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BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Dec 22, 2004

Iwakuma not the first Japanese pitcher caught in tug-of-war

The on-going tug-of-war between the Orix Buffaloes and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles over pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma reminds me of a somewhat similar situation that occurred a quarter of a century ago in Japanese baseball: the case of another right-handed hurler, Suguru Egawa.
JAPAN / READERS' FUND
Dec 22, 2004

JVC uses donations to dig wells, improve water in Laotian villages

Japan International Volunteer Center kicked off a project in 1997 to promote environment-friendly agriculture at villages in Vientiane Prefecture, Laos.
JAPAN
Dec 22, 2004

Thai orphan gets one-year visa

The government Tuesday granted renewable one-year temporary resident status to a 13-year-old Thai girl orphaned in Thailand and now living in Japan with her adoptive guardians.
JAPAN
Dec 22, 2004

Airline passenger ID system in works

Japan will start a system on Jan. 4 in which information on passengers flying to the country will be provided to authorities in an effort to enhance security against terrorism and criminals, government officials said Tuesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / CERAMIC SCENE
Dec 22, 2004

Dreams for a perfectly set table come true

"Everybody sets out to do something, and everybody does something, but no one does what he sets out to do," said Irish author George Moore of the good intentions that abound in life. Setting an idea in motion is often more important than the end result, whether one creates products, ideas, or life itself....
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Dec 22, 2004

The sound of 2004

Rock and blues Animal Collective, "Sung Tongs" (Fat Cat): An acoustic hootenany reinvented for the electronic era. Exhilarating, innocent of any apparent influence, and completely unlike anything else released this year (or maybe ever). (S.T.)
JAPAN
Dec 22, 2004

UFJ Bank, former execs indicted for blocking inspections

Prosecutors indicted former UFJ Bank Vice President Kazuyoshi Okazaki and two other former executives as well as UFJ Bank for allegedly blocking government inspections last year in violation of the Banking Law.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 22, 2004

Can't hold down a good stereotype

Kiss of Life Rating: * * * * (out of 5) Director: Emily Young Running time: 86 minutes Language: English Currently showing [See Japan Times movie listings] Nathalie ... Rating: * * * 1/2 (out of 5) Director: Anne Fontaine Running time: 105 minutes Language: French Currently...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Dec 22, 2004

Bang a gong for . . .

The '60s Live! Award: Tie between Art Garfunkel and David Crosby, both of whom were busted for marijuana possession.
MORE SPORTS
Dec 22, 2004

Kitajima, Asashoryu win inaugural FSAJ Sportsman of the Year honors

Kosuke Kitajima won two gold medals at the Athens Games this summer.
JAPAN
Dec 22, 2004

Lee gets visa; LDP is told to steer clear

The government issued a visa Tuesday to former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui and China quickly reacted by urging Japan to cancel the move.
BUSINESS
Dec 22, 2004

Koizumi's LDP foes boast own postal 'reform' plan

The Liberal Democratic Party adopted its own basic plan on postal reform Tuesday, incorporating criticism leveled by opponents of the government's plan to privatize the state-backed Japan Post.
BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 22, 2004

Newly formed Golden Eagles ink two major leaguers

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles said Tuesday they have signed infielder Luis Lopez and right-hander Aaron Myette to provisional single-year deals worth 50 million yen each.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Dec 22, 2004

Camping out

Camp was cool this year. Freddie Mercury was the most revered dead-pop-star role model, and many up-and-coming rock acts indulged in what Susan Sontag once called "the love of the exaggerated," whether it was Franz Ferdinand's metrosexual take on new wave or the Scissor Sisters' Studio 54 appropriation...
Dec 22, 2004

230 people killed or missing in natural disasters in 2004

At least 230 people were killed or remain missing and presumed dead in typhoons, rainstorms and other natural disasters in 2004, according to a government report released Tuesday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 22, 2004

Shinsei hopes mini-branches will attract more clients

Shinsei Bank opened the first of a new series of mini-branches Tuesday in Tokyo in a bid to attract more customers and promote greater use of Internet banking.
Dec 22, 2004

LDP launches panel to revise the Constitution

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party launched a new panel Tuesday to revise the Constitution, LDP Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe said.
SOCCER / World cup
Dec 22, 2004

Kubo, Tsuboi recalled

Japan coach Zico recalled Yokohama F. Marinos striker Tatsuhiko Kubo and Urawa Reds defender Keisuke Tsuboi for home friendlies against Kazakstan and Syria in the buildup to February's World Cup qualifier at home to North Korea.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Dec 22, 2004

The lady takes to King Lear

Utopia may be a little while coming in the real world, but -- earthquakes and broken bullet-train lines notwithstanding -- Ryutopia is not too hard to find if you are in Niigata, where it is the name given to the city's magnificent Performing Arts Center. Opened in 1998, the vast oval-shaped glass building...
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Dec 22, 2004

Net gain: Adding Carter, subtracting 'Zo

NEW YORK -- If Vince Carter never plays a game for the Nets it was still a great trade.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 22, 2004

Haneda reopens revamped Terminal 1

Tokyo's Haneda airport on Tuesday reopened Terminal 1's renovated North Wing, allowing Japan Airlines to use both wings of the terminal.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / NEW ART SEEN
Dec 22, 2004

An improviser of lines

When we hearken back to the revolutionary 1960s, a decade increasingly "remembered" by people who in fact weren't even alive at the time, the soundtrack that rings in our ears is, of course, rock 'n' roll.

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