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JAPAN
Jan 5, 2005

Japan, U.S. reach agreement on civilian-military use of Yokota base

Japan and the United States have reached a broad agreement on joint civilian-military use of the U.S. Air Force's Yokota Air Base, according to Japanese officials.
JAPAN
Jan 5, 2005

Shrine, temple tills yield more fake 10,000 yen bills

About 230 counterfeit 10,000 yen bills were used in transactions in shops near shrines and temples in Tokyo and 11 other prefectures from Dec. 31 to Jan. 3.
COMMENTARY
Jan 5, 2005

Beijing counts on more high-speed growth in '05

HONG KONG -- Barely three years after joining the World Trade Organization, China has emerged as a major trading power, with total trade last year exceeding $1 trillion, an increase of more than 30 percent over 2003, making China the world's third-largest trading power. This is an astonishing performance...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Jan 5, 2005

Momix: taking it to the top

Moses Pendleton remembers well his first taste of live performance. He was an elementary school kid when his father -- a dairy farmer in northern Vermont -- hired his young son to show off his prized Holstein cows at the county fair. "My job was to walk the animals around and make them look good in order...
JAPAN
Jan 5, 2005

Japan to revise CO2 goal to a rise rather than a cut

Japan plans to revise its target for carbon dioxide emissions from energy uses to a 0.4 percent increase in fiscal 2010 from the current target of a 2.0 percent cut under a new action program to be adopted in March for the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jan 5, 2005

Following the line to enlightenment

In order to write an article about renowned Zen master Tanchu Terayama's Hitsuzendo calligraphy exhibition, I was offered the rare opportunity to visit his mountain retreat in Ibaraki Prefecture to participate in a workshop with Terayama himself. I first got a call from Terayama's most dedicated student,...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jan 5, 2005

Painting over old Edo

As a child, Akira Yamaguchi spent countless hours hunched over his desk, doodling the many space-age rocket ships and humanoids he encountered in his bedroom anime collection. The young artist, however, also remembers feeling a sense of guilt whenever he attempted to mimic more traditional Japanese art...
JAPAN
Jan 5, 2005

Japan unit of GE affiliate in tax probe

A now-defunct Japanese unit of a GE Capital Corp. affiliate has been probed by the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau for allegedly underreporting income by around 3.7 billion yen in the two years through December 2003, sources said Tuesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jan 5, 2005

Miraculous folk art

Part of the appeal of Grandma Moses is that her life story reads like the script from a Frank Capra film -- the story of good regular folk experiencing miracles of fame and fortune.
JAPAN
Jan 4, 2005

Stay-with-parents crowd balks at common-law life

needs to do away with the stigma that society puts on illegitimate children. In addition, the government should improve public support for single mothers," she said. "It's good to have a society with less pressure on people to live standardized lifestyles."
JAPAN
Jan 4, 2005

Holiday return rush to Tokyo peaks

The "U-turn" of vacationers traveling back from hometowns and resorts after the yearend and New Year's holidays peaked Monday, with Tokyo-bound trains, airports and roads crowded throughout the day.
COMMENTARY
Jan 4, 2005

Britain governed by nannies

LONDON -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair is often accused of being a "control freak," meaning someone who places the emphasis on presentation rather than content, but the accusation that he and his colleagues have become obsessed with "political correctness" is closer to the mark.
JAPAN / DEMOGRAPHIC DILEMMAS
Jan 4, 2005

Marital expectations help ensure singles ranks soar

She's a 38-year-old Tokyo working woman, enjoys single life, drives a sports car and dines at gourmet restaurants.
EDITORIALS
Jan 4, 2005

The year for the Middle East?

The year 2005 may herald a new era of hope for the Middle East. The death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has provided the opportunity for all parties to push with renewed vigor for a negotiated peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Amazingly, the interested parties appear to be making the most...
JAPAN
Jan 4, 2005

Collegians abroad to get to teach here over break

The Justice Ministry will launch a new immigration initiative possibly next month to allow university students from overseas to come to Japan during school breaks to teach children at public schools, it was learned Monday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 4, 2005

Home schooling finds foothold but not official favor

Mariko Komuro was of the firm belief that children should go to school even if they experienced problems -- at least until her 8-year-old son, Kazutoshi, began to feel sick and throw up in the morning on school days.
JAPAN
Jan 4, 2005

Japanese death toll from tsunamis is raised to 21

The number of Japanese nationals killed in the earthquake and tsunami devastation in Southern Asia has risen to 21, according to the Foreign Ministry.
JAPAN
Jan 4, 2005

New Year's shrine visitors splashed a lot of fake cash

More than 100 fake 10,000 yen bills have been found across the country among the New Year's monetary offerings at shrines and temples and in the shops and stalls lining their pathways.
MORE SPORTS
Jan 4, 2005

Komazawa takes fourth straight ekiden title

Two of the five Komazawa University runners won their legs Monday to lead their team to its fourth straight overall title in the Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden road relay.
MORE SPORTS
Jan 4, 2005

Matsushita fries Ritsumeikan U. in Rice Bowl

Matsushita Electric Works, led by the gutsy play of quarterback Koichi Takahashi, routed Ritsumeikan University 26-7 to win its first Rice Bowl in 10 years on Monday.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jan 4, 2005

Aged care, drivers' license woes and an alert

'Kaigo hoken' I have been in Japan many years but have never applied for permanent residence. I had personal insurance under Pacific Star until last year. Their present carrier will not insure past renewal at age 64. I do not know how much longer I will be in Japan but I am positive that at the time...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jan 4, 2005

Why has literacy dropped so dramatically?

Ana Mickle Stay at home mom, 34 There's been an upsurge in new forms of entertainment in recent years. I don't think school hours should be extended. I think students should do better with the time they have -- the kids should have a life. Schools should work on truancy rates.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Jan 4, 2005

Racism is bad business

The Community Page has commented at length on socially-sanctioned exclusionary practices in Japan. However, it has rarely touched upon their quantifiable, longer-term effects.

Longform

Figure skater Akiko Suzuki was once told her ideal weight should be 47 kilograms, a number she now admits she “naively believed.” This led to her have a relationship with food that resulted in her suffering from anorexia.
The silent battle Japanese athletes fight with weight