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JAPAN
Jun 20, 2002

Koizumi to attend memorial service in Okinawa

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will attend a war memorial service this weekend in Okinawa, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Jun 20, 2002

Mizuho ordered to improve its operations

The Financial Services Agency on Wednesday ordered Mizuho Holdings Inc. to improve its operations in the wake of a massive computer system failure that left its operations in chaos.
COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE
Jun 20, 2002

Politics of homeland security

WASHINGTON -- The specter of terrorism that has hung over America since Sept. 11 has created an enormous public demand for security. Homeland security has become a massive governmental program, a political issue, a growth industry, a rationale for all sorts of governmental spending and constitutional...
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 16, 2002

Preventing a new dark age

On May 8 an American citizen with alleged ties to the al-Qaeda terror network was arrested on suspicion of plotting to build and detonate a radioactive "dirty" bomb in the United States. On May 31, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda of Japan -- the emotional touchstone of antinuclear sentiments for...
JAPAN
Jun 15, 2002

New Kansai runway faces delay

The transport ministry on Friday sharply lowered its forecast for passenger demand at Kansai International Airport off Osaka, indicating that the scheduled opening of a second runway in 2007 could be delayed.
JAPAN
Jun 15, 2002

Emperor, Empress to visit Europe

The government decided Friday on the itinerary for Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko's official visit to Poland and Hungary, and stopovers in the Czech Republic and Austria, next month, government officials said.
JAPAN
Jun 15, 2002

Ruling bloc rams medical bills through committee

The ruling coalition rammed a set of medical reform bills through a House of Representatives committee meeting Friday, laying the groundwork for an increase in the ratio of medical expenses paid by salaried workers.
JAPAN
Jun 14, 2002

Opposition parties begin Diet boycott

Four opposition parties boycotted Diet deliberations Thursday after senior leaders of the ruling bloc rejected claims they forced the Defense Agency to withhold a full report on the information disclosure scandal.
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2002

Nonnuclear policy to stay as is: Koizumi

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reiterated Wednesday that his administration will never change the nation's nonnuclear weapons policy.
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2002

Komura named Imperial attendant

Former Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura will be the top attendant for Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko's official visit to Europe next month, government officials said Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Jun 13, 2002

BOJ board votes to keep ultra-easy monetary policy

The Bank of Japan Policy Board voted Wednesday to maintain its ultra-easy monetary grip.
BUSINESS / ON THE FRONT LINE
Jun 13, 2002

Revival abroad, not policies, aiding economy

Real gross domestic product grew at an annualized 5.7 percent during the January-March period. The revised GDP growth figure, to be released in August, is expected to be lower due to revisions to consumption figures for single people, who boosted their spending during the first quarter.
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2002

Yamasaki suppressed defense report

Taku Yamasaki, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, effectively admitted Wednesday that he instructed the Defense Agency to withhold its full in-house report on how the agency systematically compiled private data on individuals seeking public information.
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2002

78% of consumers distrust food labels: poll

Seventy-eight percent of consumers across the country do not trust information provided in food labels, according to a recent survey by the Japanese Consumers Cooperative Union.
BUSINESS
Jun 12, 2002

Shiokawa to fill in G7 on tax-cut plans

Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa said Tuesday that he will tell Japan's Group of Seven partners that the nation is ready to bolster its fragile economy by cutting taxes and accelerating the disposal of bad loans held by Japanese banks.
BUSINESS
Jun 12, 2002

Lower taxes by March possible, Fukuda states

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda sounded a hopeful note Tuesday that tax cuts could be introduced by the end of March.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 11, 2002

Flaws in Japan's nuclear-arms debate

The ongoing debate in Japan on nuclear arms lacks sophistication. On May 31, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said if the international situation were to change, public opinion might favor a nuclear-armed Japan. He was commenting on the government's long-standing three nonnuclear principles of not...
JAPAN
Jun 11, 2002

Nonnuclear principles to stay: Fukuda

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, who provoked an uproar by suggesting that Japan's ban on nuclear weapons could be reviewed, told a Diet panel Monday the government has no intention of abandoning the "three principles" of not possessing, manufacturing or allowing nuclear arms on its soil.
COMMENTARY
Jun 9, 2002

Labour's dearth of dissent

LONDON -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair could be suffering from the first signs of the madness of princes. It is paranoia, and it afflicts almost every political man who has ambition but does not have the security of the divine right of kings (the madness of kings being grandiosity or megalomania.)...
JAPAN
Jun 8, 2002

State targets single moms in bid to fight divorce rate

In reaction to the growing number of divorces in Japan, the government said Friday it will restrict single mothers' eligibility to receive child-care benefits.
COMMENTARY
Jun 8, 2002

A right royal celebration

LONDON -- Queen Elizabeth has just celebrated her Golden Jubilee (50 years) in splendid style. Her popularity has never been as high as it is today and people are now said to be planning for her Diamond Jubilee (60 years).
JAPAN
Jun 7, 2002

Road privatization panel gets the nod

The House of Councilors Cabinet Committee approved a bill Thursday to establish a third-party panel to discuss how four road-related public entities should be privatized.
BUSINESS
Jun 6, 2002

2% group surtax may be short-lived

The government may repeal earlier than initially scheduled a 2 percent surcharge on the group profits of firms that adopt a new group taxation system to be introduced in the current fiscal year, Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa suggested Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jun 5, 2002

Politicians turn to fundraising parties

In one night, you may be able to earn as much as 100 million yen.
JAPAN
Jun 5, 2002

Beijing, Seoul given explanation about nuclear-arms remark

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Tuesday he has provided China and South Korea with an explanation of what he meant by his controversial remarks on Japan's nuclear weapons policy.
JAPAN
Jun 5, 2002

Japan officially ratifies Kyoto climate protocol

Japan ratified the Kyoto Protocol on Tuesday, officially committing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, nearly 4 1/2 years after the pact was inked.
BUSINESS
Jun 5, 2002

Key gauge points to continuing economic expansion

The key gauge of the current state of the economy topped the boom-or-bust line of 50 percent in April for the second month in a row, the government said Tuesday in a preliminary report.
BUSINESS
Jun 5, 2002

Nation's economic chiefs to consider tax reforms

Japan's various economic chiefs were to meet Wednesday evening to discuss tax reforms, including tax cuts, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda.

Longform

Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.