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Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2002

New softener bolsters UV protection

OSAKA — Times have changed from the days when young girls were eager to get a dark tan and be called "ganguro," or "black-faced."
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / J-POPSICLE
Jun 12, 2002

Message in a pop song

You've probably noticed a big mascara-lined eye staring out at you from billboards all over town lately. The eye in question belongs to Lisa, former vocalist with hip-hop/R&B trio m-flo, and the billboard is plugging her new single, "Babylon no Kiseki (Miracle of Babylon)," which was released on May...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / NEW ART SEEN
Jun 12, 2002

Two for one at the Tokyo Opera City Gallery

Tokyo's Opera City Art Gallery has taken a novel approach with its summer show: Instead of the usual one-man or themed group exhibition, it is running a couple of concurrent but totally unrelated one-man shows at its Shinjuku exhibition space.
COMMENTARY
Jun 11, 2002

Optimist has lost his bearings

The government of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi continues to face greater difficulties than perhaps ever before. I previously criticized his Cabinet as beset with troubles, both at home and abroad, as a result of scandals involving lawmaker Muneo Suzuki, former Liberal Democratic Party secretary general...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 11, 2002

Who's winning the 'coca war'?

LA PAZ, Bolivia — On a hot December afternoon last year, 150 farmers in Chimore, a town in the Chapare region of central Bolivia, unloaded bananas and pineapples onto the Santa Cruz-Cochabamba highway. There was no market in sight and even if there was, the goods were not for sale. Rather, they were...
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 11, 2002

Flaws in Japan's nuclear-arms debate

The ongoing debate in Japan on nuclear arms lacks sophistication. On May 31, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said if the international situation were to change, public opinion might favor a nuclear-armed Japan. He was commenting on the government's long-standing three nonnuclear principles of not...
JAPAN
Jun 11, 2002

Hiranuma adds green points for review before Aichi expo

Industry minister Takeo Hiranuma released his comments Monday on a draft environmental assessment by the organizer of the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi Prefecture, in which he calls for further review on several points.
JAPAN
Jun 11, 2002

Maglev test train gives quick thrill to select few

A test ride at the foot of Mount Fuji on a magnetically levitated (maglev) train is proving extremely popular with curious people who want to experience a ride on the world's fastest train, which runs at a speed of 500 kph.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 11, 2002

'Gringo mayor' does local politics his way

PORONGO, Bolivia — Mike Bennett came to Bolivia 18 years ago looking for gold. And he found it. But as he searched the nation for the precious metal, the 46-year-old geologist from Staffordshire, England, also uncovered other treasures — Spanish, which he speaks fluently, a farm, two hotels and a...
SOCCER / THE BALD TRUTH
Jun 11, 2002

World Cup brings out worst in Dachshund Ron

So far so weird, then. France on the brink of elimination, England beating Argentina 1-0 and Rivaldo being fined for cheating were just some of the biggest headlines to come out of the first week and a bit of the World Cup.
BUSINESS
Jun 11, 2002

Domestic retailers brace for Seiyu-Wal-Mart impact

Japan's retail industry, suffering from a decade-long economic slump and the advance of powerful specialty discount stores, is gearing up to compete with another formidable player.
JAPAN
Jun 11, 2002

Local beer gets German touch

Christian Mitterbauer clenched his fist and brought it to his chest to mark his moment of triumph in April 2001, when he turned out a local Japanese beer.
JAPAN
Jun 11, 2002

Pizza, convenience store sales surge for Japan-Russia match

Pizza deliveries and convenience store sales surged Sunday before and during the World Cup Group H match between Japan and Russia.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 11, 2002

Let them breathe water: U.S. blocks sustainable development talks

BALI -- Already from the beginning there was an air of defeatism at the preparatory meeting in Bali for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. It was certainly not the ambience: The resort-style lodging for the 6,000 delegates could hardly have been a reason for complaint. But after two weeks of...
BUSINESS
Jun 11, 2002

Investors warned to take defensive stance

Although a government report released last week shows a strong economic pickup in the first quarter, skepticism remains.
COMMENTARY
Jun 10, 2002

Peculiarities that give pause

More than a year after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi debuted under the "structural reform" slogan, its real meaning remains vague. The pivotal question is, what aspects of the Japanese structure (systems and practices) should be changed, and how?
COMMENTARY / JAPAN IN THE GLOBAL ERA
Jun 10, 2002

Going 'international' is a matter of trust

Fifteenth in a series
COMMENTARY
Jun 10, 2002

Britons fete their status quo

LONDON -- If anyone had doubts about the public mood in Britain, a few days last week would have dispelled them beyond all argument.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 10, 2002

Brazil eliminates China in 4-0 rout

SOGWIPO, South Korea -- And another one bites the dust.
COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE
Jun 10, 2002

Tariff decisions proving costly for Bush

WASHINGTON -- I cannot help but remind everyone that I thought President George W. Bush made a bonehead decision when he imposed the quotas on imported steel a couple of months ago. I said it was a mistake for him politically, both domestically and internationally. I said it would destroy his hopes of...
JAPAN
Jun 10, 2002

Japan, Cuba quietly hail century of state relations

HISANE MASAKI Staff writer Quietly and with little fanfare, Japan is celebrating the 100th anniversary this year of state-to-state contact with Cuba.
EDITORIALS
Jun 9, 2002

Out with the nitty-gritty

Remember the controversy ignited three years ago when a white Washington bureaucrat was fired after using the word "niggardly" in a meeting? Black employees said it sounded so much like the racial slur "nigger" that it didn't matter a jot that the two words were etymologically unrelated. Incredibly,...
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 9, 2002

Croatians stun Italy to stay alive

IBARAKI -- After an opening match loss to Mexico, it looked like the Croatian soccer team would be here just long enough to sample a little sushi, maybe check out Tokyo Tower and then jet off back to Europe.
COMMENTARY
Jun 9, 2002

Labour's dearth of dissent

LONDON -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair could be suffering from the first signs of the madness of princes. It is paranoia, and it afflicts almost every political man who has ambition but does not have the security of the divine right of kings (the madness of kings being grandiosity or megalomania.)...

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