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CULTURE / Art / ARTS AND ARTISANS
Apr 3, 1999

Block-printed paper beauty

Chiyogami is colorful handmade paper printed with Japanese traditional patterns or designs, and is usually used by girls for making kimono-clad dolls, small boxes, or bookmarks.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 3, 1999

The autonomy imperative

In these post-Cold War days, the governments of the United States and its allies still routinely expose their citizens to the risks of death and destruction in the name of national security. The people of northern Italy complained for years about low-flying U.S. military aircraft, but Rome simply ignored...
CULTURE / Music / HOGAKU TODAY
Apr 3, 1999

Shamisen ballads bridge the musical and spiritual

Kioi Hall's large hall will be used for a concert of classical Japanese music April 6, for the first time since its opening in 1995.
JAPAN
Apr 2, 1999

GDP goal within reach, Miyazawa says

Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa voiced confidence Friday that Japan will be able to clear its target of 0.5 percent growth in gross domestic product in fiscal 1999.
JAPAN
Apr 1, 1999

Japan, U.S. vow efforts against North Korea missiles

Japan and the United States reaffirmed their resolve Thursday to closely cooperate to discourage North Korea from work on its missile programs.
JAPAN
Apr 1, 1999

Hitachi chief's strategy centers on shareholders

The newly appointed president of Hitachi Ltd. pledged Thursday his firm would place greater importance on shareholders and strive for an 8 percent return on equity within four years.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 1, 1999

Pinochet advances human rights after all

Both the anti-Pinochet crowd that had gathered outside the House of Lords in London and the Pinochet supporters at the Pinochet Foundation in Santiago, Chile, cheered and celebrated soon after the seven Law Lords gave the gist of their judgments live on radio and television. Both pro-Pinochet and anti-Pinochet...
JAPAN
Mar 31, 1999

Taisei Corp. announces restructuring plan

Taisei Corp., a major general contractor, will launch a three-year restructuring effort to resolve 100 billion yen in groupwide liabilities by March 31, 2003, company sources said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Mar 31, 1999

Administration reluctant to alter SDF law

Senior government officials took pains Wednesday to keep the recent intrusion into Japanese territorial waters of suspected North Korean spy boats from becoming a catalyst for some legislators to galvanize the nation's legal defense frameworks.
JAPAN
Mar 30, 1999

Government approves 917-point deregulation plan

The government decided on Tuesday to adopt a three-year deregulation program that covers 917 points in 15 areas, including electrical appliances and vehicle inspections.
JAPAN
Mar 30, 1999

Child sex laws to be tightened

A group of lawmakers is stepping beyond party lines to submit a bill to the House of Councilors that will toughen laws against the sexual exploitation of minors at home and abroad.
JAPAN
Mar 30, 1999

Japan poised to protest 'spy boats'

The government will soon lodge a formal protest with Pyongyang over the intrusion of what Tokyo has determined were "two North Korean spy boats" in Japanese waters, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Mar 29, 1999

Kakizawa's goals hinge on unaffiliated voters

Staff writer
JAPAN
Mar 29, 1999

Tokyo seeks boat explanation from Pyongyang

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka said Monday that Pyongyang should give a sincere explanation about its ties to two unidentified vessels that intruded into Japanese waters last week before fleeing to North Korea.
JAPAN
Mar 26, 1999

Mystery ships spark debate on defense

The government is considering legislative amendments to cope with any future intruding vessels, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi told a Diet committee Friday.
JAPAN
Mar 25, 1999

Japan to urge firms to acquire Russian technology

The government will encourage Japanese companies to acquire the advanced space and military technology of former Soviet republics for nonmilitary use, officials said Thursday.
JAPAN
Mar 25, 1999

Gubernatorial campaigns kick off

Campaigning for gubernatorial elections slated for April 11 in 12 prefectures, including Tokyo and Osaka, started Thursday, kicking off the first round of the quadrennial unified local elections.
LIFE / Food & Drink / NIHONSHU
Mar 25, 1999

Shibuya's best-kept secret -- but you didn't read it here

Publicity can be both good and bad. It can help a restaurant or pub stay open and economically healthy. It can also, however, be the bane of an establishment as well. Too much attention has its downfalls.
JAPAN
Mar 25, 1999

$4.5 billion in aid pledged to Philippines

Aid donors to the Philippines concluded a two-day Consultative Group meeting Thursday in Tokyo, pledging $4.5 billion in economic aid for 1999 to help Manila combat its economic difficulties.
JAPAN
Mar 25, 1999

Greenpeace slams court over arrests, raid

Greenpeace Japan criticized the Tokyo District Court Thursday for not clarifying reasons for the arrest and detention of three Greenpeace activists who staged a demonstration at the March 18 Tokyo Toy Show to protest the use of polyvinyl in toys.
COMMUNITY / CROSSING CULTURES
Mar 25, 1999

Glacial change hard for people more used to avalanche speed

Japan can't change. Change in Japan is glacial. Japanese are stuck in their ways. In Japan, disappointment is what you can expect if you expect change.
JAPAN
Mar 24, 1999

More nurses called for to avoid mishaps

A national union for nurses and other medical workers urged the government Wednesday to greatly increase the number of nurses to prevent the recurrence of medical accidents they say could be avoided with more medical help.
JAPAN
Mar 24, 1999

Philippines to get $500 million in new aid

Japan announced an additional $500 million in aid to the Philippines at the beginning of a two-day international meeting Wednesday in Tokyo to draw up measures to help the country cope with its economic difficulties.
JAPAN
Mar 24, 1999

Local Elections: Yokoyama campaign offers nothing concrete

OSAKA -- Earlier this week, ahead of today's start of the official campaign period for the Osaka gubernatorial election, Gov. "Knock" Yokoyama announced a 22-point bundle of campaign promises, pledging to make the prefectural government "bright."
JAPAN
Mar 24, 1999

Pyongyang asked to hand over ships

Tokyo asked Pyongyang Wednesday to capture and hand over two unidentified ships that fled Japanese destroyers in the Sea of Japan earlier in the day if it is confirmed that they entered North Korean territorial waters, according to government officials.
CULTURE / Books
Mar 24, 1999

One bullheaded Buddhist

LOYALTY DEMANDS DISSENT: Autobiography of an Engaged Buddhist, by Sulak Sivaraksa. Parallax Press, 1998, 450 baht. Sulak Sivaraksa, upon reaching the age of 65, decided to look backward and ponder decades of constant activity in Thai society. The book opens with a foreword by the Dalai Lama, who states...
JAPAN
Mar 24, 1999

Japan to help Russia dismantle nuclear subs

Staff writer
COMMENTARY
Mar 24, 1999

A testing summit for the EU

PARIS -- In many respects, the main body of the European Union is the European Commission, the mass resignation of which was announced last week. The commission's president and its 19 other members are appointed for five years by the European Council, which consists of the heads of state or of government...
LIFE / Travel
Mar 24, 1999

Adventures in suspended reality

Porto Europa, just outside of Wakayama City, is without doubt a playful place to visit and offers a wide range of entertainment, action rides, cuisines and new technology games, but don't expect it to duplicate your last sojourn overseas.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Mar 21, 1999

Reach out and touch your four-footed friends

Do you ever get the feeling that your cat isn't listening to you? Have you ever tried to find a gift for the dog who has everything? Don't despair. The latest in pet communication is here: greeting cards for cats and dogs.

Longform

An illustration features the Japanese signs for "ganbare" (good luck) and the Deaflympics, which will be held between Nov. 15 and 26.
A century of Deaf sport finds its moment in Tokyo