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JAPAN
Sep 2, 1999

Courts resume Asahara trials

After a monthlong summer recess, the trial of Aum Shinrikyo founder Shoko Asahara resumed Thursday at the Tokyo District Court.
JAPAN
Sep 2, 1999

DKB loans to 'sokaiya' result in suspended terms

Three former Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank executives were given suspended eight-month sentences Thursday for extending illegal loans to a "sokaiya" corporate racketeer.
JAPAN
Sep 2, 1999

Abduction probe focusing on autos

Several hundred vehicles that traveled from Tokyo to Nagoya on expressways Aug. 24 are being looked at as part of investigations into the abduction of a 19-year-old woman, informed sources said Thursday.
JAPAN
Sep 2, 1999

Disabled ask Tokyo to reconsider cuts to aid program

A group of disabled people and members of citizens' groups supporting them petitioned the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on Thursday to withdraw its plan to cut financial assistance to people with heavy disabilities.
JAPAN
Sep 2, 1999

New Komeito drops donations plank in LDP deal

New Komeito's bid to ban political donations from companies will be excluded from its policy agreement with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which is due out today, officials of the two parties said Thursday.
JAPAN
Sep 2, 1999

MITI spells out strategy for 1 million new jobs

The government will implement measures to increase business startups to generate 1.32 million jobs over the next five years, officials at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry said Thursday.
JAPAN
Sep 2, 1999

Low-dose birth control pill makes debut

Staff writer
EDITORIALS
Sep 1, 1999

A peace process without peace

There are very good reasons to be deeply concerned about the Northern Ireland peace process. The first reason is that it looks to be breaking down. Disputes over the decommissioning of weapons by the Irish Republican Army and the seating of Sinn Fein representatives on the executive council established...
JAPAN
Sep 1, 1999

Komura, Khristenko set protocols for visiting disputed isles

Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and visiting Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko agreed Wednesday on protocols for visa-free visits to a chain of Russian-held islands off Hokkaido by former Japanese residents and their families.
JAPAN
Sep 1, 1999

Product-trashing consumer book enjoys sizzling sales

Staff writer
JAPAN
Sep 1, 1999

Fujitsu, Orient plan credit venture

Fujitsu Ltd. and Orient Corp. will set up a joint venture later this month to develop a computer system for credit services, top officials of the two firms announced Wednesday.
JAPAN
Sep 1, 1999

Six years sought for deeds of ex-labor minister

Prosecutors demanded a six-year prison term Wednesday for former Labor Minister Toshio Yamaguchi, who is accused of breach of trust and other charges in connection with illicit lending by two failed Tokyo-based credit unions.
JAPAN
Sep 1, 1999

Maizuru in Pyongyang's sights?

Staff writer
JAPAN
Sep 1, 1999

Japan may host U.N. environment summit in 2002

Staff writer
LIFE / Travel / NATURE TRAVEL
Sep 1, 1999

Walking into the millennial sunrise

If you still haven't made up your mind about where you're going to be come sunrise of the year 2000, here's one to contemplate. How about Barrow, Alaska followed by a leisurely stroll 14 km to Point Barrow at the utmost north of the Americas?
LIFE / Travel
Sep 1, 1999

Eyes wide shut in North Korea

It's late afternoon in Beijing. Beside a gloomy, concrete platform an antiquated train lumbers into place. In the dim light, people scurry about looking for the right car. This is, in fact, important. The first four carriages are bound for Dandong, a small Chinese border town, but the last two will continue...
LIFE / Travel / ON THE ARCHIPELA-GO
Sep 1, 1999

Soul searching with yamabushi of Dewa Sanzan

MOUNT HAGURO, Yamagata Pref. -- Three days trekking deep into the mountains with no money, makeup, jewelry, bath, toothbrush or razor is definitely not your average walk in the hills. Add on agreeing to endure a grueling series of self-suffering ancient rituals and sacred rites, and obey every utter...
JAPAN
Sep 1, 1999

Post offices try hand at electronic sales

The nation's 100 major post offices launched a new automated shopping service Wednesday for products ranging from airline tickets to game software, entering yet another new business.
ENVIRONMENT / WILD WATCH
Sep 1, 1999

The water is wide, I cannot get o'er

The mammals of the Nansei Shoto may be inconspicuous and difficult to observe, but their distribution, and the relationships between the different species and populations in these islands, provides insight into the past history of the archipelago. This interesting mixture of animals has links in the...
JAPAN
Sep 1, 1999

Asahi to close Tokyo brewery, trim workforce

Asahi Breweries, Ltd. will close its aging brewery in Tokyo's Ota Ward and transfer production to a new plant in Minami-Ashigara, Kanagawa Prefecture, President Shigeo Fukuchi told a Tokyo press conference Wednesday.
JAPAN
Sep 1, 1999

New car sales down for 29th month in row

Domestic sales of new cars, trucks and buses slipped 0.8 percent in August from a year earlier to 233,418 units, marking the 29th straight monthly decline, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association reported on Wednesday.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST
Sep 1, 1999

The 'S' word makes a happy marriage

The time has come in this column to finally discuss that passionate act that lies at the core of many an international romance. Yes, it's time for the "S" word.
JAPAN
Sep 1, 1999

Illegal workers make plea in risky immigration visit

A group of Asians who have overstayed their visas visited the Tokyo Regional Immigration Office on Wednesday to ask the Justice Minister to give them special permission to live in Japan.
LIFE / Digital / CYBERIA
Sep 1, 1999

You are here?

The future is now. Or at least it was, two Sundays ago, in Japan. That was when computers in 24 satellites reached their built-in time limit and reset their internal clocks to zero.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / GETTING THINGS DONE
Sep 1, 1999

Defying changes

Volunteer organizations come and go, often depending on who runs them. Many times a group will cease to exist when the person who held it together leaves Japan. Fortunately, there are still many people who give their time to volunteer organizations. Their number, however, has decreased as more professional...
EDITORIALS
Aug 31, 1999

The DPJ at a crossroads

The Democratic Party of Japan looks set for a three-way race to select its new head next month. The current leader, Mr. Naoto Kan, and the deputy secretary general, Mr. Yukio Hatoyama, have already announced they will run in the Sept. 25 party election. The third man, Mr. Takahiro Yokomichi, chairman...
COMMENTARY
Aug 31, 1999

ODA helps Japan, the world

Medium-term policy guidelines for Official Development Assistance, announced by the government Aug. 10, set the standards for implementing Japan's ODA between 1999 and 2003. The guidelines place emphasis on aid to Asian countries to help them implement structural reforms aimed at solving their economic...
JAPAN
Aug 31, 1999

Ghosn speaks on Nissan prospects

Nissan Motor Co. must get itself back on a track toward profitability in the next fiscal year -- a goal that could be held captive by market conditions, according to Carlos Ghosn, Nissan's chief operating officer.
JAPAN
Aug 31, 1999

Daiei eyes sale of Recruit stake

As a way to accelerate efforts to repay its debts, Daiei Inc., the country's leading supermarket chain operator, plans to sell its stake in publishing firm Recruit Co., top officials of the firm said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Aug 31, 1999

Yokomichi enters DPJ race on battle cry of constitutional debate

Takahiro Yokomichi, chairman of the Executive Council of the Democratic Party of Japan, formally announced his candidacy in the party's presidential race Tuesday, saying he will make the war-renouncing Constitution one of the main focuses of campaign debate.

Longform

Traditional folk rituals like Mizudome-no-mai (dance to stop the rain) provide a sense of agency to a population that feels largely powerless in the face of the climate crisis.
As climate extremes intensify, Japan embraces ancient weather rituals