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JAPAN
Feb 1, 2006

Violations found at 70 Toyoko inns

Toyoko Inn Co. illegally renovated 70 of its hotels in 25 prefectures, according to a Kyodo News tally based on findings by local authorities through Tuesday.
EDITORIALS
Feb 1, 2006

To be effective, Hamas must change

Aresounding win by Hamas in Palestinian parliamentary elections threatens to upend the Middle East peace process. The surprise victory confirms many of the more troubling speculations about the immediate impact of democracy in the region. But winning elections carries risk for radical groups, too: The...
BUSINESS
Feb 1, 2006

Fuji Photo plans to ax 5,000 jobs, reduce its film lineup

Fuji Photo Film Co. said Tuesday it will cut 5,000 workers, one-third of its image product division, due to the rapidly shrinking photo-film market.
JAPAN
Feb 1, 2006

Court shortens prison term on Heo fraud case

The Tokyo High Court on Tuesday trimmed a year off the seven-year prison sentence handed to former real estate management boss Heo Young Joong for bilking an oil wholesaler out of nearly 18 billion yen in 2000.
JAPAN
Feb 1, 2006

Asbestos relief bills clear Lower House

A package of bills aimed at providing financial support to people suffering from asbestos-linked diseases cleared the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Feb 1, 2006

ANA's profit up 11% despite surging fuel prices

All Nippon Airways Co. said Tuesday its group operating profit for the first three quarters of fiscal 2005 rose 11 percent from the previous year to 89.9 billion yen, thanks to strong demand for passenger and cargo flights that more than offset the impact of rising fuel prices.
JAPAN
Feb 1, 2006

Canon patent violated by importer, court rules

The Intellectual Property High Court on Tuesday banned an importer from selling recycled ink cartridges for ink-jet printers in line with a demand by Canon Inc., the patent holder for the type of cartridges the importer wanted to sell.
BUSINESS
Feb 1, 2006

Extra budget clears Lower House

The House of Representatives approved a 4.52 trillion yen fiscal 2005 extra budget Tuesday after a Lower House panel was forced the day before to delay the planned passage when debate was disrupted for hours over the beef import issue.
JAPAN
Feb 1, 2006

'Horiemon' draws mixed reaction from University of Tokyo students

Former Livedoor Co. President Takafumi Horie rapidly became one of Japan's most successful entrepreneurs after dropping out of the prestigious University of Tokyo, and, within a decade, fell from grace -- something many current students see as an example of how not to behave.
COMMENTARY
Feb 1, 2006

Horie and LDP boosters have it coming

Some Western media seem to want to dismiss the Livedoor scandal now convulsing Japan as an example of Japan's conservative establishment seeking to shoot down a high-flying, unconventional entrepreneur who had been too successful. The reality is quite different.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / OLD NIC'S NOTEBOOK
Feb 1, 2006

'Twin' trip full of pleasant surprises

First of all, let me wish you a very happy new Year of the Dog, which Chinese people all over the world welcomed in last weekend.
JAPAN
Feb 1, 2006

Agency discloses '04 medicine deaths

Pharmaceutical makers reported 63 deaths in April 2004 suspected of being linked to medicines, a semigovernmental agency said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Feb 1, 2006

Meiji Yasuda unveils plan to regain credibility

Scandal-hit Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co. announced a medium-term business plan Tuesday focused on regaining credibility over the next two years.
OLYMPICS
Jan 31, 2006

Blogs by Olympics participants to be banned

The Japanese Olympic Committee is telling athletes competing at the Turin Winter Olympic Games not to open web logs because the Olympic Charter bans athletes' journalist activities when the games are on, and violators will be disqualified.
SUMO
Jan 31, 2006

Kitanoumi re-elected as JSA chair

Former yokozuna Kitanoumi will serve a third term as Japan Sumo Association (JSA) chairman after he was re-elected after a unanimous vote by the JSA's executive committee on Monday.
BUSINESS
Jan 31, 2006

Canon made record net of 384 billion yen in 2005

Canon Inc. said Monday its net profit rose 12 percent to a record 384.1 billion yen in 2005, thanks to strong sales of digital cameras and color laser printers.
BUSINESS
Jan 31, 2006

Aeon to launch friendly bid for Origin Toshu

Retail giant Aeon Co. announced Monday it will launch a friendly takeover bid for Origin Toshu Co., offering to serve as a white knight for the boxed-meal chain currently facing a hostile takeover by Don Quijote Co.
BUSINESS
Jan 31, 2006

Experts eyed for postal privatization

Japan Post Corp. will recruit private-sector experts in financial and international parcel delivery services before the privatization of postal services begins in 2007, company officials said.
EDITORIALS
Jan 31, 2006

The future of local post offices

Japan Post has announced a "master plan to reform postal offices" as the process of privatizing the mammoth state-run entity of 260,000 employees is set to begin in October 2007. The focus of the plan is the reform of the specially designated tokutei post offices, which account for three-fourths of the...
BUSINESS
Jan 31, 2006

Industrial production up third year

Industrial production rose an unadjusted 1.3 percent in 2005 from the previous year, the third straight annual increase, with upbeat December data leading the government to revise upward its earlier economic assessment, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Monday.
JAPAN
Jan 31, 2006

Campaign waged to pitch Japan as brand

Leading businesses, including Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and Toyota Motor Corp., along with universities and designers have launched a three-year campaign to heighten Japan's brand image based on its traditional culture.
JAPAN
Jan 31, 2006

Yasukuni comment was Aso's private view: Abe

Foreign Minister Taro Aso was expressing his personal opinion when he said Emperor Akihito should visit Yasukuni Shrine, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said Monday in a bid to ease the diplomatic fallout.
JAPAN
Jan 31, 2006

Ground troops to pull out of Iraq by end of May

The Ground Self-Defense Force will withdraw from southern Iraq by the end of May as Britain and Australia pull their forces out of the area under a plan agreed to by the United States, government sources said Monday.
JAPAN
Jan 31, 2006

Horie possibly knew of fraud

risks involved in the deals will be small, contrary to my initial expectations. "I have gotten the impression the deals will, with 99.9 percent certainty, not become public knowledge, as Livedoor has invested in the fund via five or so other funds at home and overseas, as well as through individuals."...

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