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JAPAN
Jul 4, 2000

Mori and advisers make last-minute Cabinet decisions

Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori continued consulting top Liberal Democratic Party officials Monday evening as he tried to finalize the lineup of his new Cabinet, to be launched today.
COMMENTARY / World
May 29, 2000

Whose Constitution is it?

At a recent meeting of the Diet's Constitutional Review Council, Americans who participated in the drafting of the Japanese Constitution 54 years ago during the Occupation gave testimony. Their statements provided valuable clues to an understanding of the circum- stances that led up to the establishment...
JAPAN
May 27, 2000

State universities to be independent

The Education Ministry on Friday announced its final decision to turn Japan's 99 national universities into independent administrative institutions, a move that will streamline the management of colleges and give them greater autonomy in budget and personnel matters.
EDITORIALS
Mar 23, 2000

Scrutinize the 'sympathy budget'

Washington's request that Japan maintain its "sympathy budget," or special host-nation financial support for the U.S. forces stationed here, has drawn a cool reception from the Japanese government and the media. During his visit here last week, U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen repeated that request...
JAPAN
Feb 14, 2000

Fourth Iranian family granted permission to stay

Justice Minister Hideo Usui on Monday granted special residence permission to four members of an Iranian family who have overstayed their visas, the third time such permission has been granted to foreigners. The minister had granted similar permission by issuing long-term visas to a family of three...
JAPAN
Dec 30, 1999

Stores hit by Y2K stockpiler feeding frenzy

Staff writers With just two days left before 2000 kicks in, shoppers crowded supermarkets and department stores Thursday, making last-minute purchases of water, food, oil heaters and other stockpiles to prepare for the possible breakdown of lifelines. Daiei Inc., the nation's largest supermarket chain,...
JAPAN
Dec 7, 1999

Chinese family exposes Japanese detention treatment

Staff writer The Immigration Bureau's Tokyo facility for holding foreigners who have overstayed their visas violates basic human rights, especially those of children, claims a Chinese family released last week after 40 days of detention there. Ling Xi Rang, 43, her second daughter, Xu Xiou Ri, 17, and...
JAPAN
Nov 12, 1999

Court overturns visa rejections of Bangladeshi pair

The Tokyo District Court on Friday invalidated the decisions of a former justice minister who rejected petitions filed by two Bangladeshis with Japanese wives seeking special permission to stay in Japan even though they have overstayed their visas.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / GETTING THINGS DONE
Nov 10, 1999

Pre-holiday planning

It seems a bit early to be writing about Christmas, but there is a lot of planning to do if you must ship things home, or even pack them to take with you. That's why the Tokyo charity-oriented International Ladies Benevolent Society now schedules its ILBS Christmas Fair even before we have ordered the...
ENVIRONMENT / GARDENING FOR ALL
Oct 27, 1999

Hemlocks murmur in Kasuga's forest primeval

NARA -- Japan's first permanent capital, Heijo-kyo, was built on the Yamato plain where the modern city of Nara is located. Heijo-kyo was founded in the year 710 (from which year the Nara Period is dated) with a design based on that of the contemporaneous Chinese Tang Dynasty capital Changan.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Sep 30, 1999

Iron stomachs and chefs give it their all

Japan has produced a fair number of marathon stars. It's an achievement that probably has less to do with genetically bound physical attributes than with culturally bound psychological ones. The "gambaru" mentality that governs so many endeavors in Japan, especially in the world of sports, is central...
COMMENTARY / THE VIEW FROM MOSCOW
Aug 1, 1999

Russia's Navy lists in port

There is only one place where modern submarines dock in Venetian canals, the replica of Aya Sofya is home to a naval theater company, and young people date in the ruins of old Scandinavian forts. Few small towns have such a special destiny, but Kronshtadt, situated on barren Kotlin Island, a mere 29...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Mar 21, 1999

Reach out and touch your four-footed friends

Do you ever get the feeling that your cat isn't listening to you? Have you ever tried to find a gift for the dog who has everything? Don't despair. The latest in pet communication is here: greeting cards for cats and dogs.
CULTURE / Art
Mar 20, 1999

Japanese custodians of French 'Liberty'

On the occasion of French President Jacques Chirac's visit to Japan in 1996, an exchange of national treasures was agreed upon for the 1998-1999 "Year of France in Japan." Following this agreement, Kudara Kannon, a 7th-century 2-meter wooden bodhisattva from Nara's Horyuji Temple, was sent to France...
JAPAN
Aug 12, 1998

Extended state budget lifts spending caps

The government on Wednesday agreed on basic guidelines for a 15-month combined budget ending in March 2000 that will include 4 trillion yen worth of spending concentrated in special budgetary frames to boost the economy.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 1998

JNR debt disposal bill stirs heated dispute

Staff writer
JAPAN
Jun 26, 1998

Bridge-bank panel given Sunday deadline for ideas

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto on Friday gave an LDP task force until Sunday to work out details for a special bank to protect corporate borrowers whose banks might fail.
JAPAN
Nov 28, 1997

Keidanren favors use of public money

The government should inject public money into financial institutions through the issuance of special bonds to protect depositors and insurance policy holders in the event of a financial collapse, a think tank affiliated with the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren) proposed Friday....
JAPAN
May 9, 1997

Fiscal reform is paramount, JR West chief says

OSAKA -- Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto's government must concentrate on implementing fiscal reform above all other proposed streamlining initiatives, the chairman of West Japan Railway Co. said in a recent interview.
PODCAST / deep dive
May 17, 2023

Yes, crime is on the rise in Japan. No, you don’t have to panic.

The year so far has been marked with several high-profile crime stories and, according to the numbers, crime is on the rise. However, the types of crime we’re seeing are different from before.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Apr 27, 2023

Aaron Rodgers aiming high with Jets

Aaron Rodgers was unveiled as the new quarterback of the New York Jets and quickly made it clear his goal is to end the franchise's long wait for a second Super Bowl title.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 15, 2023

Australia skipper Dave Nilsson would welcome chance to manage in NPB

Baseball continues to bring the former Dragon back to Japan, and each trip has only reinforced the idea that the challenge of leading an NPB team is one he would gladly take on.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Jan 23, 2023

Trapped in trash: Japan’s hidden hoarders

Behind closed doors, Japan has more houses filled with garbage than you might think — a phenomenon being exacerbated by shifting demographics and pandemic-induced social isolation.
JAPAN
Jan 17, 2023

Japan weighs linking benefits recipients' bank info with My Number

Under a proposed law revision, authorities will ask people whose account info is already known to public bodies for benefit payments whether they want to link the two.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 17, 2023

German defense minister quits at crunch moment for Ukraine aid

Christine Lambrecht resigned on Monday after months of heavy criticism over Berlin's stuttering response to the war in Ukraine as well as a series of gaffes.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 14, 2023

Brushstrokes bring black and white to life

To celebrate the beginning of 2023, the Dokuritsu Shojindan Foundation is holding its annual sho (Japanese calligraphy) exhibition in the National Art Center, Tokyo, in Minato Ward this month.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Jan 2, 2023

Carlos Sainz wins first stage of Dakar Rally

Three-time winner Carlos Sainz took the overall lead in the car section of the Dakar Rally on Sunday after winning the first stage despite suffering an early puncture.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji