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COMMENTARY / World
Feb 21, 2004

Stop exploitation of indigenous knowledge

KUALA LUMPUR -- Threats to our way of life come in many shapes and forms -- degradation of the Earth's ecosystems, disease, social unrest. Indigenous peoples must face all of these, and now confront additional, equally serious, pressure on their livelihoods.
JAPAN
Feb 21, 2004

Leftist group claims projectile attack

A leftist group has claimed responsibility for an attempted attack Tuesday on Defense Agency headquarters.
BUSINESS
Feb 21, 2004

MFG names new Mizuho Bank chief

Mizuho Financial Group. Inc. said Friday that MFG Vice President Seiji Sugiyama will become president of Mizuho Bank, the group's largest retail unit.
JAPAN
Feb 21, 2004

JR West to become fully privatized next month

The government will fully privatize West Japan Railway Co. next month by selling off its entire 31.72 percent stake in Japan and abroad, JR West said Friday.
BUSINESS
Feb 21, 2004

Families shell out for latest school supplies

With the new school year just around the corner in April, many manufacturers of school supplies are introducing a slew of new products with the latest designs and gadgets.
JAPAN
Feb 21, 2004

Koizumi tells ministries to swap top bureaucrats

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi ordered all ministries Friday to hire more bureaucrats from other sectors of the government so that they will account for 10 percent of all of its high-ranking staff within three years.
COMMENTARY
Feb 21, 2004

Once again, the East is rising

LONDON -- The other day a British businessmen, recently having visited Japan, recounted the words of a leading Japanese ship-owner. "Our ships" said this individual with a sigh, "are going fully loaded to Europe and America but these days coming back empty."
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Feb 21, 2004

'Gaijin' skier wipes out on group 'wa'

Even after mastering the Japanese language, it's still sometimes hard to understand it. It's like, I hear the words coming out of your mouth, I can even see the "kanji," but I have no idea what you're saying. Indeed, understanding the meaning behind the words is just as important as the words themselves....
JAPAN
Feb 21, 2004

Post agency rejects isle row stamps

Japan's postal agency has rejected a request to issue postage stamps in packages containing photos of islets claimed by both Tokyo and Seoul over fears it could trigger a dispute with South Korea, officials said Friday.
EDITORIALS
Feb 20, 2004

GDP growth belies strong recovery

Japan's economy expanded at an annualized rate of 7 percent in the last quarter of 2003, with export-oriented large manufacturers providing the main thrust of growth. Whether this will lead to a broad and enduring recovery remains to be seen, however. The export boom will fizzle out if overseas demand...
JAPAN
Feb 20, 2004

Web site lets locals rat on foreigners

The Justice Ministry's Immigration Bureau has introduced a section on its Web site that allows people to submit information on the identity, address or workplace of undocumented foreigners in a bid to track them down.
JAPAN
Feb 20, 2004

Shinsei Bank share price surges on TSE debut

Shinsei Bank shares debuted Thursday on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, marking a dramatic revival from the collapse of Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan five years ago.
JAPAN
Feb 20, 2004

Upper House just the ticket for Lower House losers

There's always next time. Words of consolation, no doubt, but they hold greater meaning for those politicians who lost their Diet seats in November's House of Representatives election.
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Feb 20, 2004

England internationals wielding far too much power

LONDON -- We like to be different in England. We drive on the wrong side of the road. We drink warm beer, our plugs have three pins instead of two and when our football fans go abroad, they tend to fight rather than make new friends.
JAPAN
Feb 20, 2004

Pyongyang sanction bills get U.S. nod

U.S. Undersecretary of State John Bolton on Thursday welcomed Japan's passage of legislation last week aimed at imposing economic sanctions on North Korea.
JAPAN
Feb 20, 2004

Overseas missions straining MSDF to the limit

About 300 Maritime Self-Defense Force sailors will leave Friday for Kuwait aboard an MSDF transport ship and a destroyer escort to deliver equipment and goods for troops being deployed to southern Iraq.
JAPAN
Feb 20, 2004

Embassy employee claims immunity

A Japanese employee of the Sri Lankan Embassy who caused a traffic accident in 2002 should be protected by diplomatic immunity, her lawyer said Thursday at the Tokyo District Court.
JAPAN
Feb 20, 2004

Yamaguchi bird flu virus can infect humans

The National Institute of Animal Health said Thursday that since mice can be infected by the strain of bird flu virus that killed chickens in Yamaguchi and Oita prefectures, so can humans.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 20, 2004

Japan ignores U.S. pressure, will develop Iranian oil field

Choosing money in the face of diplomatic pressure from the U.S., the government said Thursday it has struck a long-delayed deal with Tehran to grant a Japanese consortium rights to develop Iran's huge Azadegan oil field.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Feb 20, 2004

Music at the heart of Kichijoji's spirit

Most of Tokyo's main business districts are inside or around the JR Yamanote Line, but Kichijoji is a notable exception, being a part of Tokyo that's beyond the city's 23 wards.
BUSINESS
Feb 20, 2004

FSA to allow registered companies to enter trust business

The Financial Services Agency plans to allow individuals and nonfinancial firms to register to set up trust companies with limited operations.
JAPAN
Feb 20, 2004

Loose-lipped lay judges face penalties

A government bill on judicial reform to be submitted to the current Diet session stipulates a maximum penalty of one year in prison or 500,000 yen in fines for lay judges who fail to observe confidentiality.
JAPAN
Feb 20, 2004

Families of brain dead patients getting offered more choices

An increasing number of families of people declared brain dead are playing a greater role in deciding the fate of their loved ones, and some are opting to stop unnecessary life-prolonging treatment.
BUSINESS
Feb 20, 2004

Rakuten reports profit now in record territory

Rakuten Inc., Japan's biggest Internet shopping mall operator, said Thursday that its group pretax profit surged 97.9 percent in the year to Dec. 31 from the previous year to a record 4.44 billion yen on an increase in tenants at its mall.
MORE SPORTS
Feb 20, 2004

Akebono set for K-1 bout with Musashi

Former yokozuna Akebono, who lost to Bob "The Beast" Sapp in his K-1 debut on New Year's Eve last year, is set to face Japanese fighter Musashi next month at Saitama Super Arena, K-1 organizers said Thursday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / INDUSTRY TRENDS
Feb 20, 2004

Makeover for gum gives health-conscious something to chew on

Despite a shrinking confectionary market, chewing gum has been enjoying healthy growth, posting record sales last year.

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