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BUSINESS
Dec 7, 2001

Economy still lagging under 50%

The government said Thursday its key gauge of the economy remained below the boom-or-bust line of 50 percent in October, marking its 10th consecutive month under this line.
JAPAN
Dec 7, 2001

Attack response legislation on the way

The government may submit to the next regular Diet session starting in January legislation stipulating how Japan would respond to a military attack, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda hinted Thursday.
BUSINESS
Dec 7, 2001

Japan set to ratify '94 treaty on Soviet energy

In a rather belated move, Japan is set to formally join a key post-Cold War international treaty calling for the liberalization of trade and investment in energy in Russia and the other former Soviet republics.
COMMENTARY
Dec 7, 2001

Koizumi takes aim at public corporations

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi believes the Japanese economy cannot recover without structural reform. As the first step in translating this political philosophy into action, he is working on reforming inefficient government-affiliated public corporations.
BUSINESS
Dec 7, 2001

No quick-fix seen in China farm trade dispute

Japan and China will begin a new round of bilateral talks over a lingering farm trade dispute in Beijing today, but a top Japanese trade representative indicated any quick resolution is unlikely.
JAPAN
Dec 7, 2001

Peacekeeping bill clears final panel

A House of Councilors panel approved a bill Thursday to expand the scope of Self-Defense Forces participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations.
JAPAN
Dec 7, 2001

Bush adviser discusses energy policy

OSAKA -- A senior energy policy adviser to U.S. President George W. Bush said Thursday that any proposal submitted by the U.S. as an alternative to the Kyoto Protocol would rely on technology and market mechanisms to forge reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 7, 2001

MLB won't be opening 2002 campaign in Japan

The office of the commissioner of Japanese baseball confirmed Thursday that Major League Baseball has decided not to open the 2002 regular season with games in Japan.
JAPAN
Dec 7, 2001

Former foot-cult deputy gets five years for fraud

A former deputy leader of the Honohana Sampogyo foot-reading cult was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison for defrauding 31 people between 1994 and 1997.
BUSINESS
Dec 7, 2001

Surplus expected to plunge 39.5%

The customs-cleared trade surplus for fiscal 2001 is expected to plunge 39.5 percent from the previous year to 5.809 trillion yen, according to a trading industry association.
JAPAN
Dec 7, 2001

Treaty on deadly chemicals to go before Diet soon

The government will submit a landmark international treaty banning the production and use of the world's most toxic and harmful chemicals to the Diet for ratification early next year, government sources said Thursday.
JAPAN
Dec 7, 2001

Japan to go to work on its image as a looter of cultural treasures

After years of foot-dragging, Japan is taking its first significant step toward shedding its reputation as a looter of cultural assets.
BUSINESS
Dec 7, 2001

Deregulation panel seeks to relax medical advertising curbs

A final report currently being drafted by a government deregulation panel says restrictions on advertising by medical institutions should be relaxed by the end of March, panel sources said Thursday.
JAPAN
Dec 7, 2001

High pressure burst nuclear pipe

A steam pipe at Chubu Electric Power Co.'s Hamaoka nuclear plant in Shizuoka Prefecture ruptured instantly under enormous pressure last month, causing a radioactive steam leak, the plant's operator and the government's nuclear body said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Dec 7, 2001

Two pipe makers agree to set up joint company

Mitsubishi Plastics Inc. and Sekisui Chemical Co. said Thursday they have agreed to a tieup in the field of polyvinyl chloride pipes, featuring the formation of a joint company to control production.
BUSINESS
Dec 7, 2001

Expect more firms to follow Aoki as banks clean loan mess

Major construction company Aoki Corp. filed for court protection Thursday, unable to seek further aid from its creditors. The collapse is a foretaste of more to come, as banks hurry to clear their books of bad debts.
LIFE / Lifestyle / JET STREAM
Dec 7, 2001

Taking centerstage without clamming up

On his first visit to Urato Junior High School a year and a half ago, David Goldberg was awestruck. He was glad that he had followed his predecessor's advice to take a camera along. On the early morning 30-minute ferry ride from Shiogama City in Miyagi Prefecture to the island of Nonoshima, Goldberg...
JAPAN
Dec 7, 2001

Aoki goes under with 522 billion yen in liabilities

The construction industry was dealt another blow on Thursday when general contractor Aoki Corp. effectively went bankrupt, filing for court protection from creditors under a civil rehabilitation law.
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Dec 7, 2001

Black mountain ant

* Japanese name:Kuroyama-ari * Scientific name:Formica japonica * Description: Like all ants, the black mountain ant has three clearly defined body parts: a capsulelike head with strong jaws; a thorax to which the three pairs of legs are joined; and an abdomen. There are also three different types,...
MORE SPORTS
Dec 7, 2001

Takahashi hospitalized for problem with colon

Olympic gold medalist Naoko Takahashi has pulled out of Sunday's national women's corporate ekiden championship after being hospitalized with intestinal problems, officials of her Sekisui Chemical team said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Dec 7, 2001

Lack of urgency widens stock market schism

New York share prices shot up Wednesday, surprising players on the Tokyo market.
LIFE / Lifestyle / LEARNING BY HEART
Dec 7, 2001

New b-boys and b-girls on the block

The hippest of hip-hop dancers perform pure magic. They do somersaults, cartwheels and flips. They're dramatic, eccentric, funny and highly creative. They slide in any direction, send electric shock waves through their limbs, glide across the ground like moonwalkers and twirl into body-punishing spins....
BUSINESS
Dec 7, 2001

Teijin pulls out of power-selling study thanks to Enron

Major chemical and textile maker Teijin Ltd. said Thursday it will scrap a feasibility study with a Delaware company on selling power in Japan due to the failure of the U.S. firm's parent, Enron Corp.
EDITORIALS
Dec 6, 2001

Take action, Mr. Arafat

Two suicide bombing attacks by Islamic militants in Israel over the weekend followed by the severe responses on the part of the Israeli government have dashed hopes for bringing the Mideast peace process back to life in the near future. The horrific attacks have brought the situation to a head.
JAPAN
Dec 6, 2001

Terrorism took record toll on overseas travel in October

Revenues from overseas trips at 50 Japanese tourist agencies in October shrank a record 46.1 percent to 115.98 billion yen from the previous year due to transportation concerns caused by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a government survey showed.

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