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JAPAN
Jul 15, 2006

Bridge bid-riggers face fines, prison

Prosecutors on Friday asked the Tokyo High Court to fine 23 bridge builders and imprison eight former senior officials accused of rigging bids for bridge construction projects financed by the now-defunct Japan Highway Public Corp. and by the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry.
BUSINESS
Jul 15, 2006

S-LCD eyes next-generation panels

Sony Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co. said Friday their joint venture, S-LCD Corp., will begin mass-producing the world's most advanced liquid-crystal-display panels in autumn next year.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 15, 2006

'Comfort women' issue far from closed

NEW YORK -- V-Day, a global movement to stop violence against women and girls, is putting the "comfort women's" crusade for reparations in its spotlight for 2006. As part of the activities, in the summer of 2006 the Global Campaign will include celebrity benefit performances of "The Vagina Monologues"...
JAPAN
Jul 15, 2006

State settles with emigrants to paradise lost

Japanese emigrants to the Dominican Republic decided to accept a government proposal to settle a court battle in which they sought compensation for hardships they endured after Tokyo duped them with false promises in a state-initiated emigration scheme in the late 1950s.
SOCCER / J. League
Jul 14, 2006

Injured duo out of All-Star match

Gamba Osaka defender Akira Kaji and Jubilo Iwata midfielder Takashi Fukunishi, who were both selected via voting for the upcoming All-Star match, have decided to pull out because of injuries, soccer sources said on Thursday.
JAPAN
Jul 14, 2006

Ex 'All Star' admits drug-use guilt

A former member of the rock group Southern All Stars pleaded guilty Thursday to using stimulant drugs and marijuana during his first trial session before the Yokohama District Court.
JAPAN
Jul 14, 2006

Japan yields to resolution by China, Russia

In an apparent compromise to China and Russia, Japan intends to draw up a U.N. draft resolution that condemns North Korea's July 5 missile test-launches but may not include strong measures such as sanctions, which Tokyo had earlier pushed, several government officials said Thursday.
JAPAN
Jul 14, 2006

4 billion yen awarded for Atsugi base noise

The Tokyo High Court ordered the government Thursday to pay 4.04 billion yen in compensation for noise pollution suffered by 4,865 people living near U.S. Naval Air Facility Atsugi in Kanagawa Prefecture, the highest amount ever awarded for air base or airport noise.
JAPAN
Jul 14, 2006

Japan Post parcel trucks also to face no-parking zone law

The National Police Agency plans to prohibit Japan Post vehicles from parking on the street when they pick up and deliver packages, just like parcel delivery trucks are restricted now, NPA officials said Thursday.
JAPAN
Jul 14, 2006

Abe denies upholding pre-emptive strike as defensive right

is being attacked with missiles" from that base. He added that an overseas first strike would fall within the legal parameters of self-defense "if there is no way to defend against an attack on Japan." Those comments, which followed North Korea's test-launching of seven ballistic missiles that fell into...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jul 14, 2006

A tipple or two on top of the world

In a city crammed with over 12 million people, digging up a little space to breathe can be a tall order.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 14, 2006

Runup to war in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO -- My plane lands smoothly at Colombo's plush Bandaranaike International Airport, but beyond the runway lies the turbulence of ethnic strife that for 20 years has ravaged this hauntingly picturesque island nation.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 14, 2006

Teacher may have hit with 'Japan' board game

OSAKA -- Today's video games can leave parents feeling frightened. Is it really a good idea to buy a game for your child in which bloodthirsty aliens beat up little old ladies or the hero shoots, stabs, bombs and judo chops all manner of opponents? Whatever happened to the nonviolent, intellectually...
BUSINESS
Jul 14, 2006

Firms to get help in wireless market

The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry plans to draw up a new set of rules this fall to allow companies that do not own their own wireless infrastructure to more easily enter the mobile communications business, ministry officials said Thursday.
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jul 14, 2006

A revival continues

More than 35 years after novelist Yukio Mishima committed ritual suicide, protesting in part against what he believed to be the demise of Japan's traditional cultural values, interest in his writing seems to be on the rise among the public.
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jul 14, 2006

Blues, soul carnival

Two veterans perform in Japan this week for the "Japan Blues & Soul Carnival," which takes place July 19-21. Chicago soul singer Otis Clay and Mississippi bluesman Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater may have a combined age of 135, but don't expect the advancing years to have diminished the power of Clay's soul...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / VINELAND
Jul 14, 2006

Fine-tuning Washington's wines

Last month's column on the recent success of wines made from grapes grown in eastern Washington state's high desert generated a large amount of reader feedback. Most questions ran along the lines of, "If the Washington desert is such a great place for viticulture, then why weren't they growing grapes...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jul 14, 2006

A little Fukuoka in Akihabara

'It's too easy for bands to play [in Tokyo] really. There are so many places to play, and everything is divided into convenient categories," says Hajime Yoshida of the Japanese punk band Panic Smile. "Bands from outlying cities have a tougher attitude than Tokyo bands."
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jul 14, 2006

A confluence of buzzes

Artistic restlessness is not a quality normally associated with rookie rock bands. It applies more to established groups who've outgrown their signature sound. TV on the Radio, a Brooklyn quintet whose second album, "Return to Cookie Mountain," was already being touted by tastemakers as the year's best...
EDITORIALS
Jul 14, 2006

Moral boost for Mr. Putin

Russia's most wanted man is dead. Shamil Basayev, the leader of Chechen rebels who has masterminded acts of terror that have claimed hundreds of lives, was killed this week in an explosion. His death is a victory for the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin and a blow to the cause Basayev headed;...
BUSINESS
Jul 14, 2006

Free-trade agreement with Malaysia takes effect

A free-trade agreement between Japan and Malaysia took effect Thursday, with the two countries ready to scrap tariffs on essentially all industrial goods and most agricultural, forestry and fishery products within 10 years.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 14, 2006

Toy show offers brain training, healing

Japan's biggest toy show opened Thursday in Tokyo, with about 170 toy makers from Japan and abroad taking part in the four-day event.

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