Search - japan

 
 
JAPAN
Jun 15, 2000

Public 'on strike' against state

The economy has stayed in a prolonged slump because the public is "subconsciously" on strike against lawmakers for their lack of vision for the future, said Mizue Tsukushi, president of The Good Bankers asset management firm.
BUSINESS
Jun 15, 2000

'Untied' aid limited by economic problems at home

While it has managed to keep its purse strings relatively loose for foreign aid despite its tight financial situation, Japan has cut back on "untied" loans -- loans with no strings attached -- to developing countries in recent years.
BUSINESS
Jun 14, 2000

Officials doubt adequacy of Canadian response to WTO auto tariff ruling

About four years after losing a legal battle at the World Trade Organization over liquor, Japan last month evened the score with Canada by winning a different legal battle there -- over autos.
JAPAN
Jun 14, 2000

Korean residents wary of reunifying homeland

OSAKA — Local Korean residents welcomed Tuesday's historic summit between the leaders of North and South Korea but cautioned that numerous hurdles remained to reunification.
COMMENTARY
Jun 14, 2000

The chancy politics of weather

In less than two weeks, on Sunday, June 25, Japanese voters will cast their ballots in what will be Japan's last general election of the 20th century. This may well turn out to be the most important Japanese general election since July 18, 1993, which resulted in the inauguration, on Aug. 9 of that year,...
ENVIRONMENT
Jun 14, 2000

Growing in the shadows and shady corners

Your condominium may have a north- or east-facing balcony, or the building next door may block out the sun for the best part of the day. Even if you are lucky enough to have your own garden, there will always be some corner that is shady. Finding plants that will thrive in these areas can be tricky,...
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2000

DPJ offers bitter medicine as poll strategy

Yukio Hatoyama, head of the Democratic Party of Japan In campaigning for the Lower House election, the Democratic Party of Japan will push policies that may seem to voters like "bitter medicine," such as lowering the minimum taxable income level, to show the party is thinking seriously about the nation's...
CULTURE / Music / MUSIC NOMAD
Jun 13, 2000

Beyond the Buena Vista Social Club

Ever felt you missed out on an opportunity? When working as a talent scout for a record company in the U.K., I once stumbled upon U2 in the band's infancy. Somehow negotiations never got started and they were soon snapped up elsewhere. After that, in U2's words, I never did find what I was looking for....
COMMUNITY
Jun 11, 2000

Cybird flies big plans for mobile Net future

Kazutomo Robert Hori It came as a very pleasant surprise when an old friend rang from Osaka to tell me that her son's business had taken off like a rocket. The last time I saw Robert was at his wedding seven years ago -- a spectacular if crazy event held on top of a mountain in Hiroshima Prefecture....
COMMUNITY / How-tos / GETTING THINGS DONE
Jun 11, 2000

How to say goodbye

I have over the years researched readers' questions diligently, but never have I been quite as well prepared as for this column, on how to get married in Japan. I would like to tell you why. On May 25, William Sherman and I proceeded through the process as outlined below. Bill has had three postings...
BUSINESS
Jun 10, 2000

Keidanren urges structural reform

Takashi Imai, chairman of the Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren), called on the government Friday to implement structural reforms to achieve sustainable economic recovery.
JAPAN
Jun 10, 2000

LDP-led bloc the only way, Nonaka says

A coalition government led by the Liberal Democratic Party represents the only viable choice when voters go to the polls June 25, according to the party's No. 2 man.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 10, 2000

Why Japanese voters reject politics

Political stagnation and a feeling of powerlessness are often cited among the reasons that Japanese hate politics.
JAPAN
Jun 8, 2000

Poll to pit Young Turks against old nepotism

Minoru Fujimoto, 31, has wavy, dyed brown hair. He is one of the new breed of "smiling" Japanese Communist Party members, whose appearance may surprise longtime party supporters who are used to more traditional-looking candidates.
BUSINESS
Jun 7, 2000

Resurgent Honda sticks to the high road

As a global wave of consolidation sweeps through the automotive industry, Honda Motor Co. is taking the road less traveled in its search for greater market share.
JAPAN
Jun 6, 2000

Swing voters, blacklist loom large for poll

Swing voters are increasing, posing a threat to the ruling camp — the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and New Conservative Party — because many of them are critical of the current administration, pundits say.
EDITORIALS
Jun 6, 2000

Beyond the 'divine comedy'

Election campaigning is already gathering real heat, even before the June 25 general election is officially announced on June 13. This electoral schedule had been regarded in recent weeks as a de facto political timetable, but, in the event, the opposition parties' imminent filing of a no-confidence...
CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF
Jun 6, 2000

Diplomat to a bygone era

A DIPLOMAT IN JAPAN, by Ernest Satow. New York/Tokyo: ICG Muse, Inc., 2000, 424 pp., 1,300 yen. This is a welcome reissue of the long-out-of-print 1921 edition of Ernest Satow's memoirs. Its contents are indicated in his original subtitle: "The inner history of the critical years in the evolution of...
EDITORIALS
Jun 5, 2000

Women close the gender gap

It is time to stop making, and accepting, excuses for Japan's snail-paced progress in granting women a significant voice in decision-making in the public and private sectors. One obvious solution would be for women to have more opportunities to become involved in politics. A new government white paper...
BUSINESS
Jun 5, 2000

Ultrasound machines are breaking all barriers

A new class of miniaturized, all-digital ultrasound devices is about to be introduced in Japan by SonoSite Inc., promising to improve patient care and dramatically cut costs for medical facilities nationwide.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jun 4, 2000

Dang! There goes Dingo

Too bad about Dave "Dingo" Nilsson leaving the Chunichi Dragons. He's gone back to his native Australia for treatment of a painful lower back condition, and it appears his Japan career, at least at the varsity level, may have come to an end. What was supposed to have been an exciting season in Japan...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Jun 4, 2000

It's the season for cool drinks and hot talk

Right now it's 28 degrees, sunny with a light breeze. It couldn't be a more perfect day on the island. Yet when I went to the post office this morning, Mr. Saito said, "It's hot!" When I stopped by the supermarket, Mrs. Amano, the store owner said, "It's hot!" When I stopped by the ferry port, Mrs. Amano,...
BUSINESS
Jun 3, 2000

Share price drop halts merger talks

Japan Energy Corp., the nation's fifth-largest oil refiner and wholesaler, said Friday that it has suspended talks with Nippon Mining & Metals Co. on creating a joint holding company at the request of the copper smelting subsidiary.
JAPAN / ELECTION 2000
Jun 3, 2000

Opposition plans to shake up ruling bloc

Following Friday's dissolution of the Lower House, opposition leaders began talking up their plans for a takeover of the Cabinet in the June 25 general election.
JAPAN
Jun 1, 2000

Myanmar family sues to stay here

A Myanmar family who overstayed their visas and whose application for resident status was rejected filed a suit Wednesday demanding the justice minister withdraw the rejection so they can continue to stay in Japan.
JAPAN
Jun 1, 2000

Tokyo has say on Lee visit: Taipei

Lo Fu-chen, Taiwan's new representative in Japan, on Wednesday expressed Taipei's hope to realize former President Lee Teng-hui's visit to Japan with due consideration showed for Tokyo's diplomatic position.

Longform

A sinkhole in Yashio, which emerged in January, was triggered by a ruptured, aging sewer pipe. Authorities worry that similar sections of infrastructure across the country are also at risk of corrosion.
That sinking feeling: Japan’s aging sewers are an infrastructure time bomb