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Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jan 22, 2003

Leading the way

In 1995 Tomomi Nishimoto was regularly sneaking into an auditorium to watch an esteemed Bolshoi maestro rehearse. Seven years later, she was appointed the first Japanese chief conductor of Russia's state-run Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra Millennium.
BUSINESS
Jan 22, 2003

New deregulation zones to be made pressure-free

The government formally adopted on Tuesday a basic policy on the creation of special deregulation zones, looking to minimize interference from governmental offices.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES
Jan 22, 2003

Klimperei: "Pimpant!"

"Pimpant!" contains 43 songs, a signal that the music within could be a little weird. Also, the name of the group, Klimperei, is German for "able to play the piano just a little bit." Add to that the admission "we are not very good musicians" from one of the band's two members, and you might become a...
JAPAN
Jan 22, 2003

SDF Joint Staff Council gets new head

Toru Ishikawa, chief of staff of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, will replace Shoji Takegouchi as chairman of the Joint Staff Council of the Self-Defense Forces, the Defense Agency announced Tuesday.
COMMENTARY
Jan 22, 2003

Politics still trumps business in China-Taiwan relations

HONG KONG -- The new year has begun with conciliatory messages from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, suggesting that both China and Taiwan want to avoid too much tension in their relationship, although neither side seems likely in the short term to yield any ground on the sensitive issue of "One China."...
JAPAN
Jan 22, 2003

Review of moneylender interest rate caps triggers tug of war

A tug of war is under way over a government plan to review the upper limit on interest rates that consumer finance firms and other nonbank moneylenders can levy.
SUMO
Jan 22, 2003

Asashoryu gets back to winning ways

Ozeki Asashoryu got his yokozuna challenge back on track at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday after tripping up rank-and-filer Kotonowaka to stay in a tie for the lead.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jan 22, 2003

On a personal journey with the koto

While visiting Tokyo recently, saxophonist and composer John Zorn praised Michiyo Yagi, saying, "She's an example of a new kind of musician that can play all different styles of music in her own personal way."
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES
Jan 22, 2003

Ms. Jade: "Girl Interrupted"

Twenty-three-year-old Chevon Young was not an overnight sensation. She was repeatedly passed over by A&R people because Eve was already a star and they didn't think there was room in the majors for two female MCs from Philadelphia. Then someone steered her to the Beat Club, the new record label run by...
BUSINESS
Jan 22, 2003

Koizumi cautious on inflation target

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi expressed caution Tuesday about the Bank of Japan adopting an inflation target to fight deflation at a two-day policy meeting that began the same day.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Jan 22, 2003

This 'Pilgrim' is hardly progress

After the bubble economy burst in 1991, disillusionment and emptiness were felt throughout Japan. When "Pilgrim" was first performed in 1989 by The Third Stage Theater Company, however, most people foresaw only continuing prosperity, fueled by rising stock and property prices and the strengthening yen....
BUSINESS
Jan 22, 2003

Mizuho group plots huge fundraising effort as losses jump to 1.9 trillion yen

The Mizuho Financial Group said Tuesday its fiscal 2002 losses will hit 1.9 trillion yen, a nine-fold jump from estimates issued in November, after its two banks swallow more than 2 trillion yen in loan-loss provisions.
BUSINESS
Jan 22, 2003

Sanyo to plow 45 billion yen into CCDs

Sanyo Electric Co. said Tuesday it will invest 45 billion yen in the production of charge-coupled devices over three years starting in fiscal 2003.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES
Jan 22, 2003

Common: "Electric Circus"

Hip-hop and Hollywood share at least one thing in common: Star-studded lineups never guarantee a work of art. In fact, some material's strength is often diluted proportionately to the number of egos featured.
JAPAN
Jan 22, 2003

Kawaguchi plans visit to Okinawa

Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said Tuesday she will visit Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine on Feb. 2 to introduce newly appointed Ambassador to Okinawa Sadaaki Numata.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES
Jan 22, 2003

Roy Haynes: "Love Letters"

With his steady stream of work stretching back nearly six decades, it's hard to think of a jazz figure drummer Roy Haynes has not played behind. He started out with Lester Young, then switched over to Charlie Parker. After that, he played with Stan Getz and Sarah Vaughan. Then from the '60s through the...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jan 22, 2003

When the art of the Lotus blossomed

Considering the importance in the history of Japanese Buddhism of Nichiren, the 13th-century monk who founded the leading sect that bears his name, it is surprising that the exhibition that just opened at the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno is the first large-scale attempt to gather and display art objects...
JAPAN
Jan 22, 2003

Actress's estate worth 430 million yen

OSAKA -- The late actress Chocho Miyako had 430 million yen worth of taxable assets, sources said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jan 22, 2003

Obituary: Ken Yasuhara

Ken Yasuhara, a noted editor and literary critic, died of lung cancer in Tokyo on Monday afternoon, his family said. He was 63.
JAPAN
Jan 22, 2003

Rightist admits killing politician

A 48-year-old rightwing extremist pleaded guilty Tuesday to stabbing to death Diet member Koki Ishii of the Democratic Party of Japan.
BUSINESS
Jan 22, 2003

Mazda chasing 3% share in China

Mazda Motor Corp. hopes to take a 3 percent share of China's auto market by achieving sales of 45,000 vehicles in 2003, according to the carmaker's marketing program released Tuesday.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Jan 22, 2003

Can Matsui handle the pressure and avoid the 'cha-cha'?

So far, so good. New York Yankees player Hideki Matsui made it back to Japan, apparently in one piece, after a whirlwind trip to the Big Apple that included evasion of a large Japanese media contingent waiting for him at Newark Liberty Airport, an appearance at Yankee Stadium, the well-attended and media-smothered...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 22, 2003

Mitsubishi Fuso plans to cut costs with alliance

Newly established Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corp. hopes to cut costs through its tieup with DaimlerChrysler AG, the firm's president said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jan 21, 2003

Parents to have more say in choosing kids' names

The Justice Ministry plans to give parents more freedom in naming their children by increasing by the end of the year the number of kanji legally designated for personal names, ministry officials said Monday.
COMMENTARY / JAPAN IN THE GLOBAL ERA
Jan 21, 2003

Cultural powerhouse needed

LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- Sustainable globalization needs Japan to be actively involved, if only because of the size of its economy. For its part, Japan stands to contribute a great deal to globalization. The Japanese establishment, however, has hobbled the country with gerontocratic governance, obsolescent...

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