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Yuji Utsunomiya
BUSINESS
Jan 21, 2004
BOJ panel agrees to ease monetary grip
The Bank of Japan's policy-setting panel said Tuesday it will further ease its monetary grip.
BUSINESS
Jan 15, 2004
Ashikaga chief slams accounting firm
A former head of the nationalized Ashikaga Bank on Wednesday said ChuoAoyama Audit Corp.'s sudden decision not to count the bank's deferred tax assets as part of its capital was to blame for the bank's failure in December.
JAPAN
Jan 4, 2004
Planned new Tokyo bank threatens lenders that are presently struggling
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is beginning steps to establish a new bank to support small and medium-size companies in April 2005 by starting work on drawing up the details of its services, a task that will be completed by September.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / FRONT-RUNNERS
Dec 23, 2003
The sky is just one limit for Toray's foray into carbon fibers
Toray Industries Inc, a major maker of textiles and plastics, is expanding its carbon fiber line, wooing airplane and car manufacturers in the process.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / FRONT-RUNNERS
Dec 16, 2003
Multitask outsourcing service leaves no client stone unturned
The economic slump has resulted in rapid growth for a Tokyo-based outsourcing service company that works with a diverse range of clients, including parcel delivery firms, automakers and restaurants.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / FRONT-RUNNERS
Dec 9, 2003
Purifier firm had rough patch but overall well-oiled
After facing bankruptcy less than five years ago, Sanmi Corp. has fought back to become the nation's leading producer of oil purifiers for power plants and home appliance companies, according to its president, Hisayoshi Tamaru.
JAPAN
Dec 4, 2003
Few warm to greater-Tokyo assembly idea
Kanagawa Gov. Shigefumi Matsuzawa advocates creation of an unprecedented regional administrative system that would deal with issues affecting the multiple prefectures and municipalities that constitute greater Tokyo.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / FRONT-RUNNERS
Dec 2, 2003
Casio electronic dictionaries put paper lexicon out to pasture
If Casio Computer Co. has its way, the heavy paper dictionary will be a thing of the past for most consumers.
BUSINESS / FRONT-RUNNERS
Nov 26, 2003
Matsui Securities owes success to efficient online trading service
A Tokyo-based securities house that posted first-half operating revenue of just 10 billion yen happens to be one of the nation's strongest brokerages, as its profit margin was 50 percent.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / FRONT-RUNNERS
Nov 18, 2003
Shiseido positions itself for China cosmetics boom
Faced with a maturing market in Japan, the nation's largest cosmetics company has turned its attention to China.
BUSINESS
Nov 15, 2003
Ishihara eyes bank purchase
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is in talks with Paribas International SA over the purchase of the French financial group's Japanese trust bank, Gov. Shintaro Ishihara announced Friday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 11, 2003
Barber chain QB Net's innovations clipped by tight regulations
The experiences of one Tokyo-based hair-cutting operator seem to show how archaic rules in Japan can stifle innovative business ideas.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 5, 2003
Weathernews finds silver lining in abnormal global patterns
Many countries witnessed abnormal weather this past summer, from devastating heat waves in Europe to economy-chilling cold weather in Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ELECTION 2003
Nov 4, 2003
Party campaign strategies smack of desperation
With the coming election in mind, former House of Representatives member Kaoru Yosano last spring departed the Liberal Democratic Party faction led by Shizuka Kamei.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ELECTION 2003
Nov 4, 2003
Another Ishihara proclaims Diet quest but some media see birthright elitism
Tokyo's No. 3 constituency, encompassing Shinagawa and northern Ota wards as well as the Izu Islands, has captured heavy media attention ahead of the Nov. 9 general election, as one of Japan's most well-known political families hopes to put yet another member in office.
JAPAN
Nov 1, 2003
Ishihara unrepentant over slur
An unrepentant Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara on Friday reiterated claims that Koreans had chosen Japanese rule rather than face Chinese or Russian governance when Japan annexed the Korean Peninsula in 1910.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 28, 2003
Matsui's success in U.S. hits a home run for Mizuno's sales
New York Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui drew praise for helping his team clinch the American League pennant and for his contribution, albeit in vain, toward their quest for a World Series victory.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / FRONT-RUNNERS
Oct 21, 2003
Toho to take domestic smash 'Bayside Shakedown 2' overseas
A Tokyo-based motion picture company is poised to take on Hollywood with a live-action cop film that was a hit in Japan this summer.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / FRONT-RUNNERS
Oct 15, 2003
Shopping site Rakuten thinks empire
The nation's largest online shopping mall operator appears to be building an empire, or what its president calls a new zaibatsu in the world of Internet retail.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 7, 2003
Matsumoto Kiyoshi finds train stations bring in customers
Ginza, Shibuya and Tokyo's other well-known commercial districts are coveted by retailers for their ever-present shopping crowds.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?