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JAPAN
Aug 1, 2004

Local areas to get help attracting more tourists

The transport ministry will provide assistance to prefectural governments in attracting foreign tourists, including designating historic areas and hot spring resorts as priority areas, ministry officials said Friday.
JAPAN
Jul 31, 2004

Princess afflicted by adjustment disorder

Crown Princess Masako is suffering an adjustment disorder, the Imperial Household Agency said Friday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 31, 2004

Eight-day extraordinary Diet session opens

The Diet opened Friday for an extraordinary session that will run for eight days until Aug. 6, as decided by the ruling bloc.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Jul 30, 2004

The kids are all right at these spots

The heat is most definitely on. And with the mercury so high, so are the expectations among the wee ones that you haul them off somewhere that little bit different. Here are a few ideas for Tokyo places where you and they might find some respite during the dog days.
BUSINESS
Jul 29, 2004

Aozora to boost overseas operations

Aozora Bank, the privatized successor of the nationalized Nippon Credit Bank, plans to expand lending and investing operations in foreign markets, mainly the United States and Europe, an Aozora Bank official said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 2004

DPJ looks to repeal pension laws

The Democratic Party of Japan said Tuesday it will submit during the special Diet session that starts this week a bill aimed at repealing pension reform laws enacted in early June.
JAPAN
Jul 27, 2004

JETRO retiree delights in U.S. teacher visits

Former Japan External Trade Organization official Akira Moromi has supported for nearly 30 years a program that invites teachers from the United States to Japan in appreciation for educating children of Japanese company employees.
JAPAN
Jul 27, 2004

Jenkins, lawyer may meet by week's end

A U.S. military defense lawyer may meet with accused deserter Charles Jenkins by the end of this week, Japanese government sources said Monday.
Japan Times
Features
Jul 25, 2004

Inspiration drawn from inconvenience

Necessity is the mother of invention, as they say. But for grandmother Yoko Sukekawa, it's the inconveniences she encounters in her daily life that get her inventor's juices flowing.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Jul 24, 2004

Rent-a-cats bring women love at first bite

It has long been said that for men, walking a dog is a good way to meet girls. I have to admit, I'm a sucker for a cute dog too. Whenever I see a dog, especially a black Labrador retriever, I run over and pet it, hug it, kiss it and tell it how beautiful it is. So walking a dog is a good way to meet...
BUSINESS
Jul 24, 2004

Postal privatization may see end to guarantee on deposits

The government might strip Japan Post workers of their public-servant status and might end the guarantee on ordinary deposits in 2007, when postal service privatization is phased in, according to government sources.
JAPAN
Jul 24, 2004

New system fails to rally overseas voters

Six years after a system was introduced to allow Japanese living overseas to cast ballots in national elections in Japan, their voter turnout remains extremely low.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / BEST BAR NONE
Jul 23, 2004

Fuji Rock's nightlife takes it off the scale

A good three-point formula to apply when reviewing a bar is to consider 1) the setting, 2) the people and 3) the music. These are the main ingredients that best sum it up and measure its potential. Some places score higher on some counts than they do on others, but the nightlife at the Fuji Rock Festival...
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Jul 22, 2004

Carrion crow

* Japanese name: Hashibosogarasu * Scientific name: Corvus corone * Description: Crows are large birds, growing up to 50 cm long with a wingspan of 104 cm. They have entirely black plumage and black eyes. Two species are common in Japan, the carrion crow and the jungle crow, and it's difficult to tell...
JAPAN
Jul 21, 2004

JCP-linked official 'exercising free speech'

Lawyers representing a civil servant accused of distributing Japanese Communist Party material before the House of Representatives election in November demanded Tuesday that the case be dismissed, saying his freedom of speech is being violated.
Japan Times
Features
Jul 18, 2004

Rural revelations and a sake to go

Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 16, 2004

Former LDP lawmaker held over embezzlement

Tokyo prosecutors on Thursday arrested a former lawmaker of the Liberal Democratic Party and served fresh warrants on two former executives of the Japan Dental Association for allegedly embezzling 30 million yen from the industry group.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Jul 16, 2004

Fishmarket Taproom: Chugging down the coast

The Food File does not often leave Tokyo. Why should we, when there's so much great eating to be had within the sprawling confines of this massive city? But when it comes to good drinking, that's a different story altogether. We will gladly go the extra mile (or 70) if there's a pint or two of fine ale...
JAPAN
Jul 15, 2004

Struggling UFJ pursues merger deal with MTFG

Ailing UFJ Holdings Inc. on Wednesday asked rival Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group Inc. to merge with it in a deal that would create the world's biggest banking group, with 190 trillion yen in assets.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 14, 2004

Little House on the Pavement

Once Upon a Time in the Midlands Rating: * * * (out of 5) Director: Shane Meadows Running time: 104 minutes Language: English Currently showing [See Japan Times movie listings] A woman is caught between her bad-boy, rock 'n' roll ex-husband and the sweet, adoring current lover in "Once...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 14, 2004

The master behind the otaku

Some directors joke their way through press conferences (Takeshi Kitano), while others seem to revel in the attention (the late Akira Kurosawa), but few looked as ill at ease as Katsuhiro Otomo, appearing before the media at Roppongi Hills in early June to promote "Steamboy." Nervously blinking as though...
JAPAN
Jul 14, 2004

Jenkins sounded out on Japan checkup

The government has sounded out Charles Robert Jenkins, the American husband of repatriated abductee Hitomi Soga, on the possibility of his coming to Japan for a medical checkup, government sources said Tuesday.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 14, 2004

Winning over Hong Kong

SINGAPORE -- After Hong Kongers somberly commemorated the 15th anniversary of Tiananmen on June 5, they jolted China's central government by organizing, like last year, another massive July 1 demonstration, setting the stage for another big political standoff with Beijing ahead of the September Legislative...
JAPAN
Jul 13, 2004

'No time' to explain Iraq decision: official

The government did not have enough time to explain the decision to join the U.S.-led multinational force in Iraq, one reason behind the Liberal Democratic Party's poor showing in the House of Councilors election, a top Foreign Ministry official said Monday.
EDITORIALS
Jul 12, 2004

Applauding a regional forum

It is tempting to dismiss the just-concluded annual meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) as little more than a talk shop. The statement released at the end of each meeting tends to look like the one before it. Tangible accomplishments are hard to identify. Furthermore, it is difficult to take a...
JAPAN
Jul 10, 2004

Is Pyongyang trying to win the election for the coalition?

North Korea's surprise live broadcast Friday of Hitomi Soga's kin at Pyongyang airport may constitute another indication that the country is apparently trying to back Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's administration ahead of Sunday's House of Councilors election, government officials claimed.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Jul 8, 2004

Little egret

* Japanese name: Kosagi * Scientific name: Egretta garzetta * Description: The Little Egret is a bird related to the heron, with snow-white plumage, a long, pointed black bill and black legs with bright yellow feet. Its body is 50-60 cm long. In the breeding season in summer, the feet turn bright red,...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 7, 2004

A classic -- by the numbers

Tange Sazen: Hyakuman Ryo no Tsubo Rating: * * * (out of 5) Director: Toshio Tsuda Running time: 119 minutes Language: Japanese Opens July 17 [See Japan Times movie listings] Tange Sazen -- the one-eyed, one-armed ex-samurai swordsman -- is one of those literary characters with a mythic...

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