Jun 18, 2001

Koizumi stumps for redirection of road-use revenue

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi affirmed Sunday his determination to reform the current practice of earmarking some tax revenue exclusively for road-related projects.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 18, 2001

A welcome bid for peace in South Asia

ISLAMABAD -- After months of blunt statements exchanged by leaders of India and Pakistan, South Asia's two nuclear rivals, a new peace process is under way in a part of the world described by some observers as the next "nuclear flash point."

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’