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BUSINESS
Oct 29, 2003

U.S. southeast interested in hydrogen cars

OSAKA -- A two-day meeting here between government and business representatives from seven U.S. states and Japan concluded Tuesday with discussion focusing on the future of the auto industry, especially the introduction of hydrogen fuel cells.
JAPAN
Oct 29, 2003

Japanese woman bids for asylum in North Korea

A Japanese woman has sought asylum in North Korea after entering the country illegally during a trip to China in August, Foreign Ministry officials said Tuesday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 29, 2003

Companies urged to engage in good citizenship

In the wake of huge corporate scandals in Japan and the United States, companies are under pressure to be more socially responsible.
JAPAN
Oct 29, 2003

Sogo chairman told to pay up

The former chairman of failed department store chain Sogo Co. was handed a court order Tuesday to pay some 12.7 billion yen to Mizuho Corporate Bank in his capacity as a guarantor for a loan extended to a Sogo outlet that later turned sour.
BUSINESS
Oct 29, 2003

Tougher Antimonopoly Law sought

A Fair Trade Commission study group has drawn up a report calling for amendment of the Antimonopoly Law to make it stricter and more effective, FTC officials said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Oct 29, 2003

Elpida gets ready to end fundraising

Elpida Memory Inc., the sole Japanese supplier of dynamic random access memory chips, said Tuesday it is close to completing a 170 billion yen fundraising program aimed at reinforcing its production capabilities.
JAPAN
Oct 29, 2003

Kan rules out specter of DPJ-JCP coalition

Naoto Kan, leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, denied Tuesday that his party plans to form a governing coalition with the Japanese Communist Party.
BUSINESS
Oct 29, 2003

Bailout of Mitsui Mining now reportedly back on

The Industrial Revitalization Corp. of Japan will make a formal decision to bail out Mitsui Mining Co. on Friday, according to informed sources.
JAPAN
Oct 29, 2003

Road panel seeks legislative draft before coalition debate on matter

A key advisory panel on the privatization of expressway operators urged Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Tuesday to have his government present the panel with a draft of relevant legislation before consulting with ruling coalition leaders on the matter later this year.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Oct 29, 2003

Mediation is the medium

"It's a transmission station," says David Elliott of the Mori Art Museum, which opened to the public Oct. 18. "It's a beacon beaming things out to the rest of the city, intimately connected with it."
EDITORIALS
Oct 29, 2003

APEC makes the grade

The 10th annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders summit has come and gone, leaving the usual questions in its wake. Perennial doubts about the forum's relevance have been highlighted following the collapse of the last round of world trade negotiations. APEC members acknowledged this year's...
BUSINESS
Oct 29, 2003

Koizumi foresees pension decline

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Tuesday that employees' pension benefits may fall to a level equivalent to about 50 percent of workers' current annual take-home salaries.
COMMENTARY
Oct 29, 2003

Democracy for whom?

WASHINGTON -- Although the Bush administration won formal U.N. recognition for its rule in Iraq, that diplomatic victory is likely to yield few allied troops for occupation duty. In fact, even Turkey, which agreed to dispatch 10,000 soldiers after Washington's approval of $8.5 billion in loans, is now...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Oct 29, 2003

An artist in a land of ice and snow

Jorg Schmeisser traveled to Antarctica on the icebreaker Aurora Australis in 1998. The result was a series of works -- etchings, drawings and paintings -- that became "Breaking the Ice," a major exhibition showing in Kyoto and scheduled for Tokyo and Yokohama, that explores the majesty and uncanny beauty...
BUSINESS
Oct 29, 2003

Honda profit down in first half as yen, operating costs rise

Honda Motor Co. said Tuesday its consolidated operating profit fell 6.8 percent to 301.87 billion yen during the fiscal first half, marking the first year-on-year decrease in three years.
BUSINESS
Oct 29, 2003

Matsushita Electric group net profit rises 31.5%

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. said Tuesday its group net profit for the fiscal first half grew 31.5 percent from a year earlier to 23.15 billion yen on the back of restructuring effects and strong sales of digital home products.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 29, 2003

Troubled Sony unveils restructuring plans

Sony Corp. on Tuesday unveiled sweeping restructuring measures, including plans to shed 20,000 jobs and close domestic TV plants, with the consumer electronics giant struggling to reclaim a competitive edge over its rivals.
JAPAN
Oct 29, 2003

Panel says trials should have four 'citizen judges'

The head of a government panel on judicial reform submitted a draft proposal Tuesday advocating the appointment of four "citizen judges" to work alongside three professional judges at trials.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / NEW ART SEEN
Oct 29, 2003

250 reasons to be happy, then some

I'm happy! The reason I'm happy is I love art, and this month a total of four -- yes four -- new contemporary art spaces opened in Tokyo.
BUSINESS
Oct 29, 2003

UFJ Holdings triples forecast for group profit

UFJ Holdings Inc. on Tuesday tripled its group net profit forecast for the first half of the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, thanks to strong profits from bond trading, and a tax rebate and interest from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
EDITORIALS
Oct 28, 2003

Manifestos leave voters in the dark

Not all political parties campaigning for the Nov. 9 general election describe their campaign promises in the form of a "manifesto." But they all have a common objective: explaining their beliefs and policies to the electorate in clear language. Yet many descriptions are equivocal and even confusing...
JAPAN
Oct 28, 2003

Radiation leak 'could kill 400,000'

A large-scale radiation leak at a major nuclear reactor in Japan could kill more than 400,000 people and cost up to 460 trillion yen over 50 years, according to a study by a Kyoto Sangyo University researcher released Monday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Oct 28, 2003

This year's Japan Series best since 1989

FUKUOKA -- It doesn't get any better than this. Seventh game of the Japan Series with the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks and the Hanshin Tigers.
JAPAN
Oct 28, 2003

Japan, China join hands in effort to save crested ibis

Japan and China signed an agreement Monday on long-term joint efforts to protect the crested ibis.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 28, 2003

Upper House by-election win boosts LDP ahead of Nov. 9

The Liberal Democratic Party's narrow victory in Sunday's House of Councilors by-election in Saitama Prefecture has given the party a boost ahead of Tuesday's start of official campaigning for the Nov. 9 general election.
MORE SPORTS
Oct 28, 2003

U.S. muscle proves too much for speedy Japan

GOSFORD, Australia --They say good things come in threes. Following Sunday's games that saw England and Ireland win two wonderfully competitive games, the United States and Japan produced a pearl of a match at a sold-out Central Coast Stadium on Monday evening.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 28, 2003

Death of Kim's aide seen as unlikely to have any effect on Japan relations

Japanese officials and lawmakers said Monday they see no impact on relations with North Korea because of the death of a close aide to Pyongyang leader Kim Jong Il who had been a key player in negotiations with Seoul and Tokyo.

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