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Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Jul 25, 2002

Drive to halt pork 'n' ride tide

The rivers of Nagano Prefecture still flowing as nature intended may yet survive. If they do, it will be largely due to former (and perhaps soon to be re-elected) Gov. Yasuo Tanaka, whose "no more dams" policy directly challenges pork-barrel politicians who for decades appear to have put construction-industry...
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Jul 25, 2002

Debunking strange myths about Asia, Part I

In 1980, I traveled through the United States just after the TV miniseries "Shogun" ended its run. Any time I mentioned to someone that I was living in Japan, he or she would invariably ask me one of two questions related to the program. One was, "Is it true that back then a samurai could chop off somebody's...
JAPAN
Jul 24, 2002

LDP group pursues SOFA changes

Lawmakers in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party established a group Tuesday to push for revisions of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement.
COMMENTARY
Jul 23, 2002

Who can succeed Koizumi?

A sense of frustration prevails as the marathon Diet session nears its end. Since it convened in January, the scandal-racked legislature has achieved very little, and the political situation has become increasingly unstable.
BUSINESS
Jul 23, 2002

Honda to sell China-made 50cc scooter

Aiming to boost sluggish motorbike sales in the domestic market, Honda Motor Co. announced Monday it will begin sales of a low-priced 50cc scooter made at its Chinese assembly plant.
JAPAN
Jul 23, 2002

Strain of hepatitis E similar to that which killed patient is found in piglet

A strain of hepatitis E virus with DNA closely resembling that of the HEV found in one of three patients who died of the disease in Japan has been found in a pig in Tochigi Prefecture, researchers said Monday.
BUSINESS
Jul 23, 2002

Business executives get together on mission to network region

Representatives from six Asian countries met Monday in Tokyo to discuss enhancing the continent's infrastructure for broadband Internet.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jul 21, 2002

Public works projects? Dam them all to hell

The person who said that all politics is local probably wasn't thinking about Japan, where regional officials don't seem to have much purpose in life beyond trying to cadge money from Tokyo.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / THE WAY OF WASHOKU
Jul 21, 2002

Great big balls of octopus — easy on the sauce

I have a love/hate relationship with takoyaki. I really like the little dumplings but I'm opposed to anything being drowned in too much sauce, and the trend, especially at summer festivals, is to slather on too much of that gooey, brown Bulldog sauce.
JAPAN
Jul 20, 2002

Slain pilot's family files three-way suit

The family of a pilot who was slain in the July 1999 hijacking of an All Nippon Airways airliner filed a damages suit Friday for 280 million yen against the government, the airline and the hijacker, the family's lawyer said.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Jul 20, 2002

Comparing how American and Asian kids sponge

Americans are known for being "kechi" or frugal. We don't like to spend money and often fuss over small change. We seek out the cheapest product before buying it and then return it if we are not completely satisfied.
BUSINESS
Jul 20, 2002

Merrill Lynch to close retail branches

Merrill Lynch Japan Securities Co. said Friday it will close five of its eight retail branches in Japan in late August as part of moves to streamline operations.
JAPAN
Jul 19, 2002

New agency should handle ODA, panel says

An advisory panel to Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi may urge the government to weigh the possibility of creating a new agency to oversee Japan's official development assistance in line with moves to reform the nation's diplomatic operations, it was learned Thursday.
JAPAN
Jul 19, 2002

Obituary: William Dizer

William Dizer, a former president of DuPont Japan Ltd. and former head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, died July 12 in Hawaii. He was 79.
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE
Jul 19, 2002

Japanese bars reap rewards of World Cup

With the World Cup a safe distance behind them and calm restored to the land, it is time to for those involved in soccer's showpiece event to count their pennies. While Brazil may have won on the field, the business of the World Cup certainly won off it.
JAPAN
Jul 19, 2002

Carbon dioxide emissions hit record high

Japan's carbon dioxide emissions hit a record 1.24 billion tons in fiscal 2000, up 4.3 million tons from a year earlier, the Environment Ministry said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Jul 19, 2002

Saison to expand range of policies

Saison Automobile & Fire Insurance Co., a casualty insurer in the Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. group, plans to expand its range of products beyond its core auto policies, company officials said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Jul 19, 2002

JAL, China Eastern to code share

Japan Airlines and China Eastern Airlines said Thursday they have agreed to introduce comprehensive code-sharing beginning Sept. 1 to cope with an expected increase in demand for passenger and cargo flights.
BUSINESS
Jul 19, 2002

Adidas, Waseda in sports tieup

Adidas Japan K.K. and Waseda University said Thursday they have agreed to form a comprehensive tieup in the sports business, the first alliance of its kind in Japan between a corporation and a university.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 18, 2002

Performing 'rakugo' in English provides a true test of 'character'

OSAKA -- Clad in a bright pink kimono and blue obi with matching color accessories in her neatly tied blonde hair, English-language "rakugo" comic storyteller Diane Orrett appeared on stage recently in front of a mostly Japanese audience in central Osaka.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / WILD WATCH
Jul 18, 2002

Trees' wondrous ways of turning over a new leaf

Now, at the height of summer, when the fresh green of the spring leaves has darkened, I will start this week's column with a question: "Why is it that northern Japan's Mongolian oak and Europe's common beech retain their rustling brown leaves all winter, while sharing their temperate forest habitat mainly...
BUSINESS
Jul 18, 2002

Profits top highways panel agenda

An advisory panel on the privatization of four road-related public entities will prioritize existing expressway construction plans on the basis of profitability, the panel's chief said Wednesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Jul 17, 2002

The magic of Disney creates a jungle on ice

SAPPORO -- Disney may not be everybody's dreamland. For some, especially children, Disney's movies and theme parks are a fantasy world; for others, though, they seem more like slick merchandising opportunities.
SOCCER / J. League
Jul 16, 2002

Suzuki feeling 'genki' over move to Belgium

Takayuki Suzuki is to join Belgian First Division champion Genk from J. League club Kashima Antlers after both sides reached a basic agreement on a contract for the Japan striker.
BUSINESS
Jul 16, 2002

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking ATMs fail

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. said Monday its automated teller machine systems in eastern Japan failed during the morning for a short period.
BUSINESS
Jul 16, 2002

OSE trades in DJIA-linked futures

OSAKA -- The Osaka Securities Exchange started trading Monday in futures contracts whose values are linked to the movements of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and two other stock-bourse indicators, the exchange said.
BUSINESS
Jul 16, 2002

JAL, JAS to set up joint sales and marketing unit

Japan Airlines Co. and Japan Air System Co. said Monday they will set up a joint sales and marketing firm under a group holding company to be created in October.
JAPAN
Jul 14, 2002

Panel suggests liaison office for refugees

A new liaison office should be established under the Cabinet Secretariat to better deal with refugee issues, a Liberal Democratic Party panel said in a report on Japan's refugee policy obtained Saturday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Jul 14, 2002

The name is Otaku, James Otaku

Don't go to Akihabara if you're looking to buy an Aston Martin with twin machine guns, or a pen that shoots poisoned darts. Aside from these, though, there's enough exotic spy goodies there to keep 007 -- or even the most discerning otaku -- supplied for years to come.
CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF
Jul 14, 2002

Living outside the box

The days of Japan as the No. 1 business model for the world are long gone, but a new and perhaps more interesting model combining Japanese and Western elements seems to be developing. Unfortunately, the transition from a system based on lifelong employment, seniority and unthinking loyalty to one's company...

Longform

Koichi Tagawa’s diary entry from Aug. 9, 1945, describes the day of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.
The horrors of Nagasaki, in first person