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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.
JAPAN
Oct 28, 2003

Nations target illegal exports to North Korea

Japan and seven Pacific Rim economies including China, South Korea and the United States agreed Monday to take effective measures to prevent North Korea from obtaining, through indirect exports, illegal products with military potential.
BUSINESS
Oct 28, 2003

Sony, DoCoMo team up for e-money cell phones

Sony Corp. and NTT DoCoMo Inc. said Monday they will jointly develop integrated circuit chip technology that will allow mobile phone users to pay for groceries and train fares using their handsets.
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Oct 28, 2003

Convicted Briton says he was drug run patsy

Most of us can name a time when our lives changed forever, but few can do so as precisely as Nicholas Baker: 11.30 a.m. on April 13, 2002.
JAPAN
Oct 28, 2003

Bomb threat, shot directed at Japan Teachers Union

An object apparently designed to look like a crude bomb was found at the Japan Teachers Union headquarters Sunday night, and someone appeared to have shot at a local JTU office in western Tokyo, according to police.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Oct 28, 2003

Skin care, leases and illegal tax

Skin problems NWW asks "where can I find an English-speaking dermatologist or specialist clinic in Tokyo area?"
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 28, 2003

Coaxing Iran, North Korea

EDMONTON, Canada -- Since no weapons of mass destruction have been found in Iraq, some critics of the Bush administration are suggesting that the use of the military option was premature or even unwarranted unless, of course, the goal all along was to overthrow a dangerous despot -- Saddam Hussein. Certainly,...
BUSINESS
Oct 28, 2003

Olympus in endoscope breakthrough

Olympus Corp. has developed a high-resolution endoscope that may allow doctors to detect cancerous tissue within the body without taking samples, a company spokesman said Monday.
BUSINESS
Oct 28, 2003

Matsushita eyes merit pay in China

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. plans to introduce a merit-based pay system for plant workers and sales staff at its Chinese subsidiaries beginning in fiscal 2004.
BUSINESS
Oct 28, 2003

Japan-U.S. trade meeting in upbeat mood

OSAKA -- The two-day 27th Annual Joint Meeting of the Japan-United States Southeast Association began here Monday with participants upbeat about recent economic trends in both countries.
BUSINESS
Oct 28, 2003

Sharp to hike Spain output of LCD TVs

Sharp Corp. plans to double the output capacity of liquid crystal display TVs at its Spanish factory in April, seeking to meet surging demand in Europe.
BUSINESS
Oct 28, 2003

Oki unit unveils waste-water system

Oki Electric Industry Co. said Monday its semiconductor-manufacturing unit, Miyagi Oki Electric Co., has developed an effective bacteria-based system to treat waste water.
BUSINESS
Oct 28, 2003

Daihatsu first-half net profit almost triples to 3.8 billion yen

Daihatsu Motor Co. said Monday its consolidated net profit nearly tripled to 3.78 billion yen in the first half of fiscal 2003 from the previous year.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / A GAIJIN'S TALE
Oct 28, 2003

Harsh words

I was riding the notorious Yamanote line late one Saturday night when a group of three apparently intoxicated foreigners jumped on, their eyes immediately scanning the carriage for likely female prey.

Longform

Mamoru Iwai, stationmaster of Keisei Ueno Station, says that, other than earthquake-proofing, the former Hakubutsukan-Dobutsuen (Museum-Zoo) Station has remained untouched.
Inside Tokyo's 'phantom' stations — and the stories they tell