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BUSINESS / ON THE FRONT LINE
Jul 25, 2002

U.S. bubble hangover looks set to continue

Recent U.S. economic data do not seem bad enough to push down share prices this much, but the fall seems unstoppable.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Jul 25, 2002

Drive to halt pork 'n' ride tide

The rivers of Nagano Prefecture still flowing as nature intended may yet survive. If they do, it will be largely due to former (and perhaps soon to be re-elected) Gov. Yasuo Tanaka, whose "no more dams" policy directly challenges pork-barrel politicians who for decades appear to have put construction-industry...
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Jul 25, 2002

Debunking strange myths about Asia, Part I

In 1980, I traveled through the United States just after the TV miniseries "Shogun" ended its run. Any time I mentioned to someone that I was living in Japan, he or she would invariably ask me one of two questions related to the program. One was, "Is it true that back then a samurai could chop off somebody's...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jul 24, 2002

From Jamaica to jazz

In developing their own sound, many jazz groups borrow from other musical genres -- salsa, bossa nova, high life, hip-hop, rap, rock, funk, classical. But only one man has blended jazz with reggae -- Monty Alexander.
BUSINESS
Jul 23, 2002

LDP to form new panel to discuss online copying

In an attempt to define fair use in cyberspace, the LDP will form a panel on intellectual property rights that will propose tougher laws against online copying of animation and game software.
CULTURE / Music
Jul 23, 2002

Organ fest comes to a close

The last performance of the International Organ Festival 2002 will be held at Kurashiki Sakuyo University's Seitokuden Hall in Okayama Prefecture on July 28.
JAPAN
Jul 23, 2002

Panel mulls closed-door patent hearings

A government panel on judicial reform will consider a proposed revision to the Code of Civil Procedure that would allow oral arguments on patents and other intellectual property rights to be held behind closed doors in court, panel sources said Monday.
JAPAN
Jul 22, 2002

Tokyo gave official from Pyongyang secret asylum in '99

The Japanese government secretly allowed a North Korean government official to re-enter Japan in 1999 after granting him asylum at a Japanese diplomatic establishment in China, informed sources said Sunday.
BUSINESS
Jul 22, 2002

Europe poised to bounce back and lead world economy: German consultant

Europe, and possibly Japan, will stage a comeback to dominate the world economy in the near future, a leading German business consultant predicts.
COMMENTARY
Jul 21, 2002

Will Jiang cling to power?

HONG KONG -- As top politicians in the Communist Party of China consult and confer with each other at Beidaihe during their annual seaside retreat, one key question facing them is whether 76-year-old President and CPC Secretary General Jiang Zemin will seek to extend himself in office.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / NIHONSHU
Jul 21, 2002

Right down to the nitty-gritty grains

Rice is not, as most readers know, simply rice. Good sake is made from proper sake rice, and cheaper sake is made from much less expensive rice. In fact, most run-of-the-mill sake is made with rice bought from the local agricultural co-op, and often the purchaser knows nothing about it other than it...
Japan Times
JAPAN / HONING ENGLISH
Jul 20, 2002

Japan experiments with Super English Schools

Principal Katsutoshi Wakabayashi gives a speech in English through the school's public address system at Gunma Prefectural Chuo High School every Wednesday morning, and all notices around the school are now in English.
BUSINESS
Jul 19, 2002

Fujitsu to reduce print board workforce by around 1,000

Fujitsu Ltd. will reduce the workforce at its print board operations in Japan by around 1,000, in line with a plan to transfer production to Vietnam, company officials said Thursday.
JAPAN
Jul 19, 2002

Court rejects ex-students' violation of privacy appeal

The Tokyo High Court on Wednesday dismissed an appeal by three former Waseda University students demanding compensation from the university for giving police the names of those hoping to listen to a speech by Chinese President Jiang Zemin.
BUSINESS
Jul 19, 2002

PoweredCom, IIJ in tieup talks

PoweredCom Inc., a data communications firm owned by Tokyo Electric Power Co. and nine other utilities, is negotiating with Internet provider Internet Initiative Japan Inc. over a possible business integration deal, the two companies confirmed Thursday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 19, 2002

Suzuki aide pleads not guilty to bid-rigging charge

An aide to indicted lawmaker Muneo Suzuki pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of rigging bids for a government-funded project on Russian-held Kunashiri island.
BUSINESS
Jul 18, 2002

Fukuda seeks joint action to shackle yen

The government's top spokesman hinted Wednesday that Japan may intervene in currency markets jointly with foreign monetary authorities to prevent a further surge of the yen against the dollar.
BUSINESS
Jul 18, 2002

Central bank sticks with rosy outlook

The BOJ on Wednesday said the economy has almost stabilized, thanks to rising exports and production, but overseas share price falls and a weakening dollar threaten the economic outlook.
JAPAN
Jul 18, 2002

Group hopes new Web site coaxes children into becoming inventors

A national organization that promotes inventions and works to protect intellectual property will launch an invention Web site for children Saturday in cooperation with General Electric Japan Ltd.
SOCCER / World cup
Jul 17, 2002

Japan to face Argentina in first game under Zico

Japan will host Argentina on Nov. 20 at Tokyo's National Stadium in its first friendly after the World Cup, and its first under new coach Zico, the Japan Football Association said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jul 17, 2002

Kawaguchi ruffles Foreign Ministry feathers

Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi is facing a new challenge to her reform efforts as the ministry's bureaucrats are rebelling against her decision to look to a rival ministry to fill a foreign aid commission.
BUSINESS / ON THE FRONT LINE
Jul 17, 2002

Dollar southbound as U.S. bubble bursts

The dollar will remain under strong selling pressure, as if in line with bearish U.S. stocks. Although macroeconomic indicators are still firm, the market tends to trade on stock prices.
BUSINESS
Jul 16, 2002

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking ATMs fail

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. said Monday its automated teller machine systems in eastern Japan failed during the morning for a short period.
BUSINESS
Jul 16, 2002

Current account surplus soared 107.7% in May

The country's current account surplus jumped 107.7 percent in May from a year earlier to 1.04 trillion yen, marking an eighth consecutive month of increase, according to a preliminary report released Monday by the Finance Ministry.
BUSINESS
Jul 16, 2002

IT services seen growing at 7.4%

The Japanese market for information-technology related services will grow an annual 7.4 percent and reach 7.93 trillion yen in 2006, a private market-research firm said Monday.
CULTURE / Books / THE ASIAN BOOKSHELF
Jul 14, 2002

Living outside the box

The days of Japan as the No. 1 business model for the world are long gone, but a new and perhaps more interesting model combining Japanese and Western elements seems to be developing. Unfortunately, the transition from a system based on lifelong employment, seniority and unthinking loyalty to one's company...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Jul 14, 2002

It's a wired, wired world

If you were among the hordes of shoppers itching to spend summer bonuses last weekend, perhaps you got caught up in the frenzy in Akihabara. Everywhere in Tokyo's "Electric Town," the hunt was on for air conditioners, computers, MD players, stereos and the latest flat-screen TVs.

Longform

It's back to the classroom for some residents as municipal governments across the country conduct lessons to learn how to use new technologies.
Can aging Japan go digital without leaving anyone behind?