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JAPAN
Apr 13, 2006

NHK hit by fresh embezzlement case

NHK was bombarded by about 600 complaints Wednesday as a new embezzlement case broke at a time when the government is talking about forcing viewers to pay the public broadcaster's subscription fees.
BUSINESS
Apr 13, 2006

Tokyo condo supply rose in March

The number of condominiums put on sale in the Tokyo metropolitan area in March rose 13.4 percent from a year earlier to 7,596 units, the first year-on-year increase in five months, the Real Estate Economic Institute said Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Apr 13, 2006

Brazil eyes Japan digital TV format

Brazil on Wednesday showed interest in adopting Japanese digital-television standards over the format widely used in Europe during a ministerial meeting, a Japanese official said.
BUSINESS
Apr 13, 2006

Nonresident stock buys beat 1 trillion yen in March

Nonresident net purchases of Japanese stocks totaled 1.49 trillion yen in March, topping the 1 trillion yen mark for the first time in two months, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 13, 2006

Asia's dysfunctional democracy

OXFORD, England -- The abrupt resignation of Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is but another sign of a disturbing paradox: the more "vigorous" Asian democracy becomes, the more dysfunctional it is.
BUSINESS
Apr 13, 2006

Student athletes looking to win job-hunting race

Whether you are a university senior looking for your first "real job" or a company veteran looking for a change, the most important thing to include on your resume is a concise summary of specific skills you can provide, whether that be system engineering, knowledge of corporate law or a flair for foreign...
BUSINESS
Apr 13, 2006

MMC to buy into China auto venture

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Wednesday it will spend 8.75 billion yen to take a 25 percent stake in South East (Fujian) Motor Co., a 50-50 joint venture between China's Fujian Motor Industrial Corp. and Taiwan's China Motor Corp.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 13, 2006

Chen raising the ante in cross-strait ties

SINGAPORE -- As preparations are made for Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to the United States and a presidential election is scheduled for spring 2008 in Taiwan, there are indications that the next two years could prove challenging for the main parties involved in cross-strait relations -- Beijing,...
JAPAN
Apr 13, 2006

Victims of black lung sue government

A group of ex-coal miners suffering from black lung disease and relatives of several who have died filed a lawsuit in Ibaraki Prefecture on Wednesday seeking 505 million yen in state compensation.
BUSINESS
Apr 13, 2006

Current account hits second-highest surplus on record

The current account surplus grew a preliminary 6.2 percent in February to 2.21 trillion yen, the second-highest level on record, due to a rise in the income account, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.
COMMENTARY
Apr 13, 2006

Polish Japan's image abroad

LONDON -- Japan's image abroad ought to be better than it is. The Japanese economy has largely recovered. Reform continues. Democratic processes are working. Japanese educational standards and technical abilities are admired. Each of these statements can and no doubt should be qualified, but the overall...
BUSINESS
Apr 13, 2006

Lending climbs 1.5%

The average daily balance of bank lending grew for the eighth straight month in March, up 1.5 percent from the previous March after adjustment for special factors, according to a Bank of Japan report released Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Apr 13, 2006

NTT to bring aromas to the movies

NTT Communications Corp. said it will introduce a new service this month employing a computer system that allows people to experience aromas while watching a film.
JAPAN
Apr 13, 2006

Japan raps Iran over enrichment

The government said Wednesday it would be "extremely deplorable" if Iran has successfully enriched uranium and joined the club of nuclear powers, as Tehran claimed the day before.
BUSINESS
Apr 13, 2006

Convenience stores outshined stale supermarkets in 2005

Japan's major convenience stores on Wednesday posted rosy figures for the 2005 business year, while supermarket chains lagged despite signs that personal consumption is recovering.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Apr 13, 2006

A mechanical evolution

The Mori Art Musem is currently hosting an exhibition of previously unidentified life forms. These newly evolved creatures were found recently in urban areas, structurally resemble flowers, fish and insects, and have a complex inorganic, electromagnetic make-up.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Apr 13, 2006

Lennon's love and peace legacy on display

To commemorate the wedding of John Lennon and Yoko Ono and their peace activities during the late 1960s, the John Lennon Museum in Japan is hosting a special exhibition until July 31 titled "John and Yoko's Love & Peace Activities 1968-1970."
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / NEW ART SEEN
Apr 13, 2006

Goths, terra and tears

The Complex Building in Roppongi opened with five major contemporary art galleries a couple of years back, around the same time as the nearby Mori Art Museum. It has, however, been somewhat overlooked as new and larger spaces have debuted out east in Kiyosumi-Shirakawa.
BUSINESS
Apr 13, 2006

Kirin tops Asahi in beer shipments

Kirin Brewery Co. beat Asahi Breweries Ltd. in shipments of beer and beerlike alcoholic drinks in the January-March quarter for the first time in six years, according to industry data released Wednesday.
EDITORIALS
Apr 13, 2006

Testing Japanese democracy

Three judges at the Tokyo District Court have begun their deliberations in a group-action case brought by more than 400 public-school teachers challenging the right of the Tokyo Metropolitan Education Board to force teachers to sing the national anthem and to stand up to show respect for the flag. With...
BUSINESS
Apr 13, 2006

Long-term interest rate hikes are 'serious concern': Fukui

The Bank of Japan and the Finance Ministry on Wednesday warned the market about pushing up interest rates, with the BOJ chief terming the jump in long-term rates "a matter of serious concern."
JAPAN
Apr 13, 2006

Envoys fail to get six-party talks back on track

Chief delegates to the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programs failed Wednesday to reach agreement on restarting the stalled negotiations after several days of meetings in Tokyo.
SPORTS / E-LIST
Apr 12, 2006

Checking out Seibu's early glory run

The E-List could fill a few thimbles with Japanese baseball knowledge, but not enough to be pompous. And now it is time to put the List's first serving of humble pie on the table.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Apr 12, 2006

J.P. keys Giants on rainy baseball night

Jeremy Powell pitched a three-hit shutout and Yoshinobu Takahashi hit an RBI single to break a scoreless tie in a five-run seventh inning Tuesday as the Yomiuri Giants beat the Hiroshima Carp 5-0 for their third straight win in the Central League.

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