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BUSINESS
Aug 27, 2004

Exports to Asia hit record 2.6 trillion yen in July

Japan's total exports to other Asian economies hit a record high in July.
JAPAN
Aug 26, 2004

Okinawa governor presses Koizumi to revise SOFA

Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine asked Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Wednesday to revise the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement.
JAPAN
Aug 26, 2004

Voice actors win damages for video and DVD products

The Tokyo High Court ordered an animation company and its subsidiary Wednesday to pay approximately 88 million yen in damages to 361 voice actors for converting cartoons they performed on into videos and DVDs without their consent.
JAPAN
Aug 26, 2004

Ishiba looks to reduce civilian control over SDF

Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba wants to reduce civilian control over Japan's defense forces by revising relevant legislation, informed sources said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Aug 26, 2004

Okinawa governor presses Koizumi to revise SOFA

Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine asked Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Wednesday to revise the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement.
BUSINESS
Aug 26, 2004

Toyota launches production, sale of pickup in Thailand

Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it has launched production and sale of a new pickup truck in Thailand, its first step in building a global supply network.
EDITORIALS
Aug 26, 2004

Clarifying the cyber-crime fight

Japan is set to become an active party to an international treaty designed to combat computer crime. The Diet, which earlier this year approved the Convention on Cyber-crime, is in the process of debating a set of revision bills for related domestic laws, including the Criminal Law. Given the rapid rise...
JAPAN
Aug 26, 2004

Koizumi to 'inspect' Russian-held islands

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Wednesday expressed his intention to visit eastern Hokkaido as early as next month to take a look at the Russian-held islands claimed by Japan.
BUSINESS
Aug 26, 2004

'05 budgetary requests likely to surpass 85 trillion yen

The fiscal 2005 budget requests from government ministries and agencies are expected to total 85.52 trillion yen -- 3.40 trillion yen greater than the initial budget for the current fiscal year, Finance Ministry sources said Wednesday.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Aug 26, 2004

Brown-lined puffer

* Japanese name: Kitamakura * Scientific name: Canthigaster rivulata * Description: Puffer fish have plump bodies and thick, smooth skin interrupted by large bulging eyes. In many parts of Japan, puffer fish are called fugu, which is written using Chinese characters that mean "river pig." In western...
BUSINESS
Aug 26, 2004

JT unit in trouble over alleged smuggling

The Quebec government is seeking a tax payment of 1.36 billion Canadian dollars (about 114.6 billion yen) from JTI-Macdonald Corp., the Canadian unit of Japan Tobacco Inc., for the unit's alleged role in tobacco smuggling from 1990 to 1998, JT officials said.
JAPAN
Aug 26, 2004

Registered births down in first half

The first half of the year saw 560,958 newborns registered with Japanese authorities, including those born overseas, a decrease of 4,900 from last year, according to preliminary health ministry data obtained Wednesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 26, 2004

Suzuki bribery charges politically motivated, his lawyers say

Lawyers for former House of Representatives member Muneo Suzuki told the Tokyo District Court on Wednesday that their client is innocent and the bribery charges against him are politically motivated.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Aug 26, 2004

The Showa days: Were they really that good?

True to their inherent sentimentality, the Japanese often get all misty-eyed about times past. Lately the phrase "furuki yoki Showa (the good old Showa days)" has been bandied about. But, one is inclined to ask, were the Showa days really as good as the media would have us believe?
JAPAN
Aug 26, 2004

Ishiba looks to reduce civilian control over SDF

Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba wants to reduce civilian control over Japan's defense forces by revising relevant legislation, informed sources said Wednesday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Aug 26, 2004

Nishi knocks two out of the yard

Toshihisa Nishi homered twice and Ichiro Horita hit a two-run go-ahead double in the third inning as the Yomiuri Giants came from behind to beat the first-place Chunichi Dragons 5-4 in the Central League on Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Aug 26, 2004

Daiei must seek IRCJ help: SMFG chief

Yoshifumi Nishikawa, president of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc., said Wednesday that supermarket chain operator Daiei Inc. has no alternative but to seek help from the state-backed Industrial Revitalization Corp. of Japan for its revival.
SOCCER / World cup
Aug 26, 2004

Zico recalls Takahara, Ono for qualifier

Japan coach Zico has recalled German-based striker Naohiro Takahara and Feyenoord midfielder Shinji Ono for the Asian champions' upcoming World Cup qualifier away to India.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Aug 26, 2004

Thinking aloud

Does language determine thought? Are there concepts in some languages that can't be understood in others because that language doesn't have the word for it?

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