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Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / NEW ART SEEN
Jun 22, 2006

Lighting up suburban Tokyo nights

What a concept: Imagine if you could see as clearly and in as much detail at midnight as you can at noon. The desire for night vision is an old one, but frankly the visions provided by new technologies have not impressed me -- the best I've experienced were a set of cumbersome electric goggles that yielded...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Jun 22, 2006

Bringing "Lepage magic" to Tokyo

Last year, to mark the bicentennial of the birth of author Hans Christian Andersen (1805-75), Denmark held a yearlong celebration titled "Andersen Project 2005." Part of the project was a special commission to French-Canadian dramatist Robert Lepage to create a play commemorating the author's life and...
BUSINESS
Jun 22, 2006

Fitch keeps Hankyu ratings intact

Fitch Ratings said Wednesday it has decided to keep the credit ratings of Hankyu Holdings Inc. unchanged because the burden stemming from the tender offer for Hanshin Electric Railway Co. shares has stayed within the anticipated level.
BUSINESS
Jun 22, 2006

Ban on U.S. beef to end after meatpacker checks

Japan agreed Wednesday to lift its ban on U.S. beef imports after on-site inspections of U.S. meatpackers by Japanese experts starting early next week, Japanese officials said.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 22, 2006

The D.I.Y. route to rock stardom

From the suburbs of Tokyo to downtown Toronto is hardly the most direct route to pop stardom -- or one assured of success. But it was the path that blues-rock outfit Stone Deaf chose earlier this month in what was a bold move for a group whose sole claim to fame is having been Marky Ramone's backing...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jun 22, 2006

Public uncertainty, wobbly provocations

'I feel I have lost the ability to have a definite opinion, in terms of people, and about myself," says the Japanese installation artist Tabaimo. It is a surprising admission from someone who first received international acclaim for what were seen as perceptive and cutting social commentaries on modern...
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jun 21, 2006

Giants deactivate injured Abe

Yomiuri Giants catcher Shinnosuke Abe was removed from the active roster Monday after being diagnosed with a bruised right thumb, officials of the Central League club said. Abe underwent a medical examination the same day but there was no ligament damage found.
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Jun 21, 2006

Pacers ponder shipping out Jermaine

MIAMI -- If you read a quote by a named Pacers official or an unnamed source denying Jermaine O'Neal is being shopped, do not fall for it.
BUSINESS
Jun 21, 2006

Foreign direct investment steps set

The government's Japan Investment Council approved measures Tuesday aimed at promoting foreign direct investment through such means as assisting local authorities' efforts to attract foreign capital, government sources said.
BUSINESS
Jun 21, 2006

Japan set to lift U.S. beef ban

Despite lingering concern over the safety of U.S. beef, Japan continued final talks with Washington past midnight Tuesday on lifting the import ban, after winning a slew of concessions on inspection procedures for mad cow disease.
EDITORIALS
Jun 21, 2006

Medical reforms need work

The laws passed last week by the Diet to curb the growth in the nation's medical spending testify to the government's determination to solve the problem. While the laws include positive elements, they are not problem-free. The government needs to continuously review the nation's medical system. Rationalizing...
BUSINESS
Jun 21, 2006

Nippon Oil, Japan Energy join forces

Nippon Oil Corp., the nation's biggest oil wholesaler, and Japan Energy Corp., the sixth largest, jointly said Tuesday they have agreed to enter into a broad-based tieup that includes joint operation of neighboring refineries and development of fuel cell technology.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / WILD WATCH
Jun 21, 2006

Surprise sightings waiting to be made

As a child I dreamed of watching wild creatures, and especially mammals, but with no relatives or friends to learn from, I was left to my own devices to find ways to do so.
JAPAN
Jun 21, 2006

Top court sends case back, saying consider death penalty anew

The Supreme Court on Tuesday threw out a life sentence for a 25-year-old man convicted of the 1999 murders of a woman and her infant daughter, and ordered the Hiroshima High Court to rehear the case with an eye to sentencing the killer to hang.
BUSINESS
Jun 21, 2006

Hankyu-Hanshin deal fails to impress analysts

Hankyu Holdings Inc. said Tuesday it will acquire 63.71 percent of Hanshin Electric Railway Co. for nearly 250 billion yen, paving the way for the first postwar merger of major private railways in October.
BUSINESS
Jun 21, 2006

Insurer Mitsui Sumitomo faces FSA sanctions

The Financial Services Agency is considering ordering Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co. to suspend sales of nonlife insurance policies as well as medical insurance products at all of its outlets for about two weeks as punishment for its nonpayment of insurance claims, FSA sources said Tuesday.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 20, 2006

Boys in Blue need the mother of all miracles

It doesn't look good for Japan. The Boys in Blue play Brazil on June 22 in Dortmund at the same time as Australia plays Croatia (9 p.m. Germany time). Here's how things could work out: Glass two-thirds empty:
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 20, 2006

High temperatures burning Zico up

NUREMBERG, Germany -- Japan coach Zico got a little hot under the collar after the Boys in Blue's game against Croatia but apparently not as hot as his players did during the game.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 20, 2006

Japan's fate rests with Zico's countrymen

BONN -- If ever Zico needed a favor from his countrymen it would be now.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jun 20, 2006

Eagles feast on Swallows

Hiroki Yamamura pitched two-run ball over 6 2/3 solid innings and Jose Fernandez hit a two-run homer Monday as the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles held on to beat the Yakult Swallows 4-2 at Jingu Stadium in interleague play.
SPORTS / MULLY'S MISSIVES
Jun 20, 2006

English ready to use dreaded own goal if needed

NUREMBERG, Germany -- Here's a tip: Bet on the first goal in the England vs. Sweden match to be an own goal from an English player.
MORE SPORTS
Jun 20, 2006

Ex-speedskater takes helm of JSF

Former speedskater Seiko Hashimoto, a bronze medalist at the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics, was selected Sunday as president of the scandal- plagued Japan Skating Federation.
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE
Jun 20, 2006

Ex-Japan coach Troussier dances around the issue of Zico's performance

Heck with soccer. Philippe Troussier should have been a dancer.
BUSINESS
Jun 20, 2006

Mitsui Sumitomo faces suspension

The Financial Services Agency is considering ordering Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co. to suspend part of its operations for inappropriate nonpayment of insurance claims, FSA sources said Monday.
BUSINESS
Jun 20, 2006

Trust banks should handle assets, new BOJ member says

Newly appointed Bank of Japan Policy Board member Tadao Noda said Monday that entrusting stockholdings with trust banks is one way to boost the transparency of senior BOJ officials' financial assets.

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