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Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Jan 12, 2003

Drinking in the delights of men

It was after 2 a.m. and I was on a mission in Kabukicho. The assignment involved two things: alcohol and men. As dangerous a combination as that is, what woman could resist such temptation? Certainly not this one.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / JAZZNICITY
Jan 12, 2003

Countdown to a 4/4 beat

On New Year's Eve, while thousands of celebrants packed Tokyo's shrines and temples to hear the 108 bells ringing out the sins of mankind, many others crowded into Tokyo's jazz clubs to hear musicians offer their own prayers. For these ritual yearend jam sessions, the doors remain open all night so people...
BUSINESS
Jan 12, 2003

Nippon Life in deal to sell insurance to Chinese

Nippon Life Insurance Co. will soon become the first Japanese life insurance company to market policies in China on a full-scale basis, Nippon Life officials said Saturday.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Jan 12, 2003

Living on the edge and acting the part

There's an article in the current issue of Shukan Bunshun lambasting the "foolishness of no-talent celebrities" on all those overblown New Year's TV specials. But what's more annoying than the specials themselves is that they pre-empted the few shows that were worth watching, like "The Tetsuwan Dash!"...
LIFE / Food & Drink / BEST BAR NONE
Jan 12, 2003

Legato's sky lounge serves up its cocktails from on high

In a musical score, the term "legato" indicates a passage that should be performed in a smooth and connected manner. As such, it is an excellent choice for the name of a sumptuous new restaurant and bar. Legato is every bit as "smooth" and "connected" as an orchestra under the guidance of a great maestro....
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Jan 12, 2003

Shopping queen shelves host 'illusion'

Popular writer Usagi Nakamura is known to many Japanese as "Shoppingu no Joo (The Queen of Shopping)," which is also the title of her popular column in the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun. Nakamura, 44, who describes herself as "shop dependent," writes frankly about how she impulsively purchases luxury...
JAPAN
Jan 12, 2003

Parents fret over children's studies

More parents are putting extra emphasis on their children's academic abilities and thus feel a growing need to send them to cram schools, a survey revealed Saturday.
BUSINESS
Jan 12, 2003

DoCoMo to link FOMA with PCs via videophone

NTT DoCoMo Inc. will begin a trial service as early as February to allow subscribers to its FOMA third-generation mobile phone system to communicate with personal computer users on videophones, sources close to the company said Saturday.
CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF
Jan 12, 2003

Art that arose from the ashes of World War II

JAPANESE PRINTS DURING THE ALLIED OCCUPATION: 1945-1952, by Lawrence Smith. London: The British Museum Press, 2002, 128 pp., 40 color and 75 black-and-white illustrations, £35 (cloth) At the end of the Pacific portion of World War II, Japan was occupied by the wartime Allies, and Gen. Douglas MacArthur,...
CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF
Jan 12, 2003

Facing economic facts, even if it hurts

STRADDLING ECONOMICS AND POLITICS: Cross-Cutting Issues in Asia, the United States, and the Global Economy, by Charles Wolf Jr. Santa Monica, CA.: Rand, 2002, 210 pp., $20 (paper) You have to give Charles Wolf credit. It takes courage to reprint articles when some of the predictions included are flat-out...
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 12, 2003

Asashoryu ready for shot at promotion to yokozuna

Even with injury-riddled grand champion Takanohana back on the comeback trail, the smart money says cocky Mongolian ozeki Asashoryu will be the man who rules the roost when the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament kicks off in Tokyo on Sunday.
MORE SPORTS
Jan 12, 2003

Waseda downs Kanto Gakuin, claims first university championship since 1989

A clear blue sky, a field in immaculate condition bathed in sunshine, a band entertaining the crowd before the game, 50,000 passionate rugby fans and two teams, playing vastly different styles, giving it their all for 85 minutes -- it could easily have been England vs. France at the Park de France in...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Jan 12, 2003

A price on their heads

Help wanted: Able-bodied, handsome men required to wine and dine as many women as their schedules permit; some extracurricular cosseting may be called for. Educational requirements: None. Salary: Enough to make a salaryman gag.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jan 12, 2003

It's no joke scripting a sitcom in Japan

When the six cast members of the hit American comedy series "Friends" recently agreed to a 10th season, no one was really surprised, even though the six had implied that the present season would be their last.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 11, 2003

Anti-Americanism rises in Asia

SINGAPORE -- The United States has been perceived differently by Asian countries since President George W. Bush took over the helm in Washington. Asian governments have noticed a fundamental shift toward a more "unilateralist" stance in U.S. foreign policy -- a trend that became even more accentuated...
EDITORIALS
Jan 11, 2003

A lead to the abduction mystery

A North Korean spy is now on the wanted list of the Japanese police for directing a plot to kidnap a Japanese national to North Korea in 1977. It is the first time that an arrest warrant has been issued for a North Korean directly involved in a kidnapping case. If he is arrested, it will shed light on...
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Jan 11, 2003

Hawks want to trade Terry before he bolts; Isiah appologizes

NEW YORK -- Two weeks after replacing coach Lon Kruger with assistant Terry Stotts, the Hawks are trying to arrange a trade involving restricted free agent-to-be Jason Terry. According to sources, the Blazers and Heat are ardently interested in acquiring Atlanta's assist leader (7.4 per game) and its...
JAPAN
Jan 11, 2003

Japan urges Pyongyang to reverse decision

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Friday urged North Korea to immediately reverse its decision to pull out of the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
JAPAN
Jan 11, 2003

Group reveals additional 40 suspected abduction victims

An influential citizens' group investigating the abduction of Japanese citizens to North Korea released Friday a list of 40 more cases that it wants the government to look into.
BUSINESS
Jan 11, 2003

Government plans to up stock prices

The government will take all necessary steps to shore up stock prices, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Friday.
BUSINESS
Jan 11, 2003

Forex reserves approach $470 billion

Japan's foreign-exchange reserves at the end of December hit a new record, up $9.26 billion from a month earlier to $469.73 billion, the Finance Ministry said Friday.
BUSINESS
Jan 11, 2003

Asahi Mutual cans Millea tieup plans

Struggling Asahi Mutual Life Insurance Co. announced Friday it has scrapped plans to team up with the Millea Insurance Group, saying it may look for another partner.

Longform

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