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JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jul 1, 2001

Innovative strategies that get the message across

The pointlessness of election campaigns in Japan is dramatically exemplified by the sound trucks screaming the names of their respective candidates over and over. The stupidity of election campaigns in Japan is audaciously exemplified by something that happened in my own neighborhood last week prior...
EDITORIALS
Jun 30, 2001

Uniting to wage war on AIDS

In a declaration issued by the United Nations General Assembly this week, the nations of the world have committed themselves to wage war in earnest against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. As the U.N. member-states are pledged to reach targets by specific dates to drastically reduce the incidence of the disease...
BUSINESS
Jun 30, 2001

Panel drafts debt-waiving guidelines for troubled corporate borrowers

A panel of debtors and creditors on Friday drafted a set of guidelines for debt waivers in an effort to raise transparency in a system accused of distorting market principles.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 30, 2001

OECD policy equals fiscal imperialism

There has been a lot of noise over the issue of tax laundering and tax havens. While much of the focus of publicity will be on stopping money-laundering associated with criminal activities, the subtext of it all will be to restrain tax competition. Despite the initial aim to limit "harmful tax competition,"...
COMMENTARY
Jun 30, 2001

Time for a strategic dialogue

HONOLULU -- Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will have a lot to talk about with U.S. President George W. Bush when the two meet for the first time at Camp David this weekend. High on the agenda should be the initiation of a strategic dialogue aimed at redefining the U.S.-Japan security relationship....
JAPAN
Jun 30, 2001

Foreign suffrage bills carried over

Two bills aimed at granting permanent foreign residents in Japan the right to vote in local elections will be carried over to the next Diet session, a Diet committee said Friday.
JAPAN
Jun 29, 2001

Foes waiting in wings for Koizumi

Ace pitcher Junichiro Koizumi does not throw curveballs. Two months into his tricky job on the nation's political mound of Nagata-cho — where even supposed teammates may be plotting against him — he continues throwing straight fastballs only.
BUSINESS
Jun 29, 2001

TSE-listed firms enjoyed sales increases

Many major Japanese companies, especially manufacturing firms, saw sales increases and net profits in fiscal 2000, which ended March 31, 2001.
BUSINESS
Jun 29, 2001

Beijing agrees to participate in import curbs showdown

Tokyo plans to hold director-level talks with Beijing over a bilateral trade row centering on tit-for-tat import curbs, a top Japanese trade official said Thursday.
EDITORIALS
Jun 29, 2001

No winners in this trade dispute

China last week slapped special tariffs on Japanese cars, mobile phones and air conditioners in retaliation for Japan's "safeguard" import restrictions against Chinese farm products. It is the first time that the two nations have openly engaged in a trade row, although in the past there have often been...
BUSINESS
Jun 29, 2001

IBJ disbandment to follow Mizuho bank consolidation

Industrial Bank of Japan, now a unit of the Mizuho Financial Group, will be disbanded when Mizuho consolidates its banking business on April 1, sources close to the group said.
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Jun 29, 2001

Far East tree frog

* Japanese name:Nihon amagaeru * Scientific name:Hyla japonica * Description: These small, green frogs grow up to 5 cm long. They have discs for toes and a brown stripe running down each side of the body starting from the nostrils.
JAPAN
Jun 28, 2001

No revisions expected after text review concludes in July

An ongoing diplomatic row with South Korea and China over some history textbooks could enter a new phase next month.
BUSINESS
Jun 28, 2001

Kokusai to punish execs over breach

Kokusai Securities Co. said Wednesday it will cut the salaries of six of its executives in light of the brokerage's violation of the Securities and Exchange Law.
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Jun 28, 2001

George W. stepping on toes to dance with special interests

U.S. President George W. Bush is not the beau of the ball among scientists these days. "On both missile defense and the greenhouse effect," Dr. Hugh Gusterson of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology tells the New York Times, there is "substantial [scientific] consensus against the White House."...
BUSINESS
Jun 28, 2001

Koizumi urged to speak frankly with Bush

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi should "frankly" explain Japan's current economic situation to U.S. President George W. Bush during their first summit scheduled for Saturday in Camp David, Md., Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa said Wednesday. "It is important that (the two leaders) nurture mutual...
JAPAN
Jun 28, 2001

KSD cash was no bribe, ex-LDP lawmaker says

Takao Koyama, a former LDP Upper House lawmaker, admitted Wednesday in his first trial hearing that he received money from the mutual aid provider KSD but denied any of it amounted to bribes for specific favors.
SOCCER / J. League
Jun 28, 2001

'Pixy' plans to lead Yugoslavia in Kirin Cup

Dragan "Pixy" Stojkovic will make an appearance in front of his Japanese fans when the Nagoya Grampus Eight star suits up for Yugoslavia on Thursday night against Paraguay in the opening match of the Kirin Cup at Tokyo's National Stadium.
BUSINESS
Jun 28, 2001

Foreign firms have hard time finding help

Foreign companies operating in Japan face greater difficulties recruiting people, procuring funds and resolving civil disputes outside court than in the United States and three European countries, according to a report released Wednesday by the Japan External Trade Organization.
SPORTS / TALK OF THE TIMES
Jun 26, 2001

Horan gives Japanese rugby a lift

His mates call him "trucky" because when he first hit the international scene he used to eat a truckers breakfast when everyone else would be eating a healthy pre-match breakfast of fruit and yogurt. Others call him "helmet" because of his immovable hair style, a 25-knot south-westerly blowing off Moreton...
JAPAN
Jun 25, 2001

Japan to give $100 million to AIDS fund

The government will pay about $100 million for a fund proposed by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to promote the international crusade against AIDS, government sources said Sunday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Jun 24, 2001

Born donors offer gift of life

People can engage in voluntary work and make donations from a young age, but Takumi Shimizu had an unusally early head start: He made a potentially life-saving donation before he was a day old.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Jun 24, 2001

Condiment of champions

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, TBS will broadcast a 24-hour special, "Fight TV 24," starting at 8 p.m. Saturday.
LIFE / Food & Drink / NIHONSHU
Jun 24, 2001

Juttoku covers all the bases

Juttoku comes close to being all things to all people. Although it has been around for 20 years, it doesn't attract too much attention, sitting quietly on the edge of the concrete jungle of Shinjuku.
CULTURE / Music / PLAY BUTTON
Jun 24, 2001

Singing the body electric

The only body parts usually involved in house music are the twirling fingers of the producer, tweaking samples with a twist of knob or dial, or the swaying, sweaty bodies grooving to the finished product on the dance floor.
JAPAN
Jun 23, 2001

State approves Kanagawa tax regime

The state will approve a new taxation system by the Kanagawa Prefectural Government that targets companies enjoying tax exemptions due to cumulative deficits despite being profitable on a yearly basis, the home affairs ministry said Friday.
JAPAN
Jun 23, 2001

Task force OKs overhaul of 157 public corporations

A state task force on Friday approved a plan calling for the thorough review of 157 government-affiliated corporations in an attempt to save 1 trillion yen in government expenditures.

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