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BUSINESS
Oct 16, 2003

Toray raises earnings forecast again

Toray Industries Inc. said Wednesday it has again raised its group earnings forecast for the fiscal first half, having already done so in August.
BUSINESS
Oct 16, 2003

Government says economy remains on track for recovery

The government said Wednesday the economy remains on a recovery track, but it cautioned against a possible adverse impact from fluctuations in the foreign-exchange and stock markets, as well as turbulence in the global economy.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 16, 2003

Ishiba looks to widen SDF's global remit

Japan should use its Self-Defense Forces to contribute to world peace and stability, Defense Agency chief Shigeru Ishiba said Wednesday.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / WILD WATCH
Oct 16, 2003

Tyulenii fur seals are all washed up and in no hurry to go

It felt as if we were an invading force as we set the bows of our black rubber zodiac boat for the shore. Tyulenii Island, a raised tableland of sandstone barely a kilometer long and less than half that wide, was our target. Winds blowing up the Sea of Okhotsk were pushing a rising swell along the unprotected...
BUSINESS
Oct 16, 2003

BOJ holds off buying banks' shares

The Bank of Japan said Wednesday its purchases of shares from commercial banks stood at 1.84 trillion yen as of Oct. 10, unchanged from Sept. 30.
BUSINESS
Oct 16, 2003

Manufacturers cut 117,600 jobs

The nation's leading manufacturers eliminated 117,600 workers in fiscal 2002, a credit-research agency said Wednesday, citing the results of a survey.
BUSINESS
Oct 16, 2003

Bankruptcies decline as firms go on life support

The number of corporate bankruptcies fell 14.2 percent on a year-on-year basis to 8,183 cases in the six months through September, Tokyo Shoko Research Ltd. said Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Oct 16, 2003

FamilyMart sees slight jump in profits

Staff report FamilyMart Co., the nation's third-largest convenience chain, said Wednesday its group net profit for the first half of fiscal 2003 edged up 0.7 percent to 7.93 billion yen.
BUSINESS
Oct 16, 2003

Japan Post head against scrapping postal savings

Japan Post President Masaharu Ikuta on Wednesday opposed proposals to abolish his entity's postal savings and insurance services as part of the government's privatization program.
LIFE / Lifestyle / MATTER OF COURSE
Oct 16, 2003

Lessons in the field yield unexpected harvests

Call me a coward, but I get nervous when surrounded by rowdy youths carrying sharp blades.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 16, 2003

South Africa's challenge

We were in Pretoria in August. That month, a baby, its mother and grandmother were shot to death and their car stolen; a man visited his wife in the hospital only to be "carjacked" and shot dead when he came back to the car park; a woman was critically wounded when she was shot in her car as she visited...
BUSINESS
Oct 16, 2003

Mazda launches Axela compact to replace Familia

Mazda Motor Corp. launched its new Axela sports compact on the domestic market Wednesday.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Oct 16, 2003

Jojima best choice for PL MVP

In my Sept. 17 column, I asked the question: Who will be the Hanshin Tigers (and Central League) MVP for 2003?
MORE SPORTS
Oct 16, 2003

Yokota to make comeback at 42

Former Japanese super bantamweight champion Hiroaki Yokota will return to the ring and become the oldest Japanese boxer in action, officials of the Japan Boxing Commission said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Oct 15, 2003

Drunken driving costly for JR Bus

JR Bus Kanto Co. will have to suspend the operations of 10 of its buses for up to 35 days over a case of drunken driving this past summer.
BASEBALL / MLB
Oct 15, 2003

Valentine likely to return to Marines

Lotte Marines deputy owner Akio Shigemitsu hinted Tuesday that Bobby Valentine is positive about replacing Koji Yamamoto as the new manager of the Pacific League club next season and is set to come to Japan next month for final talks.
JAPAN
Oct 15, 2003

Japan prepares to give Iraq $1.5 billion in grants in 2004

Japan is making final preparations to provide Iraq with grants worth $1.5 billion in 2004, the first in a series of handouts that could total $5 billion over a four-year period, government sources said Tuesday.
EDITORIALS
Oct 15, 2003

Settling for less than peace

The Israeli government's recent announcement that it planned to build more than 600 homes in West Bank settlements is another stake through the heart of the "road map" for peace between Palestinians and Israelis. There is no reason to expand this construction -- other than a desire to create "facts on...
JAPAN
Oct 15, 2003

Rotary meet to eye poverty, health

OSAKA -- Poverty and public health issues will be tackled during the International Rotary Convention here in May, the head of Rotary International said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Oct 15, 2003

37th Tokyo Motor Show to feature hybrid, concept cars

Concept models of advanced hydrogen-powered vehicles and gasoline-electric hybrid cars are expected to dazzle visitors to the 37th Tokyo Motor Show beginning Oct. 25, Japanese carmakers said Tuesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 15, 2003

Plastic surgery makeovers luring the insecure

Risa Arato never liked her hooded eyes -- even her friends said she had a perpetually stony gaze. And she hated the way her sunglasses slipped down her nose. But the clincher was meeting her estranged father for the first time since childhood and being told she hadn't turned out very cute.
BUSINESS
Oct 15, 2003

Japan, Mexico work late into night on FTA

Japan and Mexico, racing against the clock ahead of President Vicente Fox's visit to Tokyo, extended talks late into the evening Tuesday to hammer out a free trade agreement.

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