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JAPAN
Nov 2, 2001

'Unconstitutional' shrine visit provokes barrage of lawsuits

OSAKA -- More than 900 people filed three separate lawsuits Thursday against Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, claiming his Aug. 13 visit to Yasukuni Shrine was unconstitutional.
JAPAN
Nov 2, 2001

Japan, U.S. set up framework for talks over SDF support

Japan and the United States agreed Thursday on a basic framework for discussing details of Japan's logistic support for the U.S.-led war on terrorism.
JAPAN
Nov 2, 2001

'Unconstitutional' shrine visit provokes barrage of lawsuits

OSAKA -- More than 900 people filed three separate lawsuits Thursday against Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, claiming his Aug. 13 visit to Yasukuni Shrine was unconstitutional.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 1, 2001

Constituents mattered most to Soichiro Ito

BERKELEY, California -- For the people of Miyagi Prefecture's 4th district, the generational shift in Japanese politics has just arrived. On Oct. 28, Shintaro Ito was elected to represent Miyagi's 4th district in a special by-election to replace his father, Soichiro, who passed away on Sept. 4.
JAPAN
Oct 31, 2001

Jobless rate hits record 5.3%

The unemployment rate soared by 0.3 percentage point in September to a record 5.3 percent, the government reported Tuesday.
JAPAN
Oct 31, 2001

Ethiopian envoy pushes stronger ties

With its recent peaceful transition of power demonstrating stability and democratic maturity, Ethiopia is now in a situation "very conducive" to deepening bilateral relations in trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchange, Ethiopian Ambassador Mahdi Ahmed Gadid said Tuesday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Oct 28, 2001

Ichiro declines government award

Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki has declined to accept the national government's People's Honor Award to recognize his sporting achievements, according to a government source.
JAPAN
Oct 27, 2001

SDF bills clear Upper House committee

A House of Councilors panel passed a bill Friday that will enable the Self-Defense Forces to lend noncombat support to the U.S.-led antiterrorism campaign, moving the legislation another step closer to realization.
JAPAN
Oct 27, 2001

Panel to mull sale of highway body

The transport minister set up a private advisory panel Friday to study expressway construction plans, asking it to hammer out an interim report on the privatization of Japan Highway Public Corp. by the end of November.
BUSINESS
Oct 25, 2001

Shiokawa slams bond-issuance plan

Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa on Wednesday countered a bond-issuance plan floated by Heizo Takenaka, economic and fiscal policy minister, that aims to help the Cabinet achieve its 30 trillion yen bond issue cap for fiscal 2001.
JAPAN
Oct 24, 2001

Report identifies Japanese man held by Taliban

A Japanese man reportedly detained by the Taliban in northern Afghanistan could be freelance photographer Isamu Iida, a government spokesman said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Oct 24, 2001

Koizumi hints at possible lifting of Pakistan aid ban

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi hinted Tuesday that he may lift Japan's more than three-year-long freeze on new aid to Pakistan to help it fight terrorism in the U.S.-led coalition.
JAPAN
Oct 24, 2001

Bill aims to punish nuclear terrorism

A bill to be submitted to the Diet later this month would make it a crime to use any type of nuclear fuel substance or nuclear waste in a way that endangers people, government sources said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Oct 23, 2001

Government set to forecast negative growth

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Monday the government will revise downward its real economic growth target of 1.7 percent for the current fiscal year and announce a new figure Friday, ruling bloc legislators said.
BUSINESS
Oct 23, 2001

New council aims to help terror-hit Okinawa tourism

The Okinawa Prefectural Government and the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry agreed Monday to set up a council to promote tourism to Okinawa, where the industry has been suffering since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S.
JAPAN
Oct 20, 2001

New envoy: Nobuyasu Abe

Nobuyasu Abe, ambassador to Japan's permanent mission to the United Nations in Vienna, was appointed ambassador to Saudi Arabia on Friday.
JAPAN
Oct 20, 2001

Nine Afghans sue after being held over illegal entry

Nine Afghans detained Oct. 3 when applying for refugee status filed a lawsuit Friday claiming their detention on suspicion of illegal entry into Japan was unlawful.
JAPAN
Oct 18, 2001

Bioterrorists face life prison term

The government is hoping to mandate life imprisonment as the maximum penalty for the use of biological weapons under its proposed legislation to ratify the U.N. convention on terrorist attacks, according to government sources.
JAPAN
Oct 18, 2001

Powder sent to Koizumi's residence

As fears of anthrax letters continued to spread around the globe, the Prime Minister's Official Residence, the Defense Agency and some media organizations on Wednesday received envelopes containing white powder that turned out to be starch.
JAPAN
Oct 17, 2001

Key panel approves SDF bill

Ruling coalition members on a key Diet committee approved a bill enabling the Self-Defense Forces to support U.S.-led military operations against terrorism, paving the way for the bill's full Diet passage next week.
BUSINESS
Oct 17, 2001

Extra budget set to challenge 2 trillion yen line

A supplementary budget for this fiscal year will probably total 2 trillion yen, with 1 trillion yen earmarked for policy spending related to structural reforms, Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Oct 17, 2001

Opinions clash over SDF role in war on terror

Two days after U.S.-led forces launched a bombing campaign on Afghanistan, six Air Self-Defense Force C-130 cargo planes arrived in Islamabad with relief supplies for refugees.
JAPAN
Oct 13, 2001

Kyoto Protocol schedule to proceed according to plan

Japan and other countries will proceed as scheduled to finalize the Kyoto Protocol rules on global warming as it is increasingly unlikely that the United States will devise an alternative to the accord ahead of upcoming climate talks, Environment Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said Friday. Signatories to...
JAPAN
Oct 12, 2001

Koizumi calls for DPJ support

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi called on the opposition camp Thursday to back a government-proposed bill that would allow SDF personnel to play a noncombat role in the U.S.-led military drama now playing out in Afghanistan.
JAPAN
Oct 11, 2001

Government planning aid for MBM disposal

The government plans to provide some 10 billion yen in aid by March to producers of meat-and-bone meal following its decision Tuesday to ban its use because of a suspected link to mad cow disease, farm ministry officials said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Oct 11, 2001

Interministerial team to target cyberterrorism

Japan will set up an interministerial team to prevent cyberterrorism and protect its planned "cybergovernment" from attack, government officials said Wednesday.
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Oct 11, 2001

What you can do to cut CO2 emissions

If readers of this column two weeks ago found the results of the 2001 "Environmental Doomsday Clock" questionnaire depressing, that's not surprising. For the seventh year in a row, respondents worldwide have set the clock at "extremely concerned."
JAPAN
Oct 9, 2001

DPJ concerned about civilian casualties

Yukio Hatoyama, leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, said Monday he understands the U.S. and British airstrikes against targets in Afghanistan but expressed concern over civilian casualties.
JAPAN
Oct 6, 2001

Japan's response satisfactory, Baker says

The United States is "satisfied" with Japan's response in supporting U.S. antiterrorism efforts in the wake of the deadly terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon last month, the U.S. ambassador to Japan said Friday.
BUSINESS
Oct 6, 2001

Bourse curbs sought to rein in terrorists

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi wants legislation developed to prevent terrorist groups from making profits through futures contracts on Japanese stock markets, government officials said Friday.

Longform

Growing families are being priced out of Tokyo’s condo market, forced to choose between downtown convenience and suburban space.
Is living in central Tokyo still affordable?