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JAPAN
Dec 22, 2006

Obituary: Takashi Niimi

Takashi Niimi, a human rights lawyer who represented the rights of Chinese nationals who were forced to work under torturous conditions at a labor camp in Akita Prefecture during World War II, died Wednesday of cardiac failure, his family said. He was 59.
JAPAN
Dec 21, 2006

No big change in '07 ODA spending

The battle between the Foreign and Finance ministries over official development assistance outlays for fiscal 2007 ended in a draw Wednesday as the Finance Ministry proposed a 4 percent cut in ODA spending in a draft budget, while much of that reduction was made up for in a supplementary budget the government...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 21, 2006

Abe banks on continued growth

The government will cut new bond sales by the largest margin on record, curb spending across the board and take a sharp bite out of the deficit under the fiscal 2007 draft budget submitted Wednesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 20, 2006

Abe's honeymoon Diet session ends with whimper

The first extraordinary Diet session on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's watch ended Tuesday without fanfare, having finished business last week by passing his legislation to revise the education law and to turn the Defense Agency into a ministry.
BUSINESS
Dec 20, 2006

BOJ, noting weak data, leaves interest rates alone

The Bank of Japan wrapped up its two-day Policy Board meeting Tuesday by saying the benchmark short-term interest rate will remain unchanged, causing market watchers to look for any clue from Gov. Toshihiko Fukui's remarks to gauge when the next rate hike may occur.
BUSINESS
Dec 20, 2006

Honda speeds up engine plant plan, projects record '06 sales

Honda Motor Co. said Tuesday it plans to build a new engine plant in Ogawa, Saitama Prefecture, to accelerate efforts to meet rapidly growing demand for fuel-efficient cars.
BUSINESS
Dec 20, 2006

Fed goes after BTMU over lax scrutiny

WASHINGTON (Kyodo) U.S. financial regulators took enforcement action Monday against Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and some of its U.S. operations for their failure to comply with programs against money-laundering.
JAPAN
Dec 19, 2006

Team of scholars formed for China history talks

The government officially formed on Monday a team of historians that will discuss historical issues between China and Japan with a similar group of Chinese scholars starting Dec. 26.
BUSINESS
Dec 19, 2006

Nikko faces big fine over padding

The Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission recommended Monday that the Financial Services Agency slap Nikko Cordial Corp. with a fine of 500 million yen, the largest ever, for falsifying its fiscal 2004 financial reports.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Dec 17, 2006

It's horses for courses if there's a few bucks to be made

Whenever the media covers some story about an animal that has been rescued or neglected there are always dozens of people willing to adopt it.
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Dec 17, 2006

McSato et al prompt mastication over whose 'real' is really real

I've been running around lately like a headless chicken -- and the simile is more literal than you might think. I have been spending my evenings going around Tokyo restaurants, doing a survey strictly in the interests of scrupulous journalism.
SOCCER / J. League
Dec 16, 2006

Japan women to face Mexico

Japan will face Mexico at home in March in the first leg of a playoff for a place at next year's Women's World Cup in China, soccer's world governing body FIFA said Friday.
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Dec 16, 2006

Pardew had short leash in final days at West Ham

LONDON -- "We can move forward with Alan Pardew leading our efforts on the pitch. I will be continuing talks with him on how he sees the future of the playing side. He has my full support and confidence." -- New West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson assures manager Pardew his job his safe despite the club's...
BUSINESS
Dec 16, 2006

Tokyo, New Delhi OK trade agreement talks

India and Japan agreed Friday to launch talks on an economic partnership agreement centered on lowering tariffs on bilateral trade, with Tokyo trying to make up for lost time as it tries to deepen business ties with India, whose economy is growing rapidly.
SOCCER / J. League
Dec 15, 2006

Osim extended

Kyodo News The Japan Football Association on Thursday approved a contract extension for Ivica Osim that will keep him in charge of the national team through December 2007.
JAPAN
Dec 15, 2006

Women unite to confront job woes

, which will open its doors on Jan. 20 in Tokyo, will look at how women are treated in the workplace, including sexual harassment, unfair wages, long overtime and sudden dismissal, and propose ways for the government to improve conditions. The group, set up by 100 women, is the first attempt to link...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / CONSUMER LOAN CRACKDOWN
Dec 14, 2006

Lending legislation reforms spell industry shakeout

It was early last month at moneylender Aiful Corp.'s midterm earnings news conference, and the mood at the Tokyo venue was grim.

Longform

Totopa in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward was picked by consultants TTNE as the best sauna of the year.
Japan’s sauna movement: Relax, refresh, repeat