Search - 2004

 
 
JAPAN
Jun 28, 2006

Soaring growth in child abuse cases raises alarm

The government warned Tuesday of a nationwide surge in child abuse reports, saying serious cases show no sign of abating and society as a whole urgently needs to address the problem.
JAPAN
Jun 27, 2006

Troops hurt in Iraq when vehicle flips

A light-armored vehicle of the Ground Self-Defense Force overturned near the Tallil air base in southern Iraq, injuring three GSDF soldiers in an apparent accident, Defense Agency officials in Tokyo said Monday evening.
Japan Times
LIFE
Jun 25, 2006

Smiles on retail's fastest track

Triple-A-size batteries, cigarette packs, and evening papers with screaming headlines are all at her fingertips. Kiyomi Okita knows exactly where they and hundreds of other items are, as well as their prices and what is flying off the shelves to whom.
JAPAN
Jun 23, 2006

Ah, no kids afoot: Empty trains, work till you die

There has been a great deal of hand-wringing in the media and government about Japan's population implosion. A breakdown in the pension system, soaring health-care costs, slower economic growth and a looming labor shortage are just a few of the dark clouds on the horizon.
JAPAN
Jun 20, 2006

Plastic recyclers can't compete with China

Many Japanese companies that produce materials recycled from used plastic bottles are on the verge of bankruptcy as more and more of their raw material ends up in China and may soon be finding their way to India as well.
EDITORIALS
Jun 19, 2006

A united lobby for life

Japan has seen more than 30,000 people kill themselves annually for eight consecutive years since 1998. Last year, 32,552 people took their own lives, a total that breaks down to 89.18 suicides per day and 3.71 suicides every hour. Certainly these are grim figures.
EDITORIALS
Jun 15, 2006

One step forward in Iraq

Last week's killing in Iraq of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, an al-Qaida leader, must have come as good news for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who had formed a "national unity" government a little more than two weeks earlier. The death of the Jordanian-born insurgency leader will aid the government's...
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 15, 2006

Japan bashing then, China bashing now

LONDON -- Pressure on China today to push up the value of the yuan against the dollar is eerily similar to the pressure on Japan 30 years ago to make the yen appreciate. Back then, "Japan bashing" came to mean the threat of U.S. trade sanctions unless Japan softened competitive pressure on American industries....
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Jun 10, 2006

Overconfidence could sink England against Paraguay

MUNICH -- England will beat Paraguay in their World Cup opener on Saturday.
EDITORIALS
Jun 8, 2006

The act of a professional?

Mr. Yoshiaki Murakami, who has drawn intense public attention as Japan's most controversial investment fund manager, was arrested Monday by the Tokyo Public Prosecutor's Office on suspicion of violating the Securities and Exchange Law. He is suspected of having engaged in insider stock trading when his...
EDITORIALS
Jun 7, 2006

Education policy on trial

In the spring of 2004, a retired teacher urged parents attending a Tokyo high school graduation ceremony to remain seated during the playing of the national anthem. Last week, the Tokyo District Court fined him 200,000 yen for "obstructing" the ceremony.
JAPAN
Jun 5, 2006

Murakami, three execs face arrest over alleged insider trades

Investment fund mogul Yoshiaki Murakami and three of his executives are expected to be arrested as early as Monday for alleged insider trading, sources said Sunday.
BUSINESS
May 30, 2006

World Bank chief Wolfowitz urges African trade, investment

World Bank Group President Paul Wolfowitz said Monday in Tokyo that Japan should play a larger role in promoting trade and investment in Africa, saying they were "more critical" to the continent than development aid.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
May 28, 2006

Lack of power not hurting Hillman's Fighters

The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters American manager Trey Hillman says the most exciting time of his 3 1/2 seasons at the helm of the Pacific League club is right now.
BASKETBALL
May 27, 2006

Igarashi counting on World Championship to show his stuff

The higher the goal you set, the more chances you have to achieve it.
BUSINESS
May 27, 2006

Land mines, not funds rift, delaying Azadegan: Nikai

Government-linked oil developer Inpex Corp. has not been informed of a possible termination in September of a contract to develop a major oil field in Iran between the firm and its Iranian partners, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai said Friday.
JAPAN
May 27, 2006

Relaunch of Mihama reactor OK'd

Friday to restart a nuclear reactor shut down in the wake of a steam pipe explosion in August 2004 that claimed the lives of five workers.
EDITORIALS
May 26, 2006

Weak effort to equalize votes

The Upper House has passed and sent to the Lower House a bill to revise the Public Offices Election Law in order to rectify disparities in the relative value of a vote in Upper House elections. The bill, submitted by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito, is likely to...
JAPAN
May 24, 2006

Three firms hit for tax evasion

Chubu Electric Power Co. failed to declare about 7.6 billion yen in taxable income in the two-year period to March 2005, while Brother Industries Ltd. failed to declare about 2.2 billion yen in the two-year period to March 2004, tax agency sources said Tuesday.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
May 24, 2006

A road to ancient history's ruin

Irish politician Dick Roche is in the business of government, and his two-decades-long career has touched on public administration, finance, transportation and economic planning and development.
JAPAN
May 23, 2006

'Pool fever' outbreak a big worry

Officials at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases warned Monday that this summer could see the worst outbreak in a decade of a virus-induced fever that often strikes young children who swim in public pools.
MULTIMEDIA
May 20, 2006

2,100 law grads hit new exam this weekend

About 2,100 graduates from university law schools took the new national bar exam Friday, conducted for the first time under judicial reforms launched in 2004.
MULTIMEDIA
May 20, 2006

2,100 law grads hit new exam this weekend

About 2,100 graduates from university law schools took the new national bar exam Friday, conducted for the first time under judicial reforms launched in 2004.
MULTIMEDIA
May 20, 2006

2,100 law grads hit new exam this weekend

About 2,100 graduates from university law schools took the new national bar exam Friday, conducted for the first time under judicial reforms launched in 2004.
JAPAN
May 20, 2006

2,100 law grads hit new exam this weekend

About 2,100 graduates from university law schools took the new national bar exam Friday, conducted for the first time under judicial reforms launched in 2004.
EDITORIALS
May 19, 2006

Inequalities of pensions

In 1984, the government decided to rectify inequalities between the pension plan for company employees (kosei nenkin) and the one mainly for public servants (kyosai nenkin). Public servants are entitled to receive more benefits by paying smaller amounts of contributions than company employees.

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