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JAPAN
Jun 3, 2000

Sakurauchi to retire from politics

Former House of Representatives speaker and Liberal Democratic Party member Yoshio Sakurauchi has decided to retire from politics after complying with a request that he not be listed on the ballot for the upcoming Lower House election.
JAPAN
Jun 3, 2000

Japan to resume India loans despite nuclear treaty delay

The government is considering resuming large-scale economic aid to India as early as this summer, nearly two years after New Delhi's nuclear tests prompted Japan to suspend assistance, government sources said Thursday.
SOCCER / J. League
Jun 3, 2000

Okano to make call on Troussier

Japan Football Association president Shunichiro Okano said Thursday that members of the JFA board and the council have agreed to allow him to decide whether Japan manager Philippe Troussier should be kept on after June.
JAPAN
Jun 3, 2000

Murayama bows out with relief, memories

Former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama spent Friday — his last day in politics — reminiscing about the past.
OLYMPICS
Jun 3, 2000

Mizuno plans to dump ads featuring Chiba

Sporting goods manufacturer Mizuno said Thursday that it will not use swimmer Suzu Chiba in commercials it plans to air before the Olympics since the freestyle swimmer was left off the Japanese national team for the Sydney Games in September.
CULTURE / Music / HOGAKU TODAY
Jun 3, 2000

Drumming to a Japanese beat

The drum is easily Japan's most popular instrument.
JAPAN
Jun 3, 2000

State has 'power and duty' to carry out death sentence

The government on Friday defended the December execution of a death-row inmate who had been requesting a retrial, saying the justice minister has "the power and duty" to carry out the death sentence.
ENVIRONMENT / FLOWER WALK
Jun 3, 2000

Just a-flowerwalkin' in the rain

No one would regret getting wet in the rain while admiring irises. Any complaints would melt away before the array of dainty flowers saluting you above crisp green leaves.
CULTURE / Art
Jun 3, 2000

Japanese ceramics on auction block

Contemporary Japanese ceramics took center stage in New York recently, when Phillips, the world's number three auction house, lifted the hammer on a sale titled "20th Century Japanese Ceramics and Design."
JAPAN
Jun 3, 2000

Lower House dissolved for June 25 poll

Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori dissolved the Lower House on Friday and called a general election for June 25, placing the fate of his leadership in the hands of voters.
CULTURE / Art
Jun 3, 2000

Paintings that invite you to linger longer

The first thing you notice are the fingers. These are big, long fingers, four of them radiating outward from each half of a stretching oil on canvas diptych the artist calls "Double Fist."
JAPAN / ELECTION 2000
Jun 3, 2000

Public spending unproductive, economist says

Masaru Kaneko, an economics professor at Hosei University, is harshly critical of the way the Liberal Democratic Party has been spending taxpayers' money on public works projects and to bail out big banks.
BUSINESS
Jun 3, 2000

Business chiefs want sober leadership

Business leaders expressed hopes Friday that the June 25 election will produce a stable administration that is ready to wrestle with medium- and long-term structural reforms and achieve sustainable economic recovery.
JAPAN
Jun 3, 2000

Firms plead not guilty in rigging of oil bids

Three leading oil firms pleaded not guilty while eight others admitted to charges of violating the Antimonopoly Law by rigging bids on fuel-supply contracts with the Defense Agency in 1998.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 3, 2000

The siren song of 'the China market'

Businessmen around the world continue to be fascinated with the prospect of making a fortune doing business with China.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 3, 2000

India has no stake in Sri Lanka's war

NEW DELHI -- With Sri Lanka torn by renewed internal war, India has withstood the impulse to intervene once again in the ethnic conflict of its tiny neighbor to the south. Despite calls for Indian assistance by Sri Lanka's beleaguered president, Chandrika Kumaratunga, New Delhi has balked at sending...
BUSINESS
Jun 3, 2000

NCB deficit grows 50.7 billion yen to 3.24 trillion yen

The capital deficit of Nippon Credit Bank, which is currently under state control, for the year that ended in March increased by some 50.7 billion yen over levels reported in September, the bank's earnings report showed Friday.
EDITORIALS
Jun 2, 2000

Mr. Jospin's star rises

French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin celebrated three years in office this week. It was a satisfying moment. The economy is rebounding, France's international status is growing and the prime minister can entertain ambitions for the presidency. But much can change between now and the vote scheduled for...
EDITORIALS
Jun 2, 2000

Reality hits Hyundai

South Korea has staged a remarkable recovery since its economy virtually collapsed in 1997. The economy is expanding at a blistering pace, and unemployment is at its lowest point since the crisis hit. While the recovery has won plaudits from international observers, there has been concern that it would...
JAPAN
Jun 2, 2000

Kiriyenko urges isle flexibility

Japan should not set a time limit on the settlement of its territorial row with Russia so that the people of both countries can be fully satisfied with the final resolution, according to former Russian Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko.
BUSINESS
Jun 2, 2000

Sony to license PlayStation2, increase semiconductor output

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. said Thursday it will invest 125 billion yen to expand its production capacity for semiconductors, mainly for its PlayStation2 game console.
JAPAN
Jun 2, 2000

Ishihara calls for new ideas on tax reform

Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara on Thursday gave Tokyo's research commission on taxes the task of making "unprecedented suggestions" on tax system reform to the central government commission.
JAPAN
Jun 2, 2000

Mori set to dissolve Diet for elections on June 25

Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori is set to dissolve the Lower House today, effectively kicking off campaigning for general elections slated for June 25.
JAPAN
Jun 2, 2000

Imperial Couple return from tour

The Emperor and Empress returned to Tokyo on Thursday morning after a 13-day, four-nation European tour.
BUSINESS
Jun 2, 2000

DoCoMo tieup eyes i-mode-friendly ads

Mobile phone giant NTT DoCoMo Inc. and major ad agency Dentsu Inc. announced Thursday they have jointly set up an agency specializing in ads to be posted on DoCoMo's i-mode wireless Internet service.

Longform

The students at Mitaka Municipal No. 7 Junior High School have access to various cooling devices for when they play sports.
Japan's extreme heat is causing a rethink of school sports