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BUSINESS
Nov 17, 2004

U.S. steel company drawing a bead on Mitsui Mining

International Steel Group Inc., the second-largest U.S. steelmaker, has notified the Industrial Revitalization Corp. of Japan of its interest in buying Mitsui Mining Co., sources said Tuesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Nov 17, 2004

Power of hope

Toshiko Akiyoshi's Jazz Orchestra is one of the most innovative big bands in jazz -- not just in Japanese jazz, but worldwide. Her work has received both critical praise and consistent popularity over the course of 50 years of live performances and some 40 recordings.
BUSINESS
Nov 17, 2004

National rice target to fall in 2005

The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry plans to pare its rice output target for 2005 to 8.51 million tons, down 60,000 tons from 2004, ministry officials said Tuesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Nov 17, 2004

Satire booms in dark dramatic fantasies

Darwin tells us that mutation is the motor of evolution, and in the theater world the young playwright Martin McDonagh and the dramatist Matsuo Suzuki are each bringing a completely new approach to their art in Britain and Japan respectively.
JAPAN
Nov 17, 2004

NPO 'skills bank' for entertainer wannabes

Tokyo Artists Skills Operation is attempting to catalog the expertise of potential movie and television performers nationwide.
BUSINESS
Nov 17, 2004

Foreign exchange, oil prices to be major focus at G20

Foreign-exchange rates and high oil prices are expected to be major topics at a meeting of Group of 20 finance ministers and central bankers in Berlin this weekend, Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Nov 17, 2004

Lower House panel debates foreign suffrage bill

A House of Representatives committee on Tuesday began deliberating a bill to enable permanent foreign residents of Japan to vote in local elections.
JAPAN
Nov 17, 2004

Science meet ends on sour note over exclusive nature

KYOTO -- The inaugural Science and Technology in Society meeting here concluded Tuesday with participants happy to exchange views with distinguished colleagues but divided on how to expand the conference to make it as important as the World Economic Forum.
JAPAN
Nov 17, 2004

Koizumi firm -- no peace treaty until all isles returned

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi renewed on Tuesday his vow to conclude a peace treaty with Russia only after it recognizes Japan's sovereignty over the four disputed islands off Hokkaido.
COMMENTARY
Nov 17, 2004

Bush's win doesn't mean Musharraf can rest easy

ISLAMABAD -- The re-election of U.S. President George W. Bush for another four years comes as a welcome development for the pro-American government of Pakistan's military ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf. Relations between the two countries have been close since Pakistan became an ally in the U.S.-led war...
BUSINESS
Nov 17, 2004

Economy 'taking a breather'

The government has revised its assessment of the economy downward for the first time since June 2003, citing slowdowns in exports and production, according to a monthly report issued Tuesday.
JAPAN
Nov 17, 2004

Koizumi hails Powell's role toward ties, regrets exit

Japan expressed confidence Tuesday that relations with the United States would remain strong even after the departure of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who has announced he is stepping down.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Nov 17, 2004

Mound relief almost backfired for MLB pitchers

The visiting Major League Baseball All-Stars left Japan Nov. 14 with a 5-3 series victory over their All-Japan opponents but, ironically, a change in the pitching mounds designed to help the big leaguers for the final three games of the tour almost resulted in disaster for the visitors. Let me explain....
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 17, 2004

Ozawa agrees to rejoin DPJ top brass

Ichiro Ozawa, former deputy president of the Democratic Party of Japan, agreed Tuesday to assume the party's vice presidency.
BUSINESS
Nov 17, 2004

Rakuten allowed to join Keidanren

The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) on Tuesday approved the entry of online shopping mall operator Rakuten Inc.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 16, 2004

Yokota's 'remains' brought home

Japanese officials returned Monday from Pyongyang with what they were told are the cremated remains of Megumi Yokota, who according to North Korea committed suicide after being abducted to the reclusive state in 1977.
JAPAN
Nov 16, 2004

Danish Queen Margrethe arrives for visit

Danish Queen Margrethe will help kick off celebrations marking next year's bicentennial of the birth of Hans Christian Andersen, the Danish fairy tale writer, during an eight-day visit to Japan that began Monday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 16, 2004

Life plugging back in on Miyake

Economic activity, including postal services, is resuming on Miyake Island, 4 1/2 years after volcanic eruptions forced its inhabitants to flee in September 2000.
JAPAN
Nov 16, 2004

Pro clubs back Daiei Hawks sale to Softbank

Representatives of professional baseball clubs accepted Monday a plan by retailer Daiei Inc. to sell its entire stake in the Daiei Hawks baseball club to Internet service provider Softbank Corp.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 16, 2004

Baseball draft system set to be revised

Top officials of Nippon Professional Baseball on Monday met with representatives of the pro baseball players association and agreed to establish a committee formed from both parties to expedite revisions to the Japanese pro baseball draft system, baseball sources said.
EDITORIALS
Nov 16, 2004

Steps for the Palestinians

The death of Palestine Authority President Yasser Arafat opens the door to new possibilities in the troubled Middle East. While Mr. Arafat was the embodiment of Palestinian aspirations, he had also become an obstacle to peace. His most important interlocutors -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Nov 16, 2004

How old is too old to teach?

Too old? G. is a a 60-year-old native English speaking female who has earned a BS in Elementary Education and an Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education.
CULTURE / Art
Nov 16, 2004

Life on the ocean wave

An exhibition tracing the history of ocean liners -- from paddle steamers that came to Yokohama toward the end of the Edo Period to present-day cruise ships -- is being held at Yokohama Maritime Museum.

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