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JAPAN
Dec 18, 2004

Fraud sweeping nation amid rise in scam artists, police say

Fraud jumped 41.9 percent to 75,427 cases in the 11 months through November compared with a year ago, the National Police Agency said.
BUSINESS
Dec 18, 2004

Scandal-tainted Seibu Railway delisted from TSE

The Tokyo Stock Exchange on Friday delisted scandal-tainted Seibu Railway Co., whose falsification of financial statements made headlines recently.
Japan Times
Dec 18, 2004

Japanese school gets more asylum-seekers

Seven asylum-seekers believed to be North Korean entered a Japanese school in Beijing on Friday morning, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 18, 2004

Aboriginal policy raises storm

SYDNEY -- Aborigines in the remote Australian Outback are going blind amid filthy conditions while white Australians luxuriate in some of the world's most sophisticated cities. It's a disaster waiting to happen, and that day looks close.
Dec 18, 2004

Iraqi officials end seminar with plan to save their marshlands

OSAKA -- A two-week seminar for Iraqi officials on preserving the rapidly disappearing marshlands in southern Iraq concluded Friday with plans to launch a pilot program that would introduce water and sanitation technologies to the area.
BUSINESS
Dec 18, 2004

View of economy downgraded -- but BOJ upbeat

The Bank of Japan on Friday downgraded its view of the economy for the second straight month.
BUSINESS
Dec 18, 2004

Toyota engine plant revs up in China

Toyota Motor Corp. said Friday its joint venture with China FAW Group Corp. has launched production of 3-liter gasoline engines in Changchun, Jilin Province.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 18, 2004

Taiwan's citizens voted their pocketbooks

HONOLULU -- Prudence suggests that not too much be read into the surprisingly inconclusive results of Taiwan's legislative election because, fundamentally, little has changed and the confrontation with China will continue to jeopardize the security of East Asia.
BUSINESS
Dec 18, 2004

Skymark soars into the black with 1.3 billion yen profit

Skymark Airlines Co. said Friday it posted its first-ever full-year profit, thanks to a flight increase made possible by a fleet expansion.
SOCCER / World cup
Dec 17, 2004

Germany whips Japan

YOKOHAMA -- Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Ballack gave the 61,805 fans who braved the cold at Yokohama International Stadium on Thursday, something to remember as Germany beat Japan 3-0 in the home team's last game of a busy 2004.
JAPAN
Dec 17, 2004

JR Tokai rapped over snub for disabled

The Justice Ministry has told Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai) that it should allow access to its stations by disabled people who use electric carts, officials said Thursday.
JAPAN
Dec 17, 2004

Imperial Couple to mark Kobe quake

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will visit Kobe in January to mark the 10th anniversary of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake.
BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 17, 2004

Giants give Nishi deadline to re-sign

The Yomiuri Giants demanded Wednesday that free-agent infielder Toshihisa Nishi decide by Monday whether to re-sign with the Central League team or pursue a career in the major leagues, club representative Hidetoshi Kiyotake said.
JAPAN
Dec 17, 2004

UFJ chief quizzed over probe block

Prosecutors apparently have questioned UFJ Bank President Takamune Okihara over the bank's obstruction of government inspections in 2003 by allegedly hiding vital documents, investigative sources said Thursday.
JAPAN
Dec 17, 2004

Miyake Island prepares for homecoming

MIYAKE ISLAND -- The white skeletal trunks of dead trees and hulks of cars rusted away by volcanic gas that line the roads here give visitors the impression that this is no man's land.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / COUNTER CULTURE
Dec 17, 2004

Delicatessens delight Tokyo

Everyone hankers after a little luxury in their life and in food-fixated Japan the latest in retail therapy is splashing out on fancy imported snacks or take-home dishes prepared by expert chefs.
EDITORIALS
Dec 17, 2004

Better ways to share tax money

Local governments in Japan, like the central government, are heavily in debt. The deficit problem is adding to difficulties in budget talks between the Finance and Internal Affairs ministries. The key question is how much national tax revenue should be transferred to local administrations in fiscal 2005....
BUSINESS
Dec 17, 2004

JR asked to foot bill for bullet train projects

The government and ruling bloc Thursday urged Japan Railway group to shoulder some of the construction costs for new bullet train projects, government officials said.
CULTURE / Art
Dec 17, 2004

Finnish yuletide

Illuminated ornaments designed by Finnish designers are on display for the Christmas season in Shinjuku Park Tower in Tokyo.
CULTURE / Books / THE BOOK REPORT
Dec 17, 2004

Book Trade Booms in 2004

2004 was a prosperous year for the Japanese book trade with revenues exceeding the previous year's figures for the first time in seven years. Despite many small bookstores going out of business, innovative marketing from publishers and book retailers produced several million-sellers.
BUSINESS
Dec 17, 2004

State may downgrade economy

The government will probably downgrade the economy in its December report, making it clear things are slowing down, sources at the Cabinet Office said Thursday.
MORE SPORTS
Dec 17, 2004

FIBA likes Japan's plan for 2006 world championships

Top executives from FIBA, basketball's world governing body, recently visited Japan for a site inspection tour of the five cities and venues that will host games here during the 2006 world championships.
BUSINESS
Dec 17, 2004

Individual financial assets up for fifth straight quarter

The outstanding balance of individual financial assets held by households at the end of September rose 1.4 percent from a year earlier to 1.411 quadrillion yen for the fifth consecutive quarterly increase, the Bank of Japan 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