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BUSINESS
Jun 4, 2002

NEC and Matsushita in China tieup

NEC Corp. and Matsushita Communication Industrial Co. said Monday they have established a joint venture with a local firm in China to expand their third-generation mobile handset business.
BUSINESS
Jun 4, 2002

Casualty insurance giants plot three-way alliance

The largest casualty insurers in Japan, China and South Korea have agreed to form a business tieup on product development and market research, company sources said Monday.
SOCCER / J. League / ON THE BALL
Jun 4, 2002

Japanese refs owe debt to predecessor

Toru Kamikawa made his World Cup debut on Saturday when he officiated the Ireland-Cameroon game in Niigata in Japan's opening game. It was a nice appointment by FIFA. He became the fourth Japanese referee to serve in the quadrennial tournament.
BUSINESS
Jun 4, 2002

Revenue shortfall expected for 2001

The government is unlikely to attain its tax revenue target of 49.63 trillion yen for fiscal 2001, due in part to falling corporate tax receipts, the Finance Ministry said Monday.
JAPAN
Jun 4, 2002

Private data kept by all SDF arms

The Defense Agency on Monday said that it and each branch of the Self-Defense Forces have systematically collected data on individuals who made information-disclosure requests, contradicting a statement last week indicating the practice was isolated to the Maritime Self-Defense Force and carried out...
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 4, 2002

Troussier confident on eve of first game

SAITAMA -- Japan coach Philippe Troussier confidently expressed his team's readiness for today's World Cup match against Belgium, the team's first game in Group H, to be played at Saitama Stadium 2002.
JAPAN
Jun 4, 2002

Convicts feeling the pinch as companies move offshore

Employment opportunities for prison inmates have been severely hit by the nation's prolonged economic slump, and sales of the goods they produced are falling, according to a Justice Ministry report.
JAPAN
Jun 4, 2002

Suzuki allegedly received cash from firm that logged illegally

Lawmaker Muneo Suzuki in 1998 received around 5 million yen from executives of a Hokkaido logging firm who were apparently enlisting his help after the company was caught cutting down trees in a national forest without permission, sources close to the case said Monday.
BUSINESS
Jun 4, 2002

Listen to an ad, get a free call

Telecom venture Third Line Communications Co. said Monday it has launched a new fixed-line phone service that allows users to speak for free for about three minutes if they first listen to corporate ads for about 15 seconds.
BUSINESS
Jun 4, 2002

IDB chief backs Okinawa as meeting venue

Enrique Iglesias, president of the Inter-American Development Bank, said Monday he supports Japan's bid to hold the 2005 annual meeting of the bank in Okinawa, Finance Ministry officials said.
JAPAN
Jun 4, 2002

Opposition seeks Fukuda's head

Four major opposition parties agreed Monday to demand the resignation of Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda over his suggestion last week that Japan could abandon its three nonnuclear principles.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 4, 2002

Italy continues impressive run in World Cup play

SAPPORO -- Italy had only lost one game (vs. Ireland in U.S.A '94) in regulation time in the World Cup since Mexico '86, conceding only 10 goals in those 19 games. This record was to remain untarnished as Italy used two goals from Christian Vieri to cruise to a 2-0 win over Ecuador in their Group G game...
BUSINESS
Jun 4, 2002

New automobile sales down 1.4% in May

Domestic sales of new motor vehicles excluding minivehicles and specialty vehicles fell 1.4 percent in May from a year earlier to 284,826 units, down for the ninth consecutive month, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Monday.
JAPAN
Jun 4, 2002

Kawaguchi pushes Mideast peace

Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi met with an Israeli official Monday and urged Israel to make efforts to resume peace talks with the Palestinians.
COMMENTARY
Jun 3, 2002

Time to leave European defense to Europe

WASHINGTON -- The 19 members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have gathered in Rome to initiate a new partnership with Russia; they are also planning to add several new members to the alliance. The usual fatuous rhetoric emanating from the meeting cannot hide the fact that NATO is an organization...
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 3, 2002

England thwarted by Swedish jinx as teams draw 1-1

SAITAMA -- Thirty-four years and counting.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 3, 2002

South Africa rallies to tie Paraguay

PUSAN, South Korea -- A last-minute penalty capped a quite remarkable comeback for South Africa, giving it a 2-2 draw against Paraguay after it had been outplayed and out-thought for long periods of its Group B match on Sunday.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 3, 2002

An occasion for peace and reconciliation

The cohosting of the World Cup that began Friday is a great occasion for fostering peace and reconciliation not merely between South Korea and Japan but also throughout the world. Although the World Cup is mainly a sporting event that takes place every four years, the current contest portends special...
JAPAN
Jun 3, 2002

11th-hour reversal on online ticket sales has Cup fans' heads spinning

The Japan World Cup Organizing Committee reversed its policy Sunday and sold tickets online for the day's match between England and Sweden, some said adding to the confusion and frustration over ticket distribution for World Cup soccer finals.
JAPAN
Jun 3, 2002

Survey shows regional gaps in Internet use

A wide regional digital divide exists in Japan despite government efforts to spread Internet use, according to a recent telecom ministry survey on household consumption.
COMMENTARY
Jun 3, 2002

Too cozy for visions of reform

Japan is groping in the dark politically, economically and diplomatically. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's reform initiative is deadlocked; there is even a sense that it might end up as an empty slogan. Prospects for the postal deregulation bills, a top item on his reform agenda, are at best uncertain...
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 3, 2002

Argentina downs Nigeria 1-0

KASHIMA, Ibaraki Pref. -- A second-half goal from striker Gabriel Batistuta helped Argentina beat Nigeria 1-0 and earn three precious points in Group F, known as the "Group of Death," on Sunday at Kashima Soccer Stadium.
JAPAN
Jun 3, 2002

Internet-auto system may become global norm: METI

Japan's Intelligent Transportation Systems, based on Internet data transmission, may become the global norm.
BUSINESS
Jun 3, 2002

U.S. energy policy pushes new course

KANSAS — The Bush administration is attempting to direct global energy policy in a new direction five years after the landmark Kyoto agreement to roll back emissions of greenhouse gases.
BUSINESS
Jun 3, 2002

Will next-generation autos be in time to save Earth?

U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said that today 700 million cars navigate the industrialized world. He projected there will be 3.5 billion cars in 50 years.
COMMENTARY / JAPAN IN THE GLOBAL ERA
Jun 3, 2002

Can a nation learn from Nissan's success?

LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- The twin announcements that Nissan made a record profit of 372 billion yen last year and that Carlos Ghosn has been appointed chief executive officer of the parent company, Renault, as well as retaining the presidency of Nissan, are an extraordinary landmark.
EDITORIALS
Jun 3, 2002

Mr. Arafat's failures

Real peace between Palestinians and Israelis will be preceded by two conditions: an Israeli withdrawal from most, if not all, of the occupied territories and genuine democracy in the Palestinian Authority. Attention has usually focused on the first factor, but it has become increasingly evident that...

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