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JAPAN
Dec 24, 2005

UNSC reform effort

Foreign Minister Taro Aso and his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, agreed Friday to continue cooperation on reform of the U.N. Security Council, Foreign Ministry officials said.
JAPAN
Dec 24, 2005

IC passports to debut March 20

In a bid to counter passport forgery, Japan will start issuing on March 20 a new type of passport that uses an integrated circuit chip containing the holder's facial data, Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Thursday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Dec 24, 2005

WeLoveSnow.com puts Yuzawa on winter map

Neil Riley is up to his eyes in snow. And he's delighted.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / PERSONALITY PROFILE
Dec 24, 2005

Shi Yu Chen

Step inside Argo restaurant and library cafe in Kojimachi, Tokyo, and you might suppose yourself in the dining lounge of a luxury yacht. It is true you don't look out over Greek islands. Instead, you have a high view of the moat and the parkland of the Imperial Palace, and the complex of the British...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST
Dec 24, 2005

Born and raised a 'gaijin'

The other evening after pushing my way onto the same train car as always, I hung there on my commuter strap and broke momentarily from my rush hour funk to find my reflection staring back at me from the window. There I stood with my shoulders sagged, my necktie loosened and a work world of fatigue weighing...
EDITORIALS
Dec 24, 2005

Eking out a trade deal in Hong Kong

It was pretty likely that some deal would get struck at the World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial meeting that was held last week in Hong Kong. It was inevitable that any such accord would be the product of arduous last-minute negotiations. And it was certain that trade ministers would applaud the...
JAPAN
Dec 24, 2005

Metro government to survey disputed isles

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has budgeted 1.3 billion yen to survey small Pacific islets at the center of a dispute with China in a bid to boost Japan's claim to them, officials said.
JAPAN
Dec 24, 2005

Ex-lawmaker Fuwa, 75, may quit JCP helm

Japanese Communist Party Central Committee Chairman Tetsuzo Fuwa, 75, may leave his post in January due to his advanced age, party sources said Friday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 24, 2005

WBC warmups slated

Japan's squad for the World Baseball Classic will play the Chiba Lotte Marines and the Yomiuri Giants to warm up for the first round of the tournament against its Asian rivals, baseball officials said Friday.
JAPAN
Dec 24, 2005

Emperor turns 72, frets blizzard woes

Emperor Akihito marked his 72nd birthday Friday with an address to the public, expressing concern about people who have been hit hard by the recent heavy snowfall.
JAPAN
Dec 24, 2005

Law eyed to govern sales of high-risk investment tools

A key advisory panel to the government has completed a report on legislative recommendations for clauses in an envisioned comprehensive law to govern sales methods for high-risk investment tools.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Dec 24, 2005

Christmas dinner -- Japanese style

Christmas in Japan has always left a little to be desired, but you can't blame the Japanese for this -- they're merely importing the parts they like. And why not? They are quite sure God understands this. I imagine the first Japanese importer went abroad to some place like the U.S., held up a Wal-Mart...
SOCCER / World cup
Dec 23, 2005

JFA plans to put 60% of World Cup tickets on general sale

The Japan Football Association said Thursday it plans to put on general sale around 60 percent of its allocation of tickets for Japan's first-round matches at next year's World Cup finals in Germany.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Dec 23, 2005

Verdy appoints Ramos as boss

Tokyo Verdy on Thursday named former Japan international midfielder Ruy Ramos as manager of the once-mighty club, which was relegated to the J. League second division this season.
MORE SPORTS
Dec 23, 2005

Moromizato to make impact

Shinobu Moromizato, who earned her 2006 U.S. LPGA tour card earlier this month, has vowed to give it her best shot on women's golf's most prestigious tour and has made retaining exempt status for 2007 her top priority.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Dec 23, 2005

Uehara highest-paid pitcher in Japan, to await MLB switch

Despite a 20-million-yen pay cut from this year, Koji Uehara became the highest-paid pitcher in Japan, when he re-signed on Thursday with the Yomiuri Giants for an estimated 340 million yen.
BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 23, 2005

Matsui still undecided on WBC

New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui said Thursday he is still undecided on whether to join Japan's squad for the World Baseball Classic next March.
EDITORIALS
Dec 23, 2005

Rough sailing for Mr. Maehara

The Democratic Party of Japan, the nation's top opposition party, has held its first convention since electing Mr. Seiji Maehara as president in September. The party's new action policy for 2006 aims to reverse the power balance between the ruling and opposition camps in the next Upper House election...
JAPAN
Dec 23, 2005

China posing a threat: Aso

A Beijing spokesman Thursday called remarks by Foreign Minister Taro Aso on China posing a threat "highly irresponsible" and questioned his intentions. Now is the wrong time for a meeting between Aso and his Chinese counterpart, Li Zhaoxing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang also a press briefing....
JAPAN
Dec 23, 2005

JAL inspection ends but safety problems continue

The state will end its special inspection of Japan Airlines Corp. but continue to closely monitor the mishap-prone carrier since it is still having safety problems, the transport ministry said Thursday.
JAPAN
Dec 23, 2005

Media reports on China, South Korea hit

turns toward South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao looks away after a group photo at the East Asia Summit on Dec. 14.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 23, 2005

Emperor lauds role of women in royal family

Emperor Akihito, speaking before his 72nd birthday Friday, spoke favorably about the role of the female members of the Imperial family, though he declined comment on a report by a government panel on the Imperial succession that proposes allowing females to ascend the throne.
JAPAN
Dec 23, 2005

Itoham gets 30 million yen fine

The Tokyo District Court ordered major meat processor Itoham Foods Inc. on Thursday to pay 30 million yen over its involvement in a meat importer's evasion of customs duties on imported pork, imposing a fine three times the amount that prosecutors had demanded.
JAPAN
Dec 23, 2005

New war memorial off budget in '06

The government will not appropriate outlays in the fiscal 2006 budget for a feasibility study for the proposed building of a new war memorial, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said Thursday, citing divided public opinion.
JAPAN
Dec 23, 2005

Crackdown on suicides saves nine

Police have prevented nine suicides thanks to an online crackdown launched two months ago in cooperation with Internet service providers, an official said Thursday.

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