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JAPAN
Jul 14, 2004

Jenkins sounded out on Japan checkup

The government has sounded out Charles Robert Jenkins, the American husband of repatriated abductee Hitomi Soga, on the possibility of his coming to Japan for a medical checkup, government sources said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jul 14, 2004

FTC tells Microsoft to cut restrictive contract clause

The Fair Trade Commission slapped a warning against Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday, demanding that the U.S. software giant remove what it said was an unfair clause from contracts with Japanese personal computer makers.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / CERAMIC SCENE
Jul 14, 2004

A diamond in the rough

During the 20th century, Japanese studio pottery made by individuals came to the fore. Up until then, many potters worked for large kilns or were artisans involved in a production-line method; one man molded the pots, while another decorated and so on.
JAPAN
Jul 14, 2004

Takenaka sibling rallied Misawa Homes' support

Executives at subsidiaries of Misawa Homes Holdings Inc., a financially troubled recipient of huge loans from UFJ Holdings Inc., had their employees assist the campaigning of Financial Services Minister Heizo Takenaka, who was elected to the House of Councilors in Sunday's election, according to his...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Jul 14, 2004

Epic drama of love, reincarnation and revenge

Although Ichikawa Ennosuke, 64, the founder of "Super Kabuki," may be absent from the stage due to illness, his company of 25 are delighting audiences with their production of Tsuruya Namboku's classic masterpiece, "Sakurahime Azuma Bunsho (The Story of Sakurahime)" at the Kabukiza Theater this month....
JAPAN
Jul 14, 2004

Peace group protests activists' arrest, beating by cops

An umbrella organization of 51 citizens' groups that has staged peace marches in Tokyo lodged a protest Tuesday over the arrests of three participants in one such walk in Shibuya Ward earlier this month, displaying video footage of one of them being repeatedly beaten by police.
BUSINESS
Jul 14, 2004

DoCoMo to invest in TI in quest for dual-mode chips

Japan's top mobile carrier said Tuesday it will invest about 5.5 billion yen in Texas Instruments Inc. of the United States to jointly develop a chip to enable cell phones to work in two different networks.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 14, 2004

Slices of life don't quite hit the spot

At Five in the Afternoon Rating: * * * (out of 5) Director: Samira Makhmalbaf Running time: 105 minutes Language: Persian Currently showing [See Japan Times movie listings] Take Care of My Cat Rating: * * * (out of 5) Director: Jeong Jae Eun Running time: 112 minutes Language:...
JAPAN
Jul 14, 2004

Majority of election victors back deployment of SDF to Iraq

More than half of those elected in Sunday's House of Councilors election support or condone Japan's deployment of troops in Iraq, while almost four in 10 have flawed pension payment records, according to a Kyodo News survey.
BUSINESS
Jul 14, 2004

Postal privatization talks to resume next week

Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Heizo Takenaka said Tuesday the government will resume postal privatization discussions next week and draw up a final report on the issue in September.
BUSINESS
Jul 14, 2004

Record 74% of Japan manufacturers see profits in China

A record 74.4 percent of China-based Japanese manufacturers responding to a poll posted operating profits in 2003, the Japan External Trade Organization said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jul 14, 2004

Koizumi to meet Roh on South Korean island of Cheju

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will visit South Korea's resort island of Cheju next week to meet with South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Jul 14, 2004

METI to guarantee loans to MMC units

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Tuesday it will support cash-strapped affiliates of scandal-hit Mitsubishi Motors Corp. by offering them guarantees to receive more loans.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 14, 2004

Ultraeasy monetary policy to stay despite steady growth

The nation's recent steady economic growth will not immediately lead to a tighter monetary grip by the Bank of Japan due to the inherent time lag between a recovery and a turnaround in deflation, BOJ Gov. Toshihiko Fukui said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Jul 14, 2004

Cabinet Office says recovery 'solid' for first time since 1997

The government on Tuesday upgraded its assessment of Japan's economy for the first time in six months, using the strongest words to describe an improvement in personal spending since the burst of the asset-inflated bubble economy in the early 1990s.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 14, 2004

Winning over Hong Kong

SINGAPORE -- After Hong Kongers somberly commemorated the 15th anniversary of Tiananmen on June 5, they jolted China's central government by organizing, like last year, another massive July 1 demonstration, setting the stage for another big political standoff with Beijing ahead of the September Legislative...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / NEW ART SEEN
Jul 14, 2004

Down by the river

Tucked behind a gas station on a side street out near the Sumida River, a 12-minute walk from the nearest subway station, the Shinkawa Building is not the easiest place to find on Tokyo's art map. But the nondescript two-story structure is a worthwhile visit for anyone interested in Japanese contemporary...
EDITORIALS
Jul 13, 2004

A message for Mr. Koizumi

Voters gave a cold shoulder to the governing Liberal Democratic Party and a big boost to the opposition Democratic Party of Japan in Sunday's triennial Upper House election, which was contested mainly over pension reform and Self-Defense Forces participation in the multinational force in Iraq. With the...
OLYMPICS
Jul 13, 2004

Yuka Murofushi named to team

Yuka Murofushi, who set a national record in women's hammer throw last month, was one of six Japanese newly named to the Athens Olympics squad by the Japan Association of Athletics Federation on Monday.
JAPAN
Jul 13, 2004

Tottori corners vote disparity market

While Kotaro Tamura of the Liberal Democratic Party needed only 151,000 votes Sunday to secure his House of Councilors seat in Tottori Prefecture, independent Kiyomi Tsujimoto garnered roughly 718,000 votes in Osaka Prefecture but found herself a loser.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jul 13, 2004

What kinds of things do you splurge on?

Seda Ergene Consultant, 26 Traveling, these days. On flights and food, because I love pushing the boundaries and going out of my safety zone, seeing and experiencing different cultures and different places.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jul 13, 2004

Adoption and no-charge credit cards

Adopting Dave and his Japanese wife want to adopt a baby.
JAPAN
Jul 13, 2004

Worker wins 50,000 yen over passive smoke

In the nation's first such ruling, the Tokyo District Court on Monday awarded 50,000 yen in damages to a municipal employee who was a victim of passive smoking in the workplace.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jul 13, 2004

Godzilla cracks home run No. 17

NEW YORK -- Hideki Matsui delivered a solo homer into the center field stands to highlight a 3-for-4, two RBI day as the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 10-3 Sunday in the final game before the All-Star break.
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Jul 13, 2004

The big squeeze

The news from Japan these days is untypically sunny. The economy is performing at its sharpest clip for 13 years, investment and profits are up and analysts are gingerly forecasting a sustained recovery.
BUSINESS
Jul 13, 2004

KDDI unveils video game cell phones

KDDI Corp. unveiled Monday three third-generation handsets on which users can play video games such as "Final Fantasy" and "Dragon Quest."

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