search

 
 
BUSINESS
Jan 13, 2001

Don't fret about economy: IMF chief

International Monetary Fund chief Horst Koehler told Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa on Friday that there is no need to worry about the outlook for the Japanese economy, although Japan will experience pain as its labor market goes through a transitional period.
BUSINESS
Jan 13, 2001

Hiranuma welcomes Zoellick nomination

Japan's minister of economy, trade and industry on Friday hailed President-elect George W. Bush's decision to name Robert Zoellick as his nominee for U.S. trade representative.
JAPAN
Jan 13, 2001

Tanaka payoff eased Kim abduction row

South Korea handed hundreds of millions of yen to the late Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka in 1973 to help arrange a breakthrough in the diplomatic standoff between the two countries over the kidnapping of Kim Dae Jung, Tanaka's former aide said in a recent issue of a Japanese monthly.
JAPAN
Jan 13, 2001

Drunk driver's term not extended

The Tokyo High Court dismissed an appeal by prosecutors Friday who claimed that a four-year prison term for a drunken trucker who caused the deaths of two toddlers was too lenient.
JAPAN
Jan 13, 2001

Defense head to tell U.S. forces to tighten discipline

Defense Agency chief Toshitsugu Saito said Friday that he will urge the U.S. military to take steps to prevent unruly behavior following Tuesday's arrest of a Marine suspected of lifting up a high school girl's skirt.
JAPAN
Jan 13, 2001

NPA clarifies chief's crime quotes

The National Police Agency on Friday clarified remarks made by chief Setsuo Tanaka on Thursday that were interpreted as indicating he was concerned that the ability of the Japanese police to prevent crime is weakening.
BUSINESS
Jan 13, 2001

DoCoMo share issue set to raise 900 billion yen

NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan's largest mobile phone operator, said Friday that a planned issue of 460,000 new shares will earn the firm an estimated 900 billion yen.
BUSINESS
Jan 13, 2001

Online short sellers bask amid stock fall

Margin transactions over the Internet are drawing attention.
JAPAN
Jan 13, 2001

JR East testing remote IC card commuter passes

East Japan Railway Co. unveiled Friday a new commuter pass with a built-in integrated circuit chip that remotely signals the wicket system to allow a passenger to pass.
BUSINESS
Jan 13, 2001

Wholesale prices increase for first time in three years

Domestic wholesale prices rose 0.1 percent in 2000 for the first hike in three years, mainly due to higher crude oil prices, the Bank of Japan said Friday.
BUSINESS
Jan 13, 2001

Sharp eyes mass production of LCD

Sharp Corp. plans to start mass producing an advanced liquid crystal display in Japan in late 2002 as part of efforts "to meet the needs of the digital age," President Katsuhiko Machida said in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN
Jan 13, 2001

Review of wetlands plan urged

A comprehensive review of a controversial plan to reclaim Tokyo Bay wetlands off the coast of Chiba Prefecture is needed, Environment Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said Friday.
JAPAN
Jan 13, 2001

Magnet find opens IT possibilities

Japanese scientists have discovered a new type of transparent magnet with the same properties as a permanent magnet that could increase the versatility of information technology, according to the U.S. journal Science.
EDITORIALS
Jan 13, 2001

Help China to help itself

China promises to become an economic superpower in the 21st century, but it faces formidable environmental problems, such as acid rain, air and water pollution, desertification and soil erosion. According to a recent report from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, the world's most populous nation could...
MORE SPORTS
Jan 13, 2001

Date to marry race driver

Former Japanese women's tennis ace Kimiko Date is to marry German racing driver Michael Krumm, the four-time Japan Open women's singles titlist announced Friday.
JAPAN
Jan 13, 2001

Obituary: Sawamura Sojuro

Kabuki actor Sawamura Sojuro, known for his portrayals of attractive females as well as male roles, died of heart failure Friday morning at an Osaka hospital, his family said. He was 67.
JAPAN
Jan 13, 2001

Diplomat quizzed on embezzlement

The Metropolitan Police Department has questioned a senior Foreign Ministry official who is suspected of having embezzled public funds, police sources said Friday.
JAPAN
Jan 13, 2001

Palace holds New Year poetry event

The Emperor and Empress attended the annual New Year's poetry reading at the Imperial Palace on Friday, where poems by Imperial family members and the general public were recited in traditional style.
BUSINESS
Jan 13, 2001

Kyocera eyes digital camera market

OSAKA -- Kyocera Corp. will begin marketing a high-end digital camera under its popular Contax brand name as early as this fall, company officials said Friday.
CULTURE / Art
Jan 13, 2001

New gallery seen as artist launchpad

Bleak economic times at the cusp of the millennium saw the closure of Tokyo's Sagacho Exhibit Space after 17 years due to lack of funding. But there is still hope for young exhibitors. Coinciding with Sagacho's demise was the opening of the showrooms and gallery for design agency H.A. Deux.
COMMENTARY / THE VIEW FROM MOSCOW
Jan 13, 2001

Muscovites get all fired up

"Real Chechnya" -- this is how Muscovites sum up their experiences during the recent holiday season. Fortunately, except for routine scuffles ignited by the excessive consumption of alcohol, there was no fighting in the Russian capital.
CULTURE / Film
Jan 13, 2001

Holy mother of threesomes!

Actor Edward Norton has only been in the business four years, but he makes you think that he's been there forever.
BUSINESS
Jan 13, 2001

Fujisawa to reorganize subsidiaries

OSAKA -- Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co. said Friday it will reorganize its European subsidiaries by Jan. 1, 2002, in an effort to boost sales in Europe.
CULTURE / Art / CERAMIC SCENE
Jan 13, 2001

Pottery with a Korean foundation

A simple fact to begin the Ceramic Scene 21st century: Many great Japanese ceramic traditions of western Japan began with Korean potters.

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