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JAPAN
Jul 31, 2006

Unusually long rainy season appears over

This year's rainy season lasted longer than usual, but it seems to have ended Sunday in most of Japan except the Tohoku region, the Meteorological Agency said.
JAPAN
Jul 31, 2006

Researchers set to test potential bird flu vaccine

Researchers at two universities will test the effectiveness of a vaccine against the deadly H5N1 variety of bird flu virus by infecting vaccinated and unvaccinated monkeys.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 31, 2006

A time for every age group

Many pundits agree that the most important challenge Japan faces is how to deal with the problem of falling birthrates and an aging population. Among direct, specific proposals for solving the problem are measures to increase birthrates and reform the pension and medical-care systems.
EDITORIALS
Jul 31, 2006

Sympathy for a racehorse

The world's compassion is notoriously quirky. Just consider where it has been directed over the past couple of months, a period as replete with tragedy and disaster as any in recent memory. Another lethal tsunami struck Indonesia. The sectarian slaughter in Iraq worsened, with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki...
JAPAN
Jul 31, 2006

Officials look at extending Indian Ocean refueling law

Government officials are considering seeking an extension of the special antiterrorism law for another year so Japan can continue to refuel U.S. and other nations' ships in the Indian Ocean involved in military operations in Afghanistan, sources said Sunday.
JAPAN
Jul 31, 2006

Tanigaki nixes targeted tax breaks

Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki on Sunday indicated his opposition to applying reduced rates to food and other daily necessities if the consumption tax is hiked from the current 5 percent.
COMMENTARY / THE VIEW FROM NEW YORK
Jul 31, 2006

America: a democracy and an empire

NEW YORK -- One thing that has receded from public debate as a consequence of the disaster that is America's war against Iraq is talk of the United States as an empire. During the onrush to the invasion and for some time afterward, one popular comparison was with the Roman Empire. Another, of course,...
JAPAN
Jul 31, 2006

Another hospital halted care in last moments

A hospital affiliated with the Kinki University School of Medicine discontinued care for six severely ill newborn babies in 1996 and 1997 after they were judged to be incurable, a doctor who used to work at the university said Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 31, 2006

War criminal's kin urges next leader shun Yasukuni

A grandson of former Foreign Minister Shigenori Togo, who was convicted as a Class-A war criminal after World War II, says Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's successors should refrain from visiting Yasukuni Shrine.
BUSINESS
Jul 31, 2006

Oji won't seek injunction to stop Hokuetsu's capital increase

Oji Paper Co. does not plan to apply for a court order to block a capital increase plan by Hokuetsu Paper Mills Ltd., which is an obstacle to Oji's hostile takeover bid for Hokuetsu, according to sources.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 31, 2006

Is bigger better for European Union?

See related story EU membership sharpens Central, East Europe's competitive edge
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 31, 2006

EU membership sharpens Central, East Europe's competitive edge

See related story Is bigger better for European Union?
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Jul 31, 2006

BOJ should have based hike on consumer needs, worldwide inflation trend

The Bank of Japan raised the unsecured overnight call rate from virtually zero to 0.25 percent at the end of its July 13-14 Policy Board meeting and hiked the official discount rate from 0.1 percent to 0.4 percent.
JAPAN
Jul 31, 2006

Lawyers eye cult rape accusations

. South Korean authorities have put Jung, 61, on an international wanted list on rape charges.
JAPAN
Jul 31, 2006

Osaka hospital stopped care for dying newborns

Yodogawa Christian Hospital in Osaka discontinued efforts to prolong the lives of eight babies between 1999 and 2005 with the consent of the parents when doctors determined the newborns would die within one to two hours.
JAPAN
Jul 31, 2006

Obituary: Yoshinori Aboshi

Yoshinori Aboshi, the archaeologist who in 1972 discovered the renowned Takamatsuzuka tomb in his home village of Asuka, Nara Prefecture, died of cancer Saturday night, his family said. He was 78.
SOCCER / J. League
Jul 30, 2006

Kawasaki clings to lead atop J. League

High-flying Kawasaki Frontale maintained their slender lead atop the J. League first division on Saturday despite being held to a 1-1 draw away to 10-man Oita Trinita on Saturday.
JAPAN
Jul 30, 2006

Augmenting breast cancer tests eyed

The health ministry has decided to examine how effective ultrasound is in screening for breast cancer, ministry officials said Saturday.
JAPAN
Jul 30, 2006

Oji offering compromise to end bid for Hokuetsu

Oji Paper Co. has proposed freezing a hostile takeover bid for Hokuetsu Paper Mills Ltd. if Hokuetsu withdraws its planned issuance of new shares to Mitsubishi Corp., sources said Saturday.
JAPAN
Jul 30, 2006

N. Korea missile didn't go as far as Japan estimated

The United States has told Japan that the Taepodong-2 missile fired July 5 by North Korea exploded in midair within 1.5 km of the launchpad, not 400 to 600 km away as the Japanese government had initially estimated, sources said Saturday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 30, 2006

Yamaha purchased Katayama tickets

Yamaha Motor Co. purchased 200,000 yen worth of tickets for a political fundraiser held this month by Satsuki Katayama, parliamentary secretary of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, after METI accused the motorcycle maker of illegal exports, sources said Saturday.

Longform

Mamoru Iwai, stationmaster of Keisei Ueno Station, says that, other than earthquake-proofing, the former Hakubutsukan-Dobutsuen (Museum-Zoo) Station has remained untouched.
Inside Tokyo's 'phantom' stations — and the stories they tell