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BUSINESS
Jul 8, 2004

DoCoMo retakes subscription crown

NTT DoCoMo Inc. saw the biggest net subscription growth in the domestic mobile phone market in June, surpassing that of KDDI Corp. for the first time since September, an industry association said Wednesday.
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Jul 8, 2004

Voles suggest key to male monogamy

Everyone knows someone who is a compulsive womanizer; a man who simply can't remain faithful to one woman.
OLYMPICS
Jul 8, 2004

Takahara to join camp

Hamburg SV striker Naohiro Takahara will join Japan's Olympic team training camp being held on Ishigaki Island in Okinawa, Japan Under-23 coach Masakuni Yamamoto said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jul 8, 2004

Ueno Zoo says panda pregnancy was false alarm

Efforts to artificially impregnate a giant panda on loan from Mexico have failed, officials at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo said Wednesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 8, 2004

Iraqi boy heads home after eye surgery

A 10-year-old Iraqi boy left Tokyo for home Wednesday night after a one-month stay in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, where he underwent surgery on his left eye.
JAPAN
Jul 8, 2004

Koizumi urges Murase to use private sector

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Wednesday told Kiyoshi Murase, tapped to become the new commissioner of the Social Insurance Agency, to reform the scandal-hit agency through means such as bringing in a slew of private-sector individuals.
BUSINESS
Jul 8, 2004

Foreign reserves totaled $817.95 billion in June

The nation's foreign-exchange reserves totaled $817.95 billion in June, up $1.10 billion from the previous month due to investment returns from foreign bonds, mainly U.S. Treasuries, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 8, 2004

Honda unveils Edix minivan in Tokyo

Honda Motor Co. on Wednesday unveiled its new Edix minivan, featuring an unconventional seating layout.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 7, 2004

Director sends his love to Huppert

La Vie promise Rating: * * * (out of 5) Director: Olivier Dahan Running time: 93 minutes Language: French Currently showing [See Japan Times movie listings] "La Vie promise (The Promised Life)" is not really a movie, but a love letter from director Olivier Dahan to actress Isabelle Huppert...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 7, 2004

When life gives you lemons, make an underground comic

American Splendor Rating: * * * * (out of 5) Director: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini Running time: 101 minutes Language: English Opens July 10 [See Japan Times movie listings] Religion may be the opiate of the masses, but surely comic books are the opiate of the misfits. Walk...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 7, 2004

Our man on the street

Disclosure: I've been following Harvey Pekar's work for 24 years, ever since a mutual friend and former editor of the Cleveland Edition, a long-defunct alternative paper, sent me his fifth American Splendor comic to review in 1980. I compared Pekar's autobiographical stories of ordinary life in the city...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 7, 2004

Darkness in teenage wizardland

Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban Rating: * * * 1/2 (out of 5) Director: Alfonso Cuaron Running time: 136 minutes Language: English Currently showing [See Japan Times movie listings] "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy has come and gone, but its fantasy film rival, the "Harry Potter"...
EDITORIALS
Jul 7, 2004

Constitution remains a major issue

The debate over constitutional reform -- supposedly a crucial issue in Sunday's Upper House election -- remains low-key even as the campaign enters the home stretch. It is fairly clear, though, where main parties stand on this subject -- particularly on war-renouncing Article 9. This election, therefore,...
JAPAN
Jul 7, 2004

Soga reunion may open door to fresh normalization talks

Japan might be able to resume normalization talks with North Korea this month now that they have organized a family reunion for repatriated abductee Hitomi Soga, a senior Foreign Ministry official said Tuesday.
JAPAN / BY THE NUMBERS
Jul 7, 2004

Exporting animation a huge Japanese success story

Pokemon, Digimon, Sailor Moon and Yu-Gi-Oh!
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 7, 2004

Adopted Thai girl allowed to stay

Backtracking on an earlier decision, the Justice Ministry has decided to extend a short-term visa to a 13-year-old Thai orphan who came to live with her grandmother in Tokyo after losing her parents, officials said Tuesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jul 7, 2004

The cutting edge of samurai swords

Attention to detail, design, and decoration are hallmarks of traditional Japanese aesthetics, and these values are shown off splendidly by the decorative elements and accoutrements of the Japanese sword. Furthermore, the sword is believed to be an almost sacred item, capturing the soul and spirit of...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 7, 2004

Private-sector exec's appointment seen as last-ditch attempt by LDP

In another apparent effort to win support for the ruling coalition before Sunday's election, the government said Tuesday it will appoint a private-sector executive as head of the Social Insurance Agency.
BUSINESS
Jul 7, 2004

Electronics union looks to create job center

The Japanese Electrical Electronic & Information Union, an industrywide organization of labor unions at electrical appliance manufacturers, proposed Tuesday forming a program to help members find new jobs.
BUSINESS
Jul 7, 2004

Lion to end Henkel joint venture

Household product manufacturer Lion Corp. said Tuesday it will terminate a joint-venture agreement with a Japanese unit of German firm Henkel KGaA.
BUSINESS
Jul 7, 2004

Key economic index back in boom territory

A key gauge of the current state of the economy rose above the boom-or-bust line of 50 percent in May for the first time in three months.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ELECTION '04
Jul 7, 2004

Net-based campaigning still long way off

Candidates vying for House of Councilors seats in Sunday's election will not have the luxury of updating their positions or activities via the popular medium of the Internet.
JAPAN
Jul 7, 2004

Experts mull security issues at informal Kyoto meeting

KYOTO -- Nearly two dozen former political leaders and policy experts from around the world met in Kyoto on Tuesday for informal discussions on how to make the United Nations more effective in responding to international security threats.
BUSINESS
Jul 7, 2004

Corolla retains No. 1 spot in first-half vehicle sales

The Toyota Corolla remained the top-selling vehicle in Japan in the half year through June, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Tuesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 7, 2004

A classic -- by the numbers

Tange Sazen: Hyakuman Ryo no Tsubo Rating: * * * (out of 5) Director: Toshio Tsuda Running time: 119 minutes Language: Japanese Opens July 17 [See Japan Times movie listings] Tange Sazen -- the one-eyed, one-armed ex-samurai swordsman -- is one of those literary characters with a mythic...

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