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JAPAN
Aug 3, 2001

Illegal loans, most other forms of crime up in first half of year, NPA says

The number of illegal high-interest loans extended to owners of small companies in the first half of this year rose by 33 cases over a year ago to 116, apparently reflecting the economic slump, the National Police Agency said Thursday.
JAPAN
Aug 3, 2001

Six banks expand writeoff estimates

Under pressure to get to the bottom of their bad loans, six major banks tripled their bad loan disposal projections for fiscal 2001 in revised business plans submitted to financial regulators Thursday.
BUSINESS / ANALYSIS
Aug 3, 2001

Japan skittish about emerging from FTA lab

Think of it as entering a long tunnel with no light at the other end anywhere in sight.
BUSINESS
Aug 3, 2001

Mitsubishi to cut spending on chips

Mitsubishi Electric Corp. plans to slash capital spending on semiconductor operations for fiscal 2001 by about 10 billion yen, company officials said Thursday.
JAPAN
Aug 3, 2001

Yasukuni furor sparks legal threat

Citizens' groups said Thursday they may sue Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for violating the Constitution if he visits Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine on the Aug. 15 anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender.
EDITORIALS
Aug 2, 2001

Fishing in troubled waters

Talks between Japan and South Korea over the latter's fishing activity in waters around the Russian-held Northern Territories have broken down as both sides have dug in their heels. With little prospect of the two governments reaching agreement soon, the dispute could develop into yet another knotty...
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 2, 2001

Blame misplaced in Okinawa rape case

I am deeply disturbed, although not surprised, by the news that Japanese weeklies are harassing the young woman who claims to have been publicly raped in late June in Okinawa. Even Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka evidently blames her for having been out so late, drinking, in a bar frequented by American...
JAPAN
Aug 2, 2001

DisneySea set for September grand opening

URAYASU, Chiba Pref. -- Tokyo DisneySea, the latest addition to the Disney amusement kingdom, entertained the media Wednesday ahead of a public opening set for Sept. 4.
BUSINESS
Aug 2, 2001

Yoshinoya's eastern stores join 'gyudon' price war

The nation's largest operator of restaurants serving "gyudon" -- rice topped with seasoned beef -- said Wednesday it cut the price of its regular-size gyudon to 280 yen from 400 yen at its eastern Japan outlets, a price matched the same day by one of its rivals.
BUSINESS
Aug 2, 2001

July new vehicle sales rose 5.8%

Sales of new motor vehicles rose 5.8 percent in July from a year earlier to 390,653 units, resuming their ascent after a drop in June that had snapped an eight-month rising streak, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Aug 2, 2001

Koizumi's son to enter show business

The eldest son of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi intends to debut in show business, joining an entertainment production company, industry sources said Wednesday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Aug 2, 2001

Rhodes' league-leading 37th blast seals Buffs win

Kintetsu slugger Tuffy Rhodes smashed a two-run homer for his 37th this season, carrying the Buffaloes to a 2-1 win over the Lotte Marines on Wednesday night at the Osaka Dome.
ENVIRONMENT / WILD WATCH
Aug 2, 2001

Salt tolerance and life's dispersal derby

Salt is an interesting mineral. We all need it. It is crucial to the operation of the cells that make up our bodies.
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Aug 2, 2001

You say Frankenfruit, we say miracle tomato

Prince Charles played into the hands of the sensation-seeking media -- and drew the groans of scientists -- with his comments last year on genetically modified crops. They are, he said, "Frankenstein foods." Rather than genetic manipulation, he urged investment in "traditional systems of agriculture."...
JAPAN
Aug 2, 2001

Experts to join Ehime Maru team

Japan will send two shipbuilding experts to observe the salvage of the Ehime Maru, a Japanese vessel that sank off Hawaii in February after being struck by a U.S. Navy submarine, government officials said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Aug 2, 2001

Commuters fume over train temperatures

Frustration levels are running high among train and subway commuters amid a spell of uncomfortably hot weather this summer, driving many to demand cooler trains.
JAPAN
Aug 2, 2001

Daiwa to set up holding firm with two other Kansai banks

Daiwa Bank Ltd. said Wednesday it will set up a joint holding company with two regional banks by April, creating the largest financial group in the Kansai region.
JAPAN
Aug 2, 2001

Tanaka, Fukuda feud over top diplomats

A tug of war continued Wednesday over whether the nation's top diplomats would be removed, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda warning Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka that a prolonged stalemate could damage national interests.

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