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EDITORIALS
Jan 23, 2004

Mr. Bush kicks off his campaign

U.S. President George W. Bush signaled the real beginning of the 2004 election campaign with his State of the Union address Tuesday night in Washington. The speech laid out key themes of the Bush re-election strategy, emphasizing the success in the war against terrorism and the brightening economic outlook....
BUSINESS
Jan 23, 2004

Kentucky Fried Chicken sees net profit fall 19.6%

Kentucky Fried Chicken Japan Ltd. said Thursday its group net profit for the year to Nov. 30 fell 19.6 percent from the previous year to 1.11 billion yen.
BUSINESS
Jan 23, 2004

Panel OKs late-night sale of over-the-counter drugs

A study panel released a report Thursday conditionally permitting overnight sales of over-the-counter drugs under the guidance of pharmacists via videophone, ministry officials said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 23, 2004

Matsushita chief resolves to achieve profit target before stepping down

OSAKA (Kyodo) Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. President Kunio Nakamura said Thursday that the Matsushita group will raise its targeted ratio of operating profit to sales to 5 percent under his leadership and achieve that goal.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 23, 2004

U.S. rules out testing all cows

The United States will not test all slaughtered cattle for mad cow disease as Tokyo requests, but may consider some "procedures" specifically for the Japanese market, a visiting U.S. delegation examining Japan's beef import ban said Thursday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 23, 2004

Risky North Korea rescue left unfinished

Desperate to save his sons and other relatives, a 56-year-old escapee from North Korea hatched a bold plan to free them by smuggling himself back into the country.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Jan 23, 2004

Izu reveals its 'silver lining'

For most Japanese, mention of the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture conjures up an image of a coast lined with onsen (hot-spring) resorts and blessed with good seafood, drawing hordes of visitors from the Tokyo area.
JAPAN
Jan 23, 2004

Japanese food is healthiest, and chew it, Japanese doctors say

Doctors and specialists believe people should eat more traditional Japanese meals with rice as the main staple, to safeguard against lifestyle-related illnesses.
BUSINESS
Jan 23, 2004

Kirin Beverage to buy Koiwai Dairy

Kirin Beverage Corp. said Thursday it will take a majority stake in Koiwai Dairy Products Co. to enhance its competitiveness in the chilled foods market.
JAPAN
Jan 23, 2004

Ratings firm sues former TV producer

The nation's only TV ratings firm filed a damages suit Thursday against a former Nippon Television Network Corp. producer over his manipulation of ratings through the use of illicit funds.
JAPAN
Jan 23, 2004

Group urges landlords to accept foreign tenants

Finding a place to live is one of the biggest difficulties foreign residents of Japan face, and one of the main reasons is that landlords are reluctant to accept them as tenants.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / BEST BAR NONE
Jan 23, 2004

Spinning funky music on Naeba's Snodeck

Let me say right up front that I don't much care for snow. While Tokyo constantly disappoints by failing to deliver a white Christmas, that's about as far as my interest goes. And though I have enjoyed the thrills and spills of skiing a few times (before the advent of the snowboard, I admit), the experience...
JAPAN
Jan 23, 2004

Japan halts Thai poultry imports over human avian flu case

The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry said Thursday it has halted poultry meat imports from Thailand following reports that a human has come down with bird flu there.
BUSINESS
Jan 23, 2004

JAL raises Japan Asia Airways stake

Japan Airlines System Corp. said Thursday it will raise its stake in Japan Asia Airways to 100 percent from the current 90.5 percent on April 1 through an equity swap deal.
JAPAN
Jan 23, 2004

199 drunk-driving verdicts linked to faulty breathalyzer

The National Police Agency said Thursday it will re-examine 199 drunken driving cases due to concerns that faulty breathalyzers may have been used as a basis for convictions.
BUSINESS
Jan 23, 2004

Market rally lines pockets of online brokerages

Online brokerages continued to enjoy steep earnings growth thanks to the recent market rally, with Matsui Securities Co. reporting Thursday its net profit during the October-December period jumped more than 3 1/2-fold from a year earlier.
BUSINESS
Jan 23, 2004

PC shipment volume up, value down

Shipments of personal computers in Japan in 2003 dropped for the third consecutive year in terms of value despite the first upturn in two years in volume, an industry association said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Jan 23, 2004

Kao expects record pretax profit

Kao Corp. said Thursday it expects to generate a record pretax profit in fiscal 2003 for the 23rd consecutive year.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 23, 2004

Reliving the romance of nation-building

SYDNEY -- So you think your one-hour-plus commute into Tokyo each morning is agony! Pity passengers on Australia's newest train trip -- two days and two nights. And paying $12,000 for the privilege.
JAPAN
Jan 22, 2004

Kan tells Koizumi to resign over Iraq

Democratic Party of Japan leader Naoto Kan urged Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Wednesday to step down, claiming he has violated the Constitution by dispatching the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq.
JAPAN
Jan 22, 2004

Main ASDF contingent poised for Iraq mission

The first of the main contingent of the Air Self-Defense Force will leave the ASDF base in Komaki, Aichi Prefecture, on Thursday to assist efforts to rebuild Iraq, according to government sources.
SOCCER / World cup
Jan 22, 2004

Japan to play England this summer

Japan will take on England in a friendly match in Manchester this summer, Japan Football Association (JFA) general secretary Takeo Hirata said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jan 22, 2004

Yakuza numbers up again in 2003

Crime syndicates saw their membership increase at the end of 2003, marking an eighth consecutive annual rise, the National Police Agency said Wednesday.

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