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BUSINESS
Jan 24, 2001

Treasury stock system bill planned

The Justice Ministry plans to have a bill allowing companies to buy their own shares for long-term possession ready for an extraordinary Diet session that is expected to convene in autumn, Justice Minister Masahiko Komura said Tuesday.
ENVIRONMENT / GARDENING FOR ALL
Jan 24, 2001

See where the apricot (or is it plum) blossoms

Kairakuen Garden in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, is one of the three most celebrated gardens in Japan, located a very short distance from the city center.
CULTURE / Stage
Jan 23, 2001

Keeping it all in the family

The Kabukiza Theater in Tokyo is starting 2001 with special programs to celebrate the succession (shumei) of Yasosuke Bando, 45, to the prestigious stage name Mitsugoro Bando X, left to him by his father Mitsugoro IX on his death in April 1999.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / PERSONALITY PROFILE
Jan 21, 2001

Belenda Ryan

Belenda Ryan calls her career so far her "rambling life."
JAPAN
Jan 20, 2001

Estrada may not get invitation to Japan

The embattled Philippine President Joseph Estrada's abrupt announcement Friday night to resign later this year has forced Tokyo to rewrite its diplomatic calendar.
CULTURE / Music
Jan 20, 2001

Rock on in Yokohama

Rock 'n' Roll Bazaar 2001, an annual event at which more than 30,000 items relating to rock-music artists are displayed and sold, will be held Jan. 26-30 at BS Hall on the 6th floor of Yokohama World Porters.
BUSINESS
Jan 18, 2001

Firms unite on Net voice access

IBM Japan Ltd., Oki Electric Industry Co. and Hitachi Ltd. plan to set up in April a Japanese unit of the VoiceXML Forum, an international group that promotes open standards on voice access technologies for the Internet, company officials said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jan 18, 2001

Minister talks of cleaner society

Environment Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said Wednesday that the newly created Environment Ministry will have to "battle and evolve" to push its agenda, and outlined a few areas slated for special attention in 2001.
BUSINESS
Jan 18, 2001

Amway Japan chief looks to raise firm's public profile, sales

In an effort to combat a decline in sales amid stagnant consumer spending, Amway Japan Ltd. President Stephen A. Robbins is determined to raise the direct selling firm's public profile by forming alliances with major Japanese companies.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 18, 2001

Bush brings opportunity to bolster Japan-U.S. ties

Now that U.S. President-elect George W. Bush has named his Cabinet and his inauguration is only days away, it might be useful to contemplate how Japan-U.S. relations may be affected and what might be done to strengthen this very important strategic alliance.
EDITORIALS
Jan 17, 2001

Alarming fall in the market

The slowing of the U.S. economy and concerns about a possible free fall on Wall Street, combined with the dimming prospects for Japan's economy, last week sent share prices in Tokyo plummeting to alarming levels. On Thursday, the benchmark Nikkei index plunged to 13,201, its lowest since October 1998....
JAPAN
Jan 17, 2001

Snow blankets Japan Sea area

Heavy snow caused by a cold air mass continued to fall Tuesday, mainly in areas along the Sea of Japan coast, disrupting rail, road and air traffic.
JAPAN
Jan 17, 2001

Upper House member Koyama arrested in KSD bribe scandal

House of Councilors Takao Koyama was arrested Tuesday by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office on suspicion of accepting a 20 million yen bribe in 1996 from KSD, an insurance foundation under the purview of the former Labor Ministry.
BUSINESS
Jan 17, 2001

Execs want 401(k) plans introduced

The Japan Association of Corporate Executives called Tuesday for the early introduction of 401(k)-style pension plans and employee stock ownership plans to help bolster falling stock prices.
ENVIRONMENT / WILD WATCH
Jan 17, 2001

Asian environmental extremes

As if the greatest mountain range on earth were not monument enough to the scale of Asia, other ranges, such as the Tien Shan and the Altai, join ranks with the Himalayas to make Central Asia the roof of the world.
BUSINESS
Jan 16, 2001

LDP prepares to inflate sagging stock market

The Liberal Democratic Party on Monday decided to set up an in-house panel to draw up measures to bolster Japan's faltering stock markets, party officials said.
JAPAN
Jan 14, 2001

Homelessness being tackled from new angle

Asked why he became homeless, he said he was a victim of the current economic trend.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 14, 2001

China tightens grip on the Net

CAMBRIDGE, England -- The Chinese government has been issuing more regulations to control the use of the Internet. As with the earlier ones, there are no surprises. They simply tidy up what was already accepted practice and add nothing new. It is still the slow bureaucratic machine catching up with reality....
COMMUNITY
Jan 14, 2001

Turning gray offices into great places to work

Steven Louie, vice president and design director of Gensler Tokyo, is not only warm, open and charming; he's also sensitive, patient, and very very kind. This was illustrated by his treatment of the 16-year-old student from the U.K. (on a work experience program) who accompanied me, listening attentively...
CULTURE / Art / CERAMIC SCENE
Jan 13, 2001

Pottery with a Korean foundation

A simple fact to begin the Ceramic Scene 21st century: Many great Japanese ceramic traditions of western Japan began with Korean potters.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jan 13, 2001

Koyama named to Hall of Fame

Former Hanshin Tigers ace Masaaki Koyama, whose 320 career wins ranks third all-time, was named to the Japanese baseball Hall of Fame on Friday along with the late Rikuo Nemoto, the architect of championship teams for Hiroshima, Seibu and Daiei.
JAPAN
Jan 12, 2001

G8 representatives to meet in Tokyo over cybercrime

Senior government officials and private corporate executives of the Group of Eight major countries will meet in Tokyo in late May to discuss a possible joint strategy toward fighting high-tech crime, especially cybercrime, government sources said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Jan 12, 2001

Despite concern, state plans no action on stock plunge

The government is worried about the recent decline of Tokyo stock prices but has no plans to intervene at the moment, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Jan 12, 2001

Foreign cash reserves hit new high

The nation's foreign currency reserves came to a record-high $361.64 billion as of the end of December, up $7.08 billion from over a month earlier, the Finance Ministry said Thursday.

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