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BUSINESS
Nov 3, 2001

Tobishima cuts earnings forecast

General contractor Tobishima Corp. said Friday it has revised downward its group earnings forecast for the first half and the full year of fiscal 2001, due largely to deteriorating profit margins in private-sector construction jobs.
JAPAN / JOB JITTERS
Nov 3, 2001

Retirement not always time to relax

The red, blue and green flags of labor unions fluttered in front of the towering headquarters of a major bank in Tokyo's Marunouchi business district in early September as about 200 workers shouted, "The bank ought to carry out its social responsibility" and "We don't forgive the bank for dismissing...
JAPAN
Nov 3, 2001

MSDF dispatch decision coming soon

The government will decide on the dispatch of Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels on an intelligence-gathering mission in the Indian Ocean soon after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi returns to Tokyo from an overseas trip, Defense Agency Director General Gen Nakatani said Friday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Nov 3, 2001

Howling Loochie Bros. R&B to benefit Amnesty

It took as long to read Robin (Loochie) Suchy's name card as it took him to lock up his bike outside Ben's Cafe in Tokyo's Takadanobaba. Following "Singer * Song Writer * Vocal Recordings * Narrations * Actor * Vocal Coach * Producer" were two contact addresses, in Naka Ochiai and British Columbia. Not...
BUSINESS
Nov 3, 2001

Takebe hits back at criticism from Washington over WTO

Farm minister Tsutomu Takebe rebuked U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick on Friday for criticizing Japan's "narrow minded" attitude toward the launch of a new round of trade liberalization negotiations under the World Trade Organization.
BUSINESS
Nov 3, 2001

Reform of public entities wins little ministry support

Government ministries and agencies are showing little enthusiasm for abolishing or reducing the amount of subsidies to public corporations under their jurisdiction, according to their individual reform plans released Friday.
BUSINESS
Nov 3, 2001

Tire maker to build China plant

Yokohama Rubber Co., the nation's second-largest tire maker, said Friday that it will set up a joint company in China in January to make and sell car tires.
BUSINESS
Nov 3, 2001

LDP wants to set target for inflation

An amendment to the Bank of Japan Law endorsed Friday by a Liberal Democratic Party working group includes a provision to set an inflation target, according to LDP officials.
JAPAN
Nov 2, 2001

Tokyo, Tehran to stay in touch on antiterror drive

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Seyyed Kamal Kharrazi, visiting foreign minister of Iran, said Thursday that Tokyo and Tehran will maintain close contact while supporting the international fight against terrorism.
BUSINESS
Nov 2, 2001

TSE starts new life as profit-seeking stock firm

The Tokyo Stock Exchange, formerly a membership organization, started operations as a stock company Thursday in a bid to improve its worldwide competitiveness.
JAPAN
Nov 2, 2001

'Unconstitutional' shrine visit provokes barrage of lawsuits

OSAKA -- More than 900 people filed three separate lawsuits Thursday against Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, claiming his Aug. 13 visit to Yasukuni Shrine was unconstitutional.
JAPAN
Nov 2, 2001

Japan, U.S. set up framework for talks over SDF support

Japan and the United States agreed Thursday on a basic framework for discussing details of Japan's logistic support for the U.S.-led war on terrorism.
EDITORIALS
Nov 2, 2001

Tasks for the corporate TSE

The Tokyo Stock Exchange acquired a new legal status as a corporation, effective Thursday, shedding its 52 years' standing as a nonprofit organization. This welcome step follows the global trend of incorporation of stock exchanges. The new TSE has the blessing of those concerned, including market players,...
BUSINESS
Nov 2, 2001

Banks' interest-rate risks high relative to capital

Standard & Poor's Corp. said Thursday it is concerned that interest-rate risks assumed by Japanese banks, especially the major banks, are high relative to their capital bases.
JAPAN
Nov 2, 2001

French antinuclear protesters visit Kepco

OSAKA -- Representatives from a French group opposed to a nuclear waste reprocessing plant in the port city of Le Havre visited Kansai Electric Power Co. Thursday to protest the firm's business with the French plant. They said the Le Havre plant is the cause of recent outbreaks of cancer and leukemia...
BUSINESS
Nov 2, 2001

Vehicle sales log biggest fall of 2001

Domestic sales of new motor vehicles fell 7 percent in October from a year earlier to 296,084 units, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Thursday.
SOCCER / J. League
Nov 2, 2001

Antlers take first place

The Kashima Antlers seized the J. League Division One second-stage lead after beating Avispa Fukuoka 4-1 at home on Wednesday night and getting a little help from Jubilo Iwata.
JAPAN
Nov 2, 2001

NPA sees rise in crimestied to dating Web sites

The number of crimes linked with Internet dating sites has more than tripled in the first half of this year compared with all of last year, according to a National Police Agency report released Thursday.
JAPAN
Nov 2, 2001

Koizumi warms to debt concession plan

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Thursday reacted positively to Pakistan's request to reschedule its debts to Tokyo, and Finance Ministry officials later indicated that Japan will discuss the matter with other creditors to Pakistan.
JAPAN
Nov 2, 2001

Diet committee OKs antihooligan bill

The House of Councilors Committee on Judicial Affairs passed a bill Thursday allowing immigration authorities to bar soccer hooligans and antiglobalization activists from entering Japan for the 2002 World Cup soccer finals.
BUSINESS
Nov 2, 2001

Dollar, yen both beset by negative factors

The dollar remains sensitive to ups and downs in New York share prices.
JAPAN
Nov 2, 2001

Asia powers look to new trade forum

Japan, China and South Korea will inaugurate a high-level economic dialogue forum to spur trade and investment and forge close economic relations.
COMMENTARY
Nov 2, 2001

Removing blinkers on trade

LONDON -- The tragic events of Sept. 11 have exacerbated the economic position of every country. New stimulus measures have been instituted in the United States and interest rates have been cut elsewhere. But these are not enough to put growth back on track. An expansion in world trade would bring major...
BUSINESS
Nov 2, 2001

FSA tells Nippon Life to stop slurring rivals to sell policies

The Financial Services Agency on Thursday ordered Nippon Life Insurance Co. to change its sales practices after finding that the company slanders competitors to encourage individuals to switch firms.
BUSINESS
Nov 2, 2001

Law aims at privatizing JR units

The Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry announced Thursday it will introduce new legislation to fully privatize East Japan Railway Co., Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai) and West Japan Railway Co. on Dec. 1.
BUSINESS
Nov 2, 2001

Tax man sees revenues slump

Tax revenue in September fell 5.8 percent from a year earlier to 2.31 trillion yen, the Finance Ministry said Thursday.

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’