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COMMENTARY / World
Oct 24, 2004

Credit some viewers for trying to think

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- As one of the millions of television viewers glued to his screen trying to keep pace with the overwhelming flow of international news, I often find myself pondering the pluses and minuses of present-day advances in computers, electronics and information technology. The other day...
CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF
Oct 24, 2004

Japanese postcards on the edge

ART OF THE JAPANESE POSTCARD, essays by Anne Nishimura Morse, J. Thomas Rimer and Kendall H. Brown, foreword by Malcolm Rogers, preface by Leonard A. Lauder, printing notes by Joan Wright, biographies by Tomoko Okamura. Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, MFA Publications, 2004, 288 pp., 300 color illustrations,...
JAPAN
Oct 24, 2004

Tentative accord reached on U.S. beef

Japan and the United States on Saturday agreed in principle to resume U.S. beef imports as early as next spring, although a final accord on specific conditions for lifting the ban was left to further negotiations.
JAPAN
Oct 23, 2004

Democrats, Republicans vie for Japan votes

OSAKA -- With less than two weeks to go until U.S. voters go to the polls to choose between incumbent President George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry, representatives of the Republican and Democratic parties in Japan are doing their best to round up very vote.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 23, 2004

An alternative for Alzheimer's sufferers

When Ray Smith learned in 1991 that his wife was suffering from Alzheimer's disease, the former British art dealer took her on a world trip.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 23, 2004

Mori attacks Koizumi as reform drive further erodes state's power

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's fiscal reform drive is an example of "historic misgovernment," according to former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori.
EDITORIALS
Oct 23, 2004

Middling marks for new Cabinet

During the days of all-inclusive Budget Committee debates in both Houses of the Diet this week, opposition parties focused on the issue of "politics and money," particularly on the donation scandal involving the Liberal Democratic Party's largest faction. The debates produced one positive result: The...
JAPAN
Oct 23, 2004

988 million yen paid to officials as 'editing' fees

A total of 1,475 officials of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and the affiliated Social Insurance Agency have received a combined 988 million yen over the past five years from private companies for editing videos and books, the ministry said in an in-house investigation report Friday.
JAPAN
Oct 23, 2004

Japanese dads told to get involved in family life

Japanese fathers should take more responsibility in family affairs, allowing females to better participate in the labor force, according to the visiting Finnish social affairs minister.
JAPAN
Oct 23, 2004

Machimura unmoved by UNSC report

Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said Friday he is unconcerned by media reports that a U.N. advisory panel on reforming the world body will not propose Japan as a candidate for permanent membership of the U.N. Security Council in its recommendation report.
JAPAN
Oct 23, 2004

Mushrooms kill four in October

At least four people died this month after eating "sugihiratake" mushrooms, health officials said Friday.
BUSINESS
Oct 23, 2004

Japan-U.S. beef talks to continue

Japan and the United States remained divided Friday over Tokyo's ban on U.S. beef imports, but agreed to continue discussions on the matter Saturday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Oct 23, 2004

Hiring, firing by the book in nicest possible way

Tom Nevins, a leading expert on Japanese rules of employment and personnel policy and practices, must have the busiest "meishi" in business. Not only does it open up, offering four sides of information, but contains a discount card for the many books he has written. A name card within a name card, so...
BUSINESS
Oct 23, 2004

Jobless hurting nation's growth rate

An increase in the number of young people who do not attend schools, get jobs or receive job training will probably pull down Japan's potential growth rate during the 2000-2005 period, according to a think tank report.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 23, 2004

Ministers visit regions bludgeoned by typhoon

Several government inspection teams led by ministers and vice ministers went on a day trip Friday to inspect areas hit hard by powerful Typhoon Tokage.
BUSINESS
Oct 23, 2004

Japan OKs imports of Chinese nori

Japan will allow imports of Chinese nori beginning next fiscal year, Yoshinobu Shimamura, minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, said Friday.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Oct 23, 2004

Do you qualify for O-baa-chan Club?

I do believe that I am the youngest member to enter the O-baa-chan Club, an inner circle of old ladies who keep Japan under their thumbs. I'm not exactly sure why or how I gained entry, but apparently the fact that I live in the countryside and have a vegetable garden was enough to convince everyone...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 23, 2004

BayStars, Tigers chairmen to resign

Yokohama BayStars chairman Yukio Sunahara said Friday he will resign after the Central League club was known to have been engaged in unethical scouting of amateur prospect Yasuhiro Ichiba.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / PERSONALITY PROFILE
Oct 23, 2004

Thi Diu Nguyen

The ancient Dong Son period in Vietnam left a treasured legacy of artistic and cultural accomplishments. Two years ago when Tokyo artist Dr. Frederick Harris was setting up a foundation to benefit Vietnamese art students, he gave it the significant name Dong Son. He invited Thi Diu Nguyen to be art adviser...
JAPAN
Oct 23, 2004

Atomic commission votes to continue policy of reprocessing spent nuke fuel

The Atomic Energy Commission's draft for a new nuclear policy plan advocates maintaining the current policy of reprocessing spent nuclear fuel.
BUSINESS
Oct 23, 2004

Scramble for Daiei outlets could intensify amid IRCJ involvement

Daiei Inc.'s decision to seek help from the Industrial Revitalization Corp. of Japan is widely believed to have intensified a scramble for the retailer's outlets and may result in a major change in power relations in the supermarket industry.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 23, 2004

Activist arrested for unauthorized pill sales

Police on Friday arrested peace activist Chiyo Takahashi and three other people on suspicion of selling unapproved medicine.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST
Oct 23, 2004

Winning and losing the compliment game

My, I'm impressed with the way you read. Your eyes just sail across the text like a clipper ship backed by fair winds and bound for a friendly port. Even when you blink, you don't slow down. Even when I type challenging words like "panegyric" or "ibetyourbreathcouldkillahorse," you barely pause on the...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 23, 2004

Finnish minister prods Japan on exports

The visiting Finnish trade minister voiced hope Friday that her country will increase exports to Japan, with emphasis on high-tech products such as mobile-phone systems and other telecommunication instruments.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 23, 2004

Bush critics also hit at Reagan

CLAREMONT, California -- Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry criticizes President George W. Bush for "going it alone in Iraq," for failing to build the support of the United Nations and for failing to build an international coalition of America's traditional allies.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 23, 2004

First step to a national security strategy

WASHINGTON -- Last week in Tokyo, Japan's Council on Security and Defense Capabilities (better known in the United States as the Araki Commission) issued its final report on the future direction of Japanese national-security policy. The report demands special attention, as it will provide the basis on...

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