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JAPAN
Jun 18, 2001

No plans to join U.S. missile initiative: Nakatani

Defense Agency chief Gen Nakatani on Sunday ruled out any imminent plans for Japan to join the newly proposed U.S. missile defense initiative.
JAPAN
Jun 18, 2001

Four dead, one injured in Osaka apartment fire

OSAKA — Four bodies were found in the charred rubble of an apartment building in Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture, after a fire broke out early Sunday, police said.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 18, 2001

The price of the 'New World blitzkrieg'

LONDON -- "The survivors are scraps," says evolutionary biologist Dr. John Alroy about the large mammal species that remain in North America after the wave of extinctions that followed the arrival of the first humans less than 14,000 years ago. And there is no longer any question about why all the rest...
BUSINESS
Jun 18, 2001

State can be valuable captain in privatized firms

Despite Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's claims that privatization is a concept undergoing a rethink and should be considered carefully before implementation, the truth is privatization has been thriving for some time abroad.
JAPAN
Jun 18, 2001

Ministers split on system for mentally ill suspects

Government ministers were split Sunday over whether Japan should incorporate a new system under which suspects with psychiatric problems would receive hospital treatment at the advice of courts.
JAPAN
Jun 18, 2001

Koizumi stumps for redirection of road-use revenue

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi affirmed Sunday his determination to reform the current practice of earmarking some tax revenue exclusively for road-related projects.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 18, 2001

China and ASEAN strive to improve ties

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- For geographic and historic reasons, China has been and will always be a factor in Southeast Asia. Of course, the reverse is also true. And as emphasis shifts from bilateral relations to multilateral ties, the ASEAN-China dimension assumes a special meaning, whether viewed alone...
BUSINESS
Jun 18, 2001

Changes eyed for failed public firms

The government intends to improve legal measures for dealing with the possible failure of public corporations, Nobuteru Ishihara, minister in charge of administrative and regulatory reforms, said Sunday.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 18, 2001

A welcome bid for peace in South Asia

ISLAMABAD -- After months of blunt statements exchanged by leaders of India and Pakistan, South Asia's two nuclear rivals, a new peace process is under way in a part of the world described by some observers as the next "nuclear flash point."
MORE SPORTS
Jun 18, 2001

Home team improves, but still gives up eight tries to Wales

Wales outclassed Japan 53-30 in the second test in front of 23,000 spectators at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Stadium in Tokyo on Sunday.
COMMENTARY
Jun 18, 2001

Moving toward real reform

The Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, an advisory panel to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, has drawn up guidelines for a range of structural reforms planned by his administration. These policy outlines, designed to reshape Japan's outmoded economic society, are by and large acceptable.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jun 18, 2001

Swallows edge Carp for series sweep

Akinori Iwamura slammed a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh and southpaw Shugo Fujii allowed only six hits while striking out five Sunday as the Yakult Swallows triumphed 3-0 over the Hiroshima Carp at Fukuoka Dome.
JAPAN / WEEKEND WISDOM
Jun 17, 2001

Folklore researcher advocates power of story-telling for kids

In an age of rising violence and crime, parents and teachers who are at a loss over how to teach children the importance of life could find a treasure trove of hints in ancient tales.
JAPAN
Jun 17, 2001

Traffic costs economy 12 trillion yen a year

Economic losses caused by traffic jams throughout Japan total approximately 12 trillion yen a year, some 95,000 yen per capita, the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry said Saturday.
JAPAN
Jun 17, 2001

Police seize legal books from home of suspect in killings at Ikeda school

OSAKA — Police on Saturday again searched the home of Mamoru Takuma, the suspect in the June 8 murders of eight schoolchildren at a state-run elementary school in Osaka, for evidence concerning growing suspicion that he feigned a mental disorder to evade criminal responsibility.
JAPAN
Jun 17, 2001

Largest antique fair scheduled for Kyoto

A major antiques fair will take place between Friday and June 24 at Pulse Plaza in Kyoto's Fushimi Ward.
COMMENTARY
Jun 17, 2001

Bipartisanship is killing American politics

NEW YORK -- When I vote for a Democrat, the last thing I worry about is whether he'll be able to get along with the Republicans. I never consider his ability to reach across the aisle, or his willingness to act in a bipartisan manner or take conservatives into consideration. Quite the opposite: I expect...
EDITORIALS
Jun 17, 2001

U.S. visit will test Tanaka

After hemming and hawing, Washington has agreed to a visit to Washington by Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka, who has stirred controversy here and abroad over her off-the-record comments that reportedly raised doubts about the U.S. missile defense plan, the Japan-U.S. security alliance and other issues....
JAPAN
Jun 17, 2001

Jamaica to be focus of MAFGA seminar

The Minoh Association for Global Awareness (MAFGA), based in Minoo, Osaka Prefecture, is holding an English-language seminar by a Jamaican woman between 10 a.m. and noon on June 30 at the organization's offices in Minoo.
JAPAN
Jun 17, 2001

Society will freeze sperm, eggs of people with cancer

The Japan Society of Fertility and Sterility has decided to start freezing sperm and eggs of unmarried cancer patients who fear they will become sterile as a side effect of the treatment for the disease, society members said Saturday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Jun 17, 2001

Some like it steamed

Many Japanese who grew up in the 1950s still recall roba no panya, horse-drawn bakery wagons selling mushi-pan (steamed bread). Popularized by Kyoto-based bread manufacturer Vitamin Pan Rensa-ten Honbu in the latter part of the decade, by around 1960 the company boasted 160 roba no panya across the country,...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Jun 17, 2001

Fukuoka's 'Asian' flavor

FUKUOKA -- B day Fukuoka shows a sleek, modern face to the world, but when the sun goes down its complexion changes to something more timeless and intriguing as nearly 200 wooden yatai (food stalls) are towed into its downtown area.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Jun 17, 2001

A global village round the corner

We are besieged by arms reaching around, between and over us, all simultaneously trying to flip the pages of the single menu to their own outlet's selection and telling us, in variously accented Japanese, just how good this or that particular dish is.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jun 17, 2001

Bolick steers Marines over Hawks

Chiba Lotte designated hitter Frank Bolick cracked a go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning as the Marines beat the Daiei Hawks 5-3 at Chiba Marine Stadium on Saturday, extending their winning streak against the defending Pacific League champion to five.

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