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JAPAN
Jun 16, 2001

Impasse may have been final straw

OSAKA — Mamoru Takuma, who was arrested in the June 8 massacre of eight schoolchildren, was involved in a court battle with his former wife in which he had recently dropped his demand for reconciliation and instead sought money from her, investigative sources said Friday.
COMMENTARY
Jun 16, 2001

Hawkish China policy serves U.S. ill

LOS ANGELES -- The foreign-policy portfolio of the Bush administration is obviously a work in progress, but its increasing sourness toward China is beginning to alarm many Americans. Last week's Defense Department decision to back away from meetings and contacts between the Chinese and American militaries...
JAPAN
Jun 16, 2001

Town touting mythical snake find; is 'rare' creature really a cash cow?

MIKATA, Hyogo Pref. — The recent discovery of an unusual reptile in this small skiing town is being touted by some as the first recorded capture of the mythical "tsuchinoko," a legendary snakelike creature first documented in the eighth century.
BUSINESS
Jun 16, 2001

Expedite bad-loan disposal: Koizumi

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Friday instructed Cabinet ministers in charge of the economy to accelerate banks' final disposal of nonperforming loans.
JAPAN
Jun 16, 2001

Upper House approves Hansen's bill

The House of Councilors approved a bill Friday to compensate current and former Hansen's disease patients who suffered under the government's segregation policy.
BUSINESS
Jun 16, 2001

House passes expropriation bill

The House of Representatives on Friday passed a bill revising the Land Expropriation Law to introduce transparency and public consultation to the governments' compulsory seizure of private land for public use.
BUSINESS
Jun 16, 2001

Diet passes laws to boost telecom sector

The Diet on Friday enacted a set of revised telecommunications laws that are intended to revitalize and promote fair competition in the telecom market.
BUSINESS
Jun 16, 2001

Key Technology Center to close

The Diet passed a bill Friday to liquidate the money- losing Japan Key Technology Center within two years.
BUSINESS
Jun 16, 2001

Investment Trusts names new exec

The Investment Trusts Association said Friday that Yoshiaki Kaneko has been named vice chairman at an extraordinary general meeting, replacing Takashi Hinata, who resigned.
JAPAN
Jun 16, 2001

Toyama University in exam coverup

Toyama University covered up computer errors made while marking 1997 and 1998 entrance exams that resulted in the rejection of 16 applicants who had actually passed the tests, education ministry sources said Friday.
JAPAN
Jun 16, 2001

Japan won't sign U.S.-less Kyoto: Tanaka

Japan will not ratify the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to curb global warming if the United States stays out of it, Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka said Friday.
JAPAN
Jun 16, 2001

Nine nominated as living treasures

The education ministry's Council for Cultural Affairs submitted a report to the minister on Friday recommending nine more people be designated as national living treasures, ministry officials said.
JAPAN
Jun 16, 2001

2005 Special Olympics go to Nagano

The city of Nagano has been selected as the host of the 2005 Special Olympics Winter Games, making it the first Asian city to serve as the venue for the quadrennial event, organizers announced Friday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Jun 16, 2001

Keen to breathe life into 'o-shodo' beyond Kyoto

Anyone who considers calligraphy a quietly restrained form of expression should see Michiko Isoda in action. She sits on a "zabuton" cushion, loads a brush with ink and, with a sure but delicate hand, raises it vertically above the paper on her desk. She stills her body, concentrates her breathing, then...
JAPAN
Jun 16, 2001

Parties begin campaigning for Tokyo assembly election

Campaigning for the June 24 Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election — widely viewed as the political prelude to July's House of Councilors poll — officially got under way Friday.
JAPAN
Jun 16, 2001

Missile plan, Okinawa top Tanaka trip agenda

Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka heads for Washington today with the U.S. missile defense plan and issues related to the U.S. military presence in Okinawa topping the agenda for talks to be held on Monday.
BUSINESS
Jun 16, 2001

FSA gives eBank preliminary OK

The Financial Services Agency on Friday granted a preliminary banking license to eBank Corp., making it the nation's third Internet-based bank, the agency said.
BUSINESS
Jun 16, 2001

Kanematsu in insider trading probe

Kanematsu Electronics Ltd. has acknowledged that a board member was involved in an act that could be regarded as insider trading.
JAPAN
Jun 16, 2001

Will Koizumi factor win Tokyo for LDP?

The apparently overwhelming popularity of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will be put to its first real test in less than 10 days, when the results of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election — campaigning for which began Friday — are announced June 24. And in spite of his popularity, those involved...
BASEBALL / MLB
Jun 16, 2001

Isobe drives in six as Buffaloes charge

Koichi Isobe of Kintetsu drove in six runs with a two-run homer in the third inning off reliever Shintaro Yamasaki and a grand slam in the sixth off Hisashi Tokano as the Buffaloes triumphed over the Orix BlueWave 12-5 at the Osaka Dome on Friday night.
JAPAN
Jun 16, 2001

Youths having trouble with proverbs

The younger people are, the more likely they are to misinterpret proverbs, the Cultural Affairs Agency said in connection with a survey carried out on the Japanese language.
BUSINESS
Jun 16, 2001

Insurance chief lauds FSA's proposal on cutting yields

The chairman of the Life Insurance Association of Japan welcomed the Financial Services Agency's plan to allow life insurers to cut yields promised to policyholders.
BUSINESS
Jun 16, 2001

BOJ resists pressure, maintains monetary policy

The Bank of Japan decided to keep its monetary policy unchanged Friday, despite strong pressure earlier in the week from politicians and the Finance Ministry for further easing.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Jun 16, 2001

No one can replace this man in my life

I admit it -- I forgot about Father's Day. But before all you fathers start wagging your fingers at me and threatening to send me to bed without dinner, I'd like to redeem myself by writing a Father's Day column.
COMMENTARY
Jun 16, 2001

Urgent tasks for Koizumi

Peace and stability in East Asia in the coming years will hinge on Japan's political and economic leadership, North-South rapprochement on the Korean Peninsula, China's policies as an emerging regional power and strategies of the United States, the sole superpower.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / PERSONALITY PROFILE
Jun 16, 2001

Gordon Shin Guy

"This country is so vast, with a spectrum from game parks to beaches and everything in between. There's so much to do outdoors, and nature is all around you. You can go walking up Table Mountain, go swimming, mountain-biking, picnicking, wine-tasting. You're not governed by the weather, as more than...
BUSINESS
Jun 16, 2001

Toyota releases new hybrid minivan

The world's first mass-produced hybrid minivan, the Estima Hybrid from Toyota Motor Corp., went on sale Friday.

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