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EDITORIALS
Jul 1, 2006

Revitalizing Japanese agriculture

The fiscal 2005 white paper on agriculture, made public last month, covers the first year of the implementation of the nation's basic plan for food, agriculture and agricultural communities that was adopted in March 2005. The plan is based on the 1999 basic law, which spells out four fundamental goals:...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 1, 2006

Nukaga calls mission to Iraq a success

Japan's 2 1/2-year military deployment in Iraq was a success that will serve as a lesson for future missions as the country moves to assume a bigger role in regional and global security, Defense Agency chief Fukushiro Nukaga said in an interview Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jul 1, 2006

North looks to divide Tokyo and Seoul over abduction issue

The dramatic public appearance of Kim Young Nam, a South Korean who was believed kidnapped to North Korea, shed no new light on the mystery surrounding the abduction in 1977 of Megumi Yokota, who later became his wife.
BUSINESS
Jul 1, 2006

Jobless rate falls to 4% as recovery gains momentum

Japan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 4.0 percent in May, down from 4.1 percent in April, its lowest level in eight years, the government said Friday.
BUSINESS
Jul 1, 2006

Next China gas talks set for July 8

Japan and China will hold another round of talks aimed at resolving a dispute over gas exploration rights in the East China Sea on July 8 and 9 in Beijing, the Foreign Ministry said Friday.
JAPAN
Jul 1, 2006

Group plans rallies against Yasukuni visits

Citizens have banded together to arrange five days of demonstrations and forums in Tokyo in August to oppose Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's contentious visits to Tokyo's war-linked Yasukuni Shrine.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST
Jul 1, 2006

A mite louder than mice: city gaijin vs. country gaijin

OK, so it's not the greatest conflict of all time. It's not Pepsi vs. Coke, Tom vs. Jerry or even Freddy vs. Jason. Plus it's not Japan-specific. The following swords of debate can be crossed in any nation at any time by anyone.
BUSINESS
Jul 1, 2006

TSE chief Nishimuro aims for public share offering by 2009

Tokyo Stock Exchange President Taizo Nishimuro said Friday the bourse hopes to publicly list its own shares in fiscal 2009 in the face of intensifying competition among exchanges around the world.
BUSINESS
Jul 1, 2006

BOJ execs shouldn't invest in private funds: panel head

A Bank of Japan advisory panel will recommend that the central bank ban its executives from investing in privately placed funds, including the scandal-tainted Murakami fund, the panel chairman said Friday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Jul 1, 2006

Palestinians need a book as good as 'The Israelis'

Donna Rosenthal heads the pack across Shibuya's famed pedestrian crossing, grinning from ear to ear and arms waving hello. In Tokyo to meet with her agent about a possible Japanese edition of her book "The Israelis," she's more than happy to meet up in old territory.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Jul 1, 2006

Fighting against Japan's colonial powers

It's just after dark and you hear a rumble coming from above. It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a North Korean missile! Well, close. You see a large black cloud in the distance and it seems to be moving your way. It IS moving your way -- and it's aimed right at you! Anyone who has lived through a rainy...
BUSINESS
Jul 1, 2006

Crude oil imports fell 6.7% in May

Japan's crude oil imports fell 6.7 percent in May from a year earlier to 123.35 million barrels for the first drop in four months, the Natural Resources and Energy Agency said Friday.
BUSINESS
Jul 1, 2006

ap MMC cuts DaimlerChrysler Smart

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Friday it will halt production of the Smart forfour model for DaimlerChrysler AG at a plant in the Netherlands.
BUSINESS
Jul 1, 2006

CPI makes biggest jump since March '98

The consumer price index rose 0.6 percent in May from the previous year, marking its biggest growth since March 1998, the government said Friday, providing further evidence that the economy is moving out of deflation.
BUSINESS
Jul 1, 2006

Mitsui to sell aluminum plant stakes

Mitsui & Co. said Friday its U.S. subsidiary will sell its 32 percent stakes in two U.S. aluminum processing plants to Alcoa Inc., which holds 61 percent stakes in both plants, due to deteriorating profitability stemming from higher electricity costs.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / PERSONALITY PROFILE
Jul 1, 2006

Mike Price

Tokyo International Singers, conducted by Marcel L'Esperance, will present its 104th concert on July 9 at Suntory Small Hall, Akasaka, Tokyo. This "Summer Serenade 2006" features Latin-American music. Guest artists on the program will be the Mike Price Jazz Ensemble.
BUSINESS
Jul 1, 2006

Sony, Mazda, Mitsui, Mitsubishi face back taxes

Tax authorities ordered Sony Corp. and three other major companies to pay billions of yen in back taxes Friday as part of a crackdown on tax evasion on overseas earnings as the government hunts for more revenue and tries to improve corporate transparency.
JAPAN
Jul 1, 2006

Cabinet endorses 5.7% cut in state employees over five years

, which has asked the government to make efforts to carry out the transfers based on the consent of affected employees.
MORE SPORTS
Jun 30, 2006

Tiger looking to retain Dunlop Phoenix crown

Tiger Woods will defend his Dunlop Phoenix title in November, tournament organizers announced Thursday. Woods will be attempting to win Japan's richest golf tournament for the third straight year, tying Jumbo Ozaki, who won it three years in a row from 1994-96. It will be Woods' fourth appearance at...
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 30, 2006

European ruling upholds school racism

PRAGUE -- I am what many people call a "Gypsy." I prefer the term "Roma." There are more than 10 million of us across Europe. The vast majority of us live in Third World conditions -- denied access to adequate housing, health care, and education.
BUSINESS
Jun 30, 2006

MHI to set up outpost in Hanoi

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. said Thursday it will establish a new representative office in Hanoi on Saturday as part of efforts to respond to increasing business opportunities in Vietnam.
BUSINESS
Jun 30, 2006

Rakuten, TBS extend tieup talks to July 31

Rakuten Inc. and Tokyo Broadcasting System Inc. said Thursday they will extend the deadline for concluding their tieup talks to July 31 from the earlier-set June 30.
BUSINESS
Jun 30, 2006

Lack of new cars dragged industrial output down 1% in May

Industrial production fell for the first time in three months in May because automakers did not launch new models, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a preliminary report Thursday.

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