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BUSINESS
May 31, 2006

Industrial output hits record high

Industrial production rose a seasonally adjusted 1.5 percent in April to set a record high, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Tuesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
May 31, 2006

Philosopher reignites debate over contraception

When it was reported last month that Hollywood actor Tom Cruise intended to eat his wife's placenta raw, I thought it was one of the stranger stories going round at the time. Another, according to some newspapers, was that Cruise had bought his wife, actress Katie Holmes, an adult-sized pacifier to ensure...
BUSINESS
May 31, 2006

ChuoAoyama loses 70 listed clients

More than 70 publicly traded companies have announced plans to stop using ChuoAoyama PricewaterhouseCoopers as their auditors in the wake of a window-dressing scandal at the accounting firm.
BUSINESS
May 31, 2006

Unemployment marks third straight month at 4.1%

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stayed at 4.1 percent in April, marking its third month in a row at that level, the government said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
May 31, 2006

Murakami fund mum as Hankyu opens Hanshin bid

Hankyu Holdings Inc. launched its planned public tender offer Tuesday for shares of Hanshin Electric Railway Co., leaving industry watchers to speculate about how Hanshin's biggest shareholder, the Murakami fund, will respond.
JAPAN
May 31, 2006

Japanese ability eyed as visa requirement

A Justice Ministry panel discussing long-term policies for accepting foreigners in Japan proposed Tuesday that the government in principle require that foreign workers have a certain level of Japanese proficiency.
BUSINESS
May 31, 2006

Abe-led panel stresses need for 'second chances'

The government needs to create a social system that gives a second chance to people who drop out of the job market and to entrepreneurs whose businesses have failed, a government panel said in an interim report released Tuesday.
JAPAN
May 31, 2006

Asahara loses round; execution one step closer

The Tokyo High Court has rejected an objection filed by lawyers fighting to appeal Aum Shinrikyo founder Shoko Asahara's death sentence, sources said Tuesday.
JAPAN
May 31, 2006

Antinuclear activist Kawai, wife found dead in house fire

The stabbed bodies of antinuclear activist Tomoyasu Kawai and his wife, Yumiko, were found Tuesday in their burned house in Tokyo along with another body believed to be of their son, police and firefighters said.
BUSINESS
May 31, 2006

BOJ again floods market with funds

The Bank of Japan pumped 500 billion yen into the short-term money market Tuesday morning in an effort to hold interest rates down, its second straight day of large-scale intervention.
BUSINESS
May 31, 2006

Vodafone logs 69.4% profit fall on high sales, customer retention costs

Vodafone K.K., which was purchased in April by Internet investor Softbank Corp., said Tuesday its net profit fell by 69.4 percent to 49.5 billion yen on sales of 1.47 trillion yen in fiscal 2005 due to higher sales promotion costs associated with attracting subscribers to its 3G phone service.
BASEBALL / MLB
May 30, 2006

Carp need 12 innings to finish Rakuten

SENDAI -- The Hiroshima Carp racked up 16 hits, but their 4-3 win over the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles still came down to a prayer in the 12th inning.
MORE SPORTS
May 30, 2006

Kameda to face Landaeta for title

Koki Kameda said Monday he will face Venezuelan Juan Landaeta for the vacant WBA light flyweight title on Aug. 2 at Yokohama Arena.
EDITORIALS
May 30, 2006

The means to a sustainable end

The Cabinet has adopted the third Basic Environment Plan since the first one was approved in 1994. Based on a report by the Central Environment Council, the latest plan, a revision of the second plan (adopted in 2000), is titled "The Way to a New Rich Lifestyle in a Sustainable Society."
JAPAN
May 30, 2006

Obituary: Mari Yonehara

Writer Mari Yonehara, known for her witty essays based on her experiences as a Russian translator, died of ovarian cancer Thursday at her home in Kanagawa Prefecture, sources close to her said Monday. She was 56.
JAPAN
May 30, 2006

McDonald's gets labor union

for the first time in the 35 years since the Japanese unit of the U.S. fast-food giant started operations, the nation's largest labor union group said Monday. The union, with about 200 initial members including outlet managers, notified the management of its establishment, said the Japanese Trade Union...
COMMENTARY / World
May 30, 2006

Putin fantasizes like a czar

LONDON — In his recent State of the Nation speech, President Vladimir Putin said that "Russia's modern foreign policy is based on the principles of pragmatism, predictability and the supremacy of international law."
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
May 30, 2006

Japan ready to battle 'culinary imperialists'

Earlier this year I was commissioned by a British newspaper to research a Japanese company called Hakudai, which was reputed to be putting whale meat into dog food.
JAPAN
May 30, 2006

Base realignment cost estimate pared

The realignment of U.S. forces will cost Japan 1.1 trillion yen over the next eight to 10 years, on top of the roughly 700 billion yen the government has agreed to contribute to cost of transferring U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam, according to a new estimate revealed by official sources.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
May 30, 2006

'Gokiburi,' new law and residency

Cockroaches One of our readers has been having problems with cockroaches recently. She has been cleaning the apartment regularly, placing cockroach traps and even used a "bomb" to try and get rid of them, all to no avail.
JAPAN
May 30, 2006

Two painters in battle over plagiarism

The Cultural Affairs Agency is looking into allegations that works by noted Italian artist Alberto Sughi were plagiarized by a Japanese painter who received a government award this spring, agency officials said.
JAPAN
May 30, 2006

Defense trio admit guilt in project bid-rigging

Three former Defense Facilities Administration Agency officials pleaded guilty Monday to playing key roles in rigging bids in projects related to defense facilities.
JAPAN
May 30, 2006

Japan, South Korea kin join on abduction issue

Relatives of Japanese and South Koreans abducted by Pyongyang told a Diet special committee Monday that their two governments must cooperate to get back their kin from North Korea as quickly as possible.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
May 30, 2006

Fitness for kicks and more

The yearly ritual of storing away our winter duds and unpacking skimpy summer styles often leads to a common conclusion: It's time to get into shape, and fast.
BUSINESS
May 30, 2006

Japan antes up for World Bank research

The government will extend up to $2 million to the World Bank to help strengthen its research on key development issues, including agriculture and climate change.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
May 30, 2006

Would you pay more tax to stop whale hunting?

Masuko Hosokawa Office worker, 66 I disagree with whale hunting. Whale meat is delicious, but it's not good to catch so many whales. I would pay more taxes to help subsidize fishermen, but only a little bit. And I wouldn't pay higher taxes for anything else.

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