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COMMENTARY / World
May 20, 2006

Is Europe turning toward a strong euro?

PALO ALTO, California -- European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet made news at the press conference following the May meeting of the ECB Governing Council not by what he said, but by what he did not say.
BUSINESS
May 20, 2006

Economy defies dip in consumption and pulls off 0.5% rise

The economy grew by a real 0.5 percent in the January to March quarter, marking its fifth consecutive quarter of growth despite a slowdown in private consumption, the government said Friday.
BUSINESS
May 20, 2006

Beef safety audit passes muster

The U.S. has resolved most of Japan's concerns about U.S. beef processors, Japanese government officials said Friday, clearing the way for Japan to lift its import ban on U.S. beef.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 19, 2006

Annan warns NPT is in danger of crumbling

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan expressed grave concern Thursday over the future of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty, saying it is facing a crisis and could collapse.
COMMENTARY / World
May 19, 2006

Russian flirtation with the fascist threat

MOSCOW -- Today's Kremlin thinks that democracy was being built too quickly in Russia. The government does not say that it is against democracy, only that it is untimely and needs to be delayed -- a logic that manifests itself in most official decisions. Thus, at the beginning of the current decade,...
BUSINESS
May 19, 2006

Softbank, Vodafone set up firm

Softbank Corp. and Britain's Vodafone Group PLC, which recently sold its Japanese subsidiary to Softbank, announced Thursday that they are setting up a joint venture to develop and procure mobile phone handsets, software and digital content.
EDITORIALS
May 18, 2006

Futenma relocation agreement

Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine's tense expression while shaking hands with Defense Agency chief Fukushiro Nukaga and Prime Minister Junichiro Koiziumi last week told a lot about an agreement between him and the central government on the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The Okinawa governor...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 18, 2006

Bilateral beef talks resume

Japan and the United States started two days of talks Wednesday in Tokyo to discuss terms for resuming imports of U.S. beef.
BUSINESS
May 18, 2006

Honda to build three new plants

Honda Motor Co. announced business expansion plans Wednesday that include construction of a new factory in Japan and two more in North America by 2010 to meet increasing demand for its vehicles.
JAPAN
May 17, 2006

Aso says change needed in war-dead system

Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Tuesday he sees problems in the current method of honoring the war dead at Yasukuni Shrine and suggested that having a single religious institution in charge of the system needs changing.
JAPAN
May 17, 2006

Egypt says thanks for new yen loan

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit on Tuesday thanked Prime Minister Koizumi for Japan's agreement to provide yen loans up to 34.8 billion yen for a new museum project, a Foreign Ministry official said.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 17, 2006

Bid to address Congress has Yasukuni proviso

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's contentious visits to Yasukuni Shrine are a matter of religious freedom, the government said Tuesday, rejecting criticism leveled by a powerful U.S. congressman.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 17, 2006

Aiful reports 13% fall in profit for '05

Troubled Aiful Corp. reported Tuesday that its net profit for fiscal 2005 dropped 13.1 percent to 65.827 billion yen on a consolidated basis due to a rise in customer demands that excess interest on loans be returned.
BUSINESS
May 17, 2006

Japan, U.S. to talk beef Wednesday

Japan and the United States will start working-level talks Wednesday in Tokyo to discuss the U.S. request for Japan to lift the ban on American beef, farm minister Shoichi Nakagawa said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
May 17, 2006

Isuzu netted record profit in 2005 on strong overseas sales

Truck maker Isuzu Motor Ltd. said Tuesday it set all-time highs in group pretax and operating profit in fiscal 2005, thanks to robust sales in the United States and Southeast Asia.
BUSINESS
May 17, 2006

Singapore no 'heaven,' Yosano tells Murakami

Financial Services Minister Kaoru Yosano warned high-profile fund manager Yoshiaki Murakami on Tuesday against expecting to have free rein in Singapore, where his core fund recently relocated.
JAPAN
May 16, 2006

Thais get pledge of support on abductions

issue with North Korea," Abe told a news conference, adding that Japan will call for cooperation at the Group of Eight summit in July in St. Petersburg, Russia. While stopping short of giving further details of his meeting with Kantathi, Abe said he told the Thai foreign minister that Japan would like...
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
May 16, 2006

Nippon Ham's Ogasawara available for free agency

Nippon Ham Fighters infielder Michihiro Ogasawara has fulfilled the requirements to become a free agent but said Monday he has not considered what course of action, if any, he will take with the Pacific League club.
COMMENTARY / World
May 16, 2006

Cops of the South Pacific

SYDNEY -- Australia is far from happy about becoming the unofficial, reluctant policeman of the South Pacific. The latest tally of young, politically inept countries that expect Canberra to keep the peace for them has risen to four. And that's not counting the nearest potential hot spot, Indonesia's...
JAPAN
May 13, 2006

Obituary: Yoshiyuki Kamei

Former agriculture minister Yoshiyuki Kamei died of pancreatic cancer Friday at a Tokyo hospital, his office said. He was 70.
JAPAN
May 12, 2006

Mitarai favors political donations

Canon Inc. will resume donations to political parties if an amendment to the political funds control law clears the Diet, company President Fujio Mitarai said Thursday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / THE SECOND ROOM
May 12, 2006

Psychedelic radar 05.12

Saturday, May 13
BUSINESS
May 12, 2006

Automakers' profits up on overseas sales

Japan's major carmakers got a boost in earnings and profits in fiscal 2005 but the figures show many are relying on overseas sales, mainly in the United States, as domestic sales stagnate.
BUSINESS
May 12, 2006

Don't gut ChuoAoyama when it's down, rivals told

The Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants urged its members Thursday to refrain from snatching clients or staff from auditing firm ChuoAoyama PricewaterhouseCoopers, which has been sanctioned by the government.
JAPAN
May 11, 2006

Referendum bill set back by surprise DPJ snub

discussions (among the three parties). I hope the parties will continue discussions, based on this process," Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe told a regular news conference Wednesday, responding to Ozawa's comments. The Constitution states that amendments must be approved by referendum. However, the...
BUSINESS
May 11, 2006

Toyota sets new record profit

Toyota Motor Corp. reported Wednesday a record group net profit of 1.37 trillion yen for fiscal 2005, up 17.2 percent over the previous year and the fourth straight yearly rise, thanks to brisk sales overseas, particularly in North America.

Longform

Totopa in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward was picked by consultants TTNE as the best sauna of the year.
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