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Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 3, 2002

Death of domestic coal leaves legacy for future

Four decades of protection for the domestic coal mining industry are nearly at an end as the government moves to procure stable and more economical supplies from abroad.
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2002

Emperor offers annual greetings

Emperor Akihito and other members of the Imperial family offered their annual New Year's greetings Wednesday to thousands of well-wishers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
BUSINESS
Jan 3, 2002

Tax panel chief leans toward broader base, not rate cuts

Tax Commission chief Hiromitsu Ishi said Wednesday he does not favor cutting taxes to stimulate the economy; instead he would broaden the tax base to better help the government fill its depleted coffers.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / WILD WATCH
Jan 3, 2002

Why do birds of a feather tend to flock together?

"Flocks" read the sign outside the onsen, or so I thought. My bird brain immediately clicked into "Hey, an onsen for birders." But why in remote Higashi Mokoto, Hokkaido? Surely it wasn't "Frocks?" A women-only onsen? But no, men were most definitely welcome. So what, I asked, did "flocks" mean?
EDITORIALS
Jan 3, 2002

Avoid a financial crisis

There appears to be nothing to cheer about in Japan's economy as it enters 2002. Virtually every economic indicator points to further stagnation. Unemployment is at a record 5.5 percent. Corporate earnings continue to decline. Particularly worrisome is the bad-debt problem in the banking sector, which,...
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / FLOWER WALK
Jan 3, 2002

A short trip way back to Shinto's arcane roots

In the depths of winter, when their barren fields yielded no blooms to adorn their altars, Japanese farmers traditionally fashioned flowers of wood to celebrate the New Year. To make their festive flora, they cut leafless branches and carved the white wood inside in a variety of ways. Tangled curly slivers...
BUSINESS
Jan 3, 2002

Accelerating deflation, slack investment to keep economy weak in 2002

Although an anticipated economic recovery in the United States may help Japanese fortunes during the latter half of 2002, the overall tone of the domestic economy will remain weak due to accelerating deflation and slack capital investment.
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2002

Tokyo handed rights to explore Mexico oil fields

Japan National Oil Corp. has acquired exclusive exploration rights to major Mexican oil fields, paving the way for Japan to lessen its dependency on Middle Eastern oil, according to government sources.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 3, 2002

Newly noticed whiskey makers forced to diversify products

It's winter, the perfect season to sip a glass of whisky on a long, quiet night to warm up, as well as a good time to sample the variety of quality whiskeys available on the market.
BUSINESS
Jan 3, 2002

Hong Kong's ills raise serious doubts about fixed dollar peg

HONG KONG -- Argentina's economic crisis and the disappearance of the peso as the national currency will put the Hong Kong in the spotlight and the local dollar under pressure in foreign exchange markets.
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Jan 3, 2002

Sometimes the gaming is too rough

When it comes to video games, Japan generally gets the good stuff first. Nintendo, Sony, and NEC hardware generally comes out in Japan before the United States. "Devil May Cry," "Final Fantasy X," and "Luigi's Mansion" all came out in Japan before they made it to the United States.
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2002

Chinese teas overcome coffee boom as Japan turns new leaf in Asia

Unlike Starbucks coffee, it can be drunk steadily over three or four hours, with no risk of caffeine addiction.
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2002

Defense policy emerges from 2001 with new face

Kyodo News About 110 sailors aboard the Maritime Self-Defense Force minesweeper Uraga reached Yokosuka port in Kanagawa Prefecture on New Year's Eve and were received with welcoming cheers by their families and fellow MSDF ranks.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 3, 2002

Euro faces economic snags

LONDON -- The introduction on Jan. 1 of the euro currency into everyday use across 12 countries in one of the world's big three economic zones marks the accomplishment of a 50-year-old project to bring the continent together in partnership and mutual well-being as an alternative to the past periodic...
EDITORIALS
Jan 1, 2002

For a new strategic calculus

One of the lessons of 2001 was that overwhelming military power has its uses. A relentless assault by a global coalition against a primitive country can bring a government to its knees. The chief question for the year ahead is whether we have also learned that the resort to military options reflects...
SOCCER / J. League
Jan 1, 2002

Shunsuke reportedly off to Real

Yokohama F. Marinos and Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura could be on his way to Spanish giant Real Madrid this month, a Japanese daily sports newspaper reported Monday.
JAPAN / CLOSE NEIGHBORS
Jan 1, 2002

Japan hopes 'people exchanges' will improve ties

This year, Japan cohosts the World Cup soccer finals with South Korea and marks the 30th anniversary of normalizing diplomatic ties with China. In 2001, however, bilateral relations were overshadowed by issues related to Japan's wartime past. This is the first article in an occasional series that will...
MORE SPORTS
Jan 1, 2002

Hammer star Murofushi to turn pro

Hammer thrower Koji Murofushi, the silver medalist at the World Athletics Championships in August, has informed the Japan Amateur Athletic Federation of his plans to turn professional, sports sources said Sunday.
JAPAN
Jan 1, 2002

Royal couple's poems touch on Afghanistan

The Imperial Household Agency on Monday released eight poems in the traditional Japanese "waka" form written by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko in 2001.
JAPAN
Jan 1, 2002

Koizumi-Kim TV gambit starts big exchange year

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean President Kim Dae Jung will broadcast televised messages to each other's nations today, kick-starting a yearlong series of events aimed at boosting bilateral ties.
JAPAN
Jan 1, 2002

Municipalities leaning toward mergers

More than 60 percent of the nation's cities, towns and villages, particularly those with aging or declining populations, are considering mergers, according to a poll released Monday.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 1, 2002

Estrada the 'Most Abject,' Koizumi-Putin the 'Boldest'

HONG KONG -- The prize for the "Most Abject Politician of the Year" clearly goes to former Philippine President Joseph Estrada. His hang-dog expression, as numerous court cases went against him in his protracted legal battle against corruption charges, vividly illustrated the fall of the former matinee...
SOCCER / J. League / ON THE BALL
Jan 1, 2002

Troussier hoping for successful swan song

This year will be a crucial period for Japanese soccer, particularly when the national team plays in the World Cup finals from May 31-June 30 in front of its home fans.
JAPAN
Jan 1, 2002

Hatoyama to visit India this month

Yukio Hatoyama, leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, said Monday he will make a four-day visit to India this month to call for a peaceful solution to the country's standoff with Pakistan.
JAPAN
Jan 1, 2002

Pyongyang leader's son often sneaked into Japan

The man believed to be Kim Jong Nam, the eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, has been found to have entered the country more times than initially suspected, sources close to the case said Monday.

Longform

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What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji