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COMMENTARY / World
Apr 14, 2004

Further thoughts on Yasukuni

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- Although I am among those who wish that the Yasukuni Shrine controversy be put to rest quick- ly, I realize that the solution must come from inside Japan when conditions mature. Those with some distance from the emotional core of the issue may wish to ponder the new dynamic that...
CULTURE / Art / CERAMIC SCENE
Apr 14, 2004

Pots that fired the passion of a magnate

Centuries ago, during a brief span of 30-40 years, one of the classic styles of Japanese pottery was born. From the end of the Momoyama Period into the early Edo Period (late 16th-early 17th centuries) nearly 300 kilns were producing wares the world knows as Karatsu-yaki.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 12, 2004

Hostages' fate still unknown

The fate of three Japanese civilians taken hostage by an armed group in Iraq remained unknown Monday morning -- more than a full day after a statement by the kidnappers promising to release them within 24 hours was broadcast.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Apr 10, 2004

Rattlin' around globe making her kind of music

With a stage name like Rattlesnake Annie, it's easy to imagine a musical cowgirl with a guitar in one hand and a lasso in the other. Instead, waiting in front of Tokyo's Yoyogi Station is a grandmother with great bones, piercing blue eyes and long softly graying hair. She has just come from Tachikawa,...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST
Apr 10, 2004

Bigfoot's smaller but cuter Japanese friend

Every decent country needs some weird mystery in order to ooh and awe the young and attract feeble-minded tourists.
BUSINESS
Apr 9, 2004

Ito-Yokado trumped by Aeon

Ito-Yokado Co. lost its position as Japan's No. 1 retailer to Aeon Co. in terms of group sales in the year that ended Feb. 29.
JAPAN
Apr 8, 2004

Pyongyang reportedly keen to know 'criteria' for resolving abduction issue

North Korea appears eager to find out Japan's "criteria" for resolving Pyongyang's abductions of Japanese nationals in the late 1970s and early 1980s, government sources said Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Apr 8, 2004

Industry split widens over beef import ban

A split between supermarket and restaurant chain operators over Japan's import ban on U.S. beef widened Wednesday after a group of midsize supermarket operators asked the government not to compromise in its efforts to make the United States test all cattle for mad cow disease.
BUSINESS
Apr 8, 2004

Intervention pushed forex reserves to record high in March

Japan's foreign-exchange reserves hit a record high in March, rising $49.72 billion from the previous month to $826.58 billion, due to massive intervention in the currency market, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 7, 2004

Bill to bar ships from ports goes to Diet

The Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito submitted a bill Tuesday to the Diet that would allow the government to bar North Korean ships from entering Japanese ports.
JAPAN
Apr 6, 2004

Confab delegates seek peace in Balkans

Five western Balkan countries, Japan, the European Union and other parties reaffirmed Monday their commitment to consolidating peace and stability in the western Balkans as they wrapped up a one-day ministerial conference in Tokyo.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Apr 6, 2004

Singers, antiques and racism

Singing hope K.M. is a 23-year-old singer from Sweden with some 8 years performing experience who would love to sing at jazz clubs, corporate events and private paries. "How can I get in touch with the right people?"
Events
Apr 4, 2004

KANSAI: Who & What

Seminar in Osaka on U.S., Japan visas: The American Chamber of Commerce Japan is holding a seminar Thursday on getting a visa for the United States or Japan.
BUSINESS
Apr 3, 2004

Kamei rejects U.S. proposal on beef ban

Farm minister Yoshiyuki Kamei on Friday brushed aside a U.S. request for outside mediation aimed at breaking the impasse over Japan's ban on U.S. beef imports.
BUSINESS
Apr 3, 2004

Microsoft raid highlights growing fears

The surprise raid by Japanese antimonopoly authorities on Microsoft Corp.'s Tokyo offices was impeccably timed -- barely a month before the European Union slapped a $613 million fine on the company.
JAPAN
Apr 3, 2004

Hirasawa exits post over secret talks with Pyongyang

Katsuei Hirasawa, parliamentary secretary to the home affairs ministry, resigned that post after drawing flak for a secret trip he made to China to apparently hold talks with North Korean officials about resolving the abduction issue, the ministry said Friday.
JAPAN
Apr 2, 2004

EU opens research center in Tokyo

The European Union opened a research center Thursday in Tokyo to teach the Japanese public about the EU and its relations with Asia.
BUSINESS
Apr 1, 2004

March yen-selling intervention hits 4.7 trillion yen

Japan's yen-selling intervention in the currency market rose to 4.7 trillion yen in March from the previous month amid speculation that the government has scaled back its aggressive intervention policy.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 31, 2004

U.S. treaty revision spells tax cuts

Japan and the United States on Tuesday ratified a revised tax treaty in an exchange of notes, paving the way for summer tax cuts for companies that operate in both nations.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 31, 2004

Cabinet told to get moving, ink fresh trade pacts

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Tuesday ordered his Cabinet ministers to work together to accelerate free-trade negotiations with other Asian nations.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Mar 30, 2004

Pensions and claiming back farewell cash

JET pensions I am working as a prefectural employee and am married to a Japanese national. I am aiming to amass the minimum 22 years of pension contributions necessary to draw a pension in Japan.
EDITORIALS
Mar 29, 2004

Letting foreign workers past the gate

One aspect of globalization is freer employment across national borders, including Japan's borders. Although foreigners are increasingly becoming important members of the nation's labor force, by and large, the job market here remains effectively closed to them. Yet foreign employment looks set for a...
BASEBALL / MLB
Mar 29, 2004

Godzilla stomps on old team

It all seemed so natural for Hideki Matsui. He was treated like royalty when he returned to the Tokyo Dome, and he didn't take much time to reward his adoring fans.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Mar 29, 2004

Hooked on China's seven percent solution

For Mr. Sherlock Holmes, a seven percent solution provides solace in times of intellectual inactivity, when the game's not afoot, and his brain craves for stimulus. On those occasions, he turns to a seven percent solution of cocaine injected into the forearm to compensate for the lack of vibrant mental...
BUSINESS
Mar 27, 2004

Deflation maintained grip on Tokyo in fiscal '03

A key gauge of consumer prices in Tokyo edged down 0.3 percent in fiscal 2003 for the fifth straight annual decline.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / PERSONALITY PROFILE
Mar 27, 2004

Angela B. Infante

After the end of World War II, Japanese people were in need. With the basic necessities of food, clothing and housing in short supply, and daily amenities almost unobtainable, the people suffered. Some concerned non-Japanese women living in Tokyo came together to provide help. They resurrected a prewar...
JAPAN
Mar 26, 2004

NPA claims 83 women trafficked in for sex in '03

The National Police Agency claimed Thursday that 83 women were trafficked into Japan and forced to work in the sex industry in 2003, up 28 from the previous year.
BASEBALL / MLB
Mar 26, 2004

Hanshin Tigers translator Sasaki thinking big

Players from overseas have established a solid presence in Japan, playing an indispensable role in Japanese baseball over the years.

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’