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COMMENTARY / World
Nov 6, 2001

Economies threaten credibility of euro

LONDON -- Ever since the common currency began to take shape in the mid-1990s, there has been a latent conflict between politicians in the euro zone and the guardians of the monetary stability pact in Frankfurt and Brussels. This autumn the politicians insist publicly that they stand four-square with...
BUSINESS
Nov 6, 2001

Key economy gauge reads bust

The government said Monday its key gauge of the state of the economy remained below the boom-or-bust line of 50 percent in September for the ninth consecutive month.
COMMUNITY
Nov 4, 2001

Getting geared up for the open road

Getting a license If you already have a motorbike license from another country, you can be issued with an equivalent Japanese one. If you have a Japanese car license, you can ride a scooter or a motorbike up to 50cc. If you have an international bike license, you can ride a bike of any size.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Nov 4, 2001

In love with the Harley legend

It's Sunday afternoon in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward, and the local Harley-Davidson shop, American Street, is playing host to a stream of visitors in black leather jackets.
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Nov 4, 2001

Thrift store retail that wags the dog

WASHINGTON -- Jeanie Naumann, manager of Wagging Tails Thrifts and Gift, says she can hardly believe it herself. It seems she just had to open the store, and the donations, volunteers, customers and profits started rolling in.
COMMENTARY
Nov 1, 2001

Is China the odd man out?

HONOLULU -- China seems very pleased with the outcome of the George W. Bush-Jiang Zemin presidential summit held Oct. 19 in Shanghai on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' meeting -- not because a great deal was accomplished, but because Jiang's definition of what constituted...
BUSINESS / TAKING STOCK
Oct 30, 2001

Nikkei strong, looking stronger

Now that selling pressure has visibly eased, Tokyo share prices have firmed back to levels before the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.
JAPAN
Oct 30, 2001

Adult smoking rate drops for sixth consecutive year

The smoking rate among Japanese adults dropped to a record low of 32.7 percent in May, down 0.2 percentage point from a year earlier for a sixth consecutive year of decline, according to a recent report by Japan Tobacco Inc.
Events
Oct 30, 2001

Scare stops Kobe beef in its tracks

KOBE -- It's a warm, sunny day at the Okaba cattle ranch in Kobe's Kita Ward.
LIFE
Oct 29, 2001

Revolution and evolution mark motorcycle lineup at Tokyo Motor Show

Tired of being jammed into a packed train every morning? Sick of being stuck in the city every weekend? Bummed out because high parking fees rule out owning a car? If you answered yes to these questions, you might want to consider buying a motorcycle. They're affordable, running costs are reasonable...
BUSINESS
Oct 26, 2001

Toyota eyes parts plant in Mexico

Toyota Motor Corp. is planning to build a plant in Mexico to produce cargo platforms for small trucks, company sources said Thursday.
BUSINESS / ON THE FRONT LINE
Oct 26, 2001

Uncertainty clouds future

The world financial community is looking for clues as to what will ensue from the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan.
BASEBALL / MLB
Oct 25, 2001

Swallows a win away from fifth Series title

The big guns drew blanks for the Yakult Swallows on Wednesday, but a role player picked up the slack.
JAPAN / INTERNATIONAL RATIONALE
Oct 25, 2001

Foreign equity funds' ways changing face of Japan Inc.

When hunting for a company to buy out, Kenji Ueda doesn't wait to be introduced. The Ripplewood Holdings LLC executive director makes his phone calls cold.
BUSINESS / TAKING STOCK
Oct 23, 2001

Terror pessimism subsiding?

Tokyo stock prices have firmed back to levels before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.
BUSINESS / ON MANAGEMENT
Oct 23, 2001

Avoid sinking into the comfort zone

There's a common affliction suffered by baseball pitchers and corporate managers alike, a tendency that derails many careers, perversely, just when things couldn't be going any better. It's called "pitching too fine" in baseball, and if you're a fan, you know how heartbreaking it can be.
JAPAN
Oct 23, 2001

11 nabbed on suspicion of violating antiprostitution law

A 40-year-old Chinese man has been arrested on suspicion of acting as a go-between for Chinese prostitutes and Tokyo clubs offering their services, in violation of the country's antiprostitution law, police said Monday.
JAPAN
Oct 20, 2001

Smokers given fresh chance to chew up their addiction

OSAKA -- Antismoking gum that can be obtained without a prescription has debuted on the domestic market, giving smokers a chance to kick their habit via over-the-counter medicinal supplements.
JAPAN
Oct 19, 2001

Talent agency staffers held over 938 million yen tax dodge

The founder of the talent agency that manages singer Namie Amuro was arrested Thursday with eight others on suspicion of evading 938 million yen in corporate taxes in the three years to August 1999, investigative sources said.
BUSINESS
Oct 18, 2001

Toshiba, Matsushita plan two joint ventures

Toshiba Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. announced Wednesday they will set up two joint ventures in April, each dealing with a different type of electronic display.
BUSINESS
Oct 18, 2001

Matsushita to reduce contracted staff

OSAKA -- Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. plans to cut half its approximately 16,000 contract workers as part of cost-saving measures, company officials said Wednesday.
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 18, 2001

Government plans to buy up beef distribution stockpiles

The government plans to buy some 13,000 tons of distributors' beef stocks on a temporary basis in line with a rigorous inspection due to begin today on all cows to be processed for human consumption.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Oct 14, 2001

Time for a quickie and some canoodling

The theme of TV Asahi's new variety show, "Jungle Book" (Tuesday, 7 p.m.) is "making friends with animals all over the world." The producers send "young rangers," who are invariably teenagers, on various "assignments" in foreign countries where they interact on a long-term basis with both domestic and...
BUSINESS
Oct 13, 2001

Chinese tariffs to cost Japan's car firms 420 billion yen

Carmakers are likely to miss out on 420 billion yen in earnings in 2002 if China retains its retaliatory import tariffs on Japanese vehicles, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association Inc. said Friday.
BUSINESS
Oct 12, 2001

Asahi's first-half profit plan turns into 60 billion yen net loss

Asahi Bank said Thursday it will post a group net loss of 60 billion yen for the six months to Sept. 30, after shouldering heavy losses from soured loans and stock market plunges.
JAPAN
Oct 11, 2001

Web gossip sparks corporate anger

Two major life insurers were battered by a swirl of rumors in September as several message boards on a popular Web site began predicting their demise.

Longform

A small shrine perched atop rocks braves the waves hitting the shoreline during a storm in Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture. The area is under threat of a possible 31-meter-high tsunami if an earthquake strikes the nearby Nankai Trough.
If the 'Big One' hits, this city could face a 31-meter-high tsunami