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JAPAN
Aug 3, 2001

Illegal loans, most other forms of crime up in first half of year, NPA says

The number of illegal high-interest loans extended to owners of small companies in the first half of this year rose by 33 cases over a year ago to 116, apparently reflecting the economic slump, the National Police Agency said Thursday.
EDITORIALS
Jul 15, 2001

What's in a domain name?

As children, we were told that names could not affect us. Words were not instruments of power; sticks and stones were. "What's in a name?" Shakespeare scoffed. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." As we grew up, though, we learned better. The act of naming, or controlling the assignation...
EDITORIALS
Jul 8, 2001

Next round of the word wars

There's a lot going on in the world this month. Heads of state are exchanging visits; China is finally getting a foot inside the WTO's door; and Wimbledon is hosting yet another prim-and-proper tennis championship. But for English-speakers who have their priorities straight, the big event of early July...
CULTURE / Film
Jul 4, 2001

To shoot up, perchance to dream

Requiem for a Dream Rating: * * * * 1/2 Director: Darren Aronofsky Running time: 102 minutes Language: English Opens July 7 at Cine Saison in Shibuya An AP report the other day told of a Beijing teenager who jumped four stories to his death while attempting to sneak out to a local Internet cafe. His...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / PERSONALITY PROFILE
Jun 30, 2001

Tim Welford and Dominic Mee

Somewhere far out on the Pacific Ocean, two sailors are rowing. Tim Welford and Dominic Mee came from England to Japan in April. When weather for their departure was auspicious, they set out from Choshi, Chiba Prefecture, in a rowboat named Crackers, their venture acclaimed as "the first unsupported...
BUSINESS
Jun 28, 2001

Brave new e-world needs to review basics

David Grigsby, a professor at Clemson University in South Carolina, recalls how just a few years ago newspapers blared: "Forget what you know about business. This is a new world, an e-world. You have to relearn everything."
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.
BUSINESS
Jun 16, 2001

FSA gives eBank preliminary OK

The Financial Services Agency on Friday granted a preliminary banking license to eBank Corp., making it the nation's third Internet-based bank, the agency said.
MORE SPORTS
Jun 15, 2001

Venus, Capriati to play in Tokyo

Staff writer This year's Toyota Princess Cup tennis tournament will feature stars of the past and present, organizers announced Thursday in Tokyo. American Venus Williams is expected to make her debut in Japan, along with sister Serena who is the defending champion.
BUSINESS
Jun 14, 2001

Amazon Japan adds video tapes, CDs, DVDs

The Japanese unit of Amazon.com announced Wednesday its expansion to sell compact discs, digital versatile discs and video tapes, but said there was no sign of the company making a profit yet.
LIFE / Digital / SURFERSPUD
May 31, 2001

Baseball and junk food

www.exploratorium.edu/baseball/index.html "Professional baseball is played at the edge of biological time," the Exploratorium says, "just within a human's ability to react." The pages then go on to demonstrate, not explain, how the pros cope with earning a living on the edge. Games allow you to learn...
BUSINESS
May 30, 2001

Major traders Mitsui, Sumitomo eye alliance

Trading houses Mitsui & Co. and Sumitomo Corp. have agreed on a wide-ranging business tieup that includes integrating their sales of construction materials and steam coal, a Mitsui spokesman said Tuesday.
JAPAN
May 25, 2001

Cabinet to reach out via e-mail magazine

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, basking in record approval ratings, hopes to score another hit with a weekly Cabinet e-mail magazine.
BUSINESS
May 19, 2001

Sega to supply games for GameCube

Video game maker Sega Corp. announced Friday it will supply three game titles for GameCube, Nintendo Co.'s next-generation game console, adding that another four games are under development.
BUSINESS
May 16, 2001

JETRO to offer tariff data online

The Japan External Trade Organization said Tuesday it will begin offering worldwide tariff information free via the Internet on Thursday.
BUSINESS
May 15, 2001

Amazon, Signature Financial denied business model patents

The Patent Office under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has notified two U.S. companies that their applications for business model patents will be declined, government sources said Monday.
JAPAN
May 13, 2001

Official punished for Web dating at work

The Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry has reprimanded an official for using an online dating Web site during office hours, ministry sources said Saturday.
CULTURE / Music / J-POPSICLE
May 9, 2001

3G phones -- putting your music where your mouth is

Today's topic, class, is how to promote music in Japan and keep the Japanese music biz afloat. Are you ready? Then I'll begin.
JAPAN
May 3, 2001

New Web site aids feather aficionados

The Wild Bird Society of Japan has launched a Web site to aid binocular-toting bird watchers who spend their holidays poking around bushes and peeking in trees.
BUSINESS
May 3, 2001

Web site clears way for waste disposal

While business chances typically arise from deregulation, some entrepreneurs find golden opportunities when regulations tighten.
BUSINESS
May 3, 2001

Online bank, insurer plan tieup

Japan Net Bank, the nation's first Internet bank, and Nippon Life Insurance Co. announced Wednesday they will begin offering customers easy cash transfers between accounts from both firms.
CULTURE / Film
Apr 25, 2001

Reel world

When "based on a true story" flashes on the screen, many moviegoers are left cold, knowing that Hollywood obliterates so much of the truth in pursuit of dramatic arc and tried-and-true narrative formulas. Documentary film allows a much smaller margin for manipulation, and the best ones prove that truth...
CULTURE / Film
Apr 25, 2001

Gambling with reality, double or nothing

Doubles Rating: * * * 1/2 Director: Satoru Isaka Running time: 90 minutes Language: JapaneseNow showing The title of Satoru Isaka's new film, "Doubles," is ironic, but appropriate. Its two heroes -- a middle-aged locksmith (Kenichi Hagiwara) and young computer nerd (Kazuma Suzuki) -- are unlikely partners...
JAPAN
Apr 19, 2001

Diet minutes to go online Friday

All the minutes of the Diet since the first parliamentary session in 1947 will be going on the Internet on noon Friday.
Events
Apr 17, 2001

Makers won't throw in towel amid cheap import threat

KUMATORI, Osaka Pref. -- In a bid to survive fierce competition from foreign makers, some towel manufacturers and related firms here have joined forces to launch eco-friendly towels next month.
SUMO
Apr 15, 2001

Free sumo stable visits available

One explanation for the genesis of Japan's national sport, sumo, can be found in Japanese mythology, which says that the gods used to wrestle one another. One wonders if they bothered to do so at 5 a.m., when the modern-day gods of the dohyo get a most rude wake-up call.

Longform

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