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JAPAN
Aug 13, 2004

Kepco pipe safety report approved by state in '00

The government certified as "appropriate" a 2000 report by Kansai Electric Power Co. on pipe safety measures at its Mihama Nuclear Power Plant in Fukui Prefecture, sources said Thursday.
JAPAN
Aug 12, 2004

High court clears way for UFJ-MTFG merger

The Tokyo High Court ruled Wednesday that struggling UFJ Holdings Inc. and the larger Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group Inc. can hold merger talks to create what would be the world's largest bank in terms of assets.
JAPAN
Aug 12, 2004

Pipes eluded nuclear plant regs

The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency will revise regulations on coolant water pipes at nuclear plants and write a guideline in the wake of Japan's deadliest atomic plant accident, agency officials said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Aug 12, 2004

Private-run prison gets go-ahead

The government said Wednesday that a plan for a new privately run prison in Mine, Yamaguchi Prefecture, will be authorized as part of a program to create special deregulation zones.
JAPAN
Aug 12, 2004

Spassky asks Bush to go easy on Fischer

Fugitive former world chess champion Bobby Fischer has an unlikely ally in his battle against U.S. authorities seeking his handover from Japan -- ex-rival Boris Spassky.
EDITORIALS
Aug 12, 2004

Blind spots of inspection

The nuclear plant accident that occurred Monday in Mihama, Fukui Prefecture, is a shocking reminder that the nation's nuclear safety inspection system is flawed. Four maintenance workers in a building housing steam turbines were killed and seven others were injured, some critically, when high-temperature...
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Aug 12, 2004

Black-eared kite Tobi

* Japanese name: Tobi * Scientific name:Milvus lineatus * Description: Kites are large raptors, birds of prey with a noticeably forked tail. The black-eared kite has dark brown plumage (darker than the plumage of its close relative, the red kite), and black feathers over its ears. They have large wings...
JAPAN
Aug 12, 2004

Aviators missing after jet crashes

U.S. military planes searched Wednesday for four missing navy aviators whose plane crashed on an uninhabited island near Iwo Jima, according to military officials.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Aug 12, 2004

Camper industry wants seniors to take homes on the road

Western culture has spread far and wide in Japan, but one element of it has yet to take root here: the camper.
BUSINESS
Aug 12, 2004

Current account surplus hits record 9.64 trillion yen

Japan's current account surplus for January to June grew 31.9 percent from the same period a year ago to a record 9.64 trillion yen, topping the previous high set in the second half of 2003, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Aug 12, 2004

High court clears way for UFJ-MTFG merger

The Tokyo High Court ruled Wednesday that struggling UFJ Holdings Inc. and the larger Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group Inc. can hold merger talks to create what would be the world's largest bank in terms of assets.
JAPAN
Aug 12, 2004

Yahoo leak extorter avoids prison

The Tokyo District Court handed a suspended three-year prison term Wednesday to a 62-year-old man who tried to extort money from Softbank Corp. by threatening to publish data on subscribers of the company's Internet connection service.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 12, 2004

Net sites cater to quest for Russian brides

Attractive Russian women with blonde hair and green eyes smile invitingly from the computer screen.
BUSINESS
Aug 12, 2004

Softbank halves first-quarter net loss

Softbank Corp. said Wednesday its net loss was almost halved to 17.88 billion yen in its first quarter, thanks to a rapid increase in subscribers to its high-speed Internet connection service.
JAPAN
Aug 12, 2004

Private-run prison gets go-ahead

The government said Wednesday that a plan for a new privately run prison in Mine, Yamaguchi Prefecture, will be authorized as part of a program to create special deregulation zones.
JAPAN
Aug 12, 2004

Government expands scope of nuclear plant inspections

The government on Wednesday expanded the scope of nuclear power plants it wants checked and ordered power generators to also inspect thermal power plants to see if there are any unchecked pipes susceptible to corrosion.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Aug 12, 2004

Sensitive science in the race for glory in athletic pursuits

With the 28th Olympic Games about to start, who would put a bet on a white athlete winning the 100 meters? Certainly not the American writer Jon Entine. "The complete domination of the 100 meters by people of West African origin means no white man will ever again win the event. It simply won't happen,"...
JAPAN
Aug 12, 2004

Spassky asks Bush to go easy on Fischer

Fugitive former world chess champion Bobby Fischer has an unlikely ally in his battle against U.S. authorities seeking his handover from Japan -- ex-rival Boris Spassky.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Aug 12, 2004

Environment groups who do it in the streets

Hester Van Hooven Ward is pretty hard to miss when she greets you on the street with a wave and a big smile, then launches into her "rap": "Hi! How are you? Do you have a minute for the environment today?" she calls out to strangers.

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