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BUSINESS
Jan 6, 2006

Top execs upbeat about 2006

Hopes were high for Japan's economic resurgence at a New Year's party for corporate executives Thursday at a time when profits are rebounding, consumers are spending and stock prices are at five-year highs.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 6, 2006

Jakarta can't spend a way to prosperity

UBUD, Indonesia -- Indonesia's chief economic minister, Boediono, along with Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Bank Indonesia Gov. Burhanuddin Abdullah are credible and competent bureaucrats. They put forth an action agenda of economic reforms designed to reinvigorate the local investment climate...
BUSINESS
Jan 6, 2006

Bic Camera to turn Sofmap into subsidiary for 2 billion yen

Bic Camera Co. will acquire an absolute majority of outstanding voting shares in Sofmap Co., an electric appliance retailer with strength in purchasing and selling used personal computers, for 2 billion yen next month, the two firms said Thursday.
JAPAN
Jan 4, 2006

Big firms predict uptrend to set record

More than 80 major domestic firms out of 100 expect economic expansion to continue at least until the second half of 2006, according to a Kyodo News survey released Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2006

Ratings bring good news to NHK

The audience ratings for NHK's annual New Year's Eve music show, "Kohaku Utagassen" ("Red vs. White Song Contest"), improved last year, Video Research Ltd. said Monday, giving some encouragement to the scandal-hit public broadcaster.
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Jan 3, 2006

Lawsuit-free land a myth

Japan is not renowned for its courtroom dramas. But occasionally a landmark ruling does make the front pages.
JAPAN
Dec 31, 2005

Most dwellers of Aneha-tainted sites yet to vacate

More than half of the 288 households told to evacuate 10 condominium complexes built with falsified quake-resistance data were still living in the defective buildings as of Thursday, the government said Friday.
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE
Dec 31, 2005

Asada's triumphs have ISU officials skating on thin ice

What if you had a Winter Olympics and the best figure skater in the world wasn't allowed to participate?
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Dec 31, 2005

The year of the dog -- bow-wouch!

It's the year of the dog! Wow! Bow-wow! According to the Koyomi calendar, if you were born in the year of the dog (1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994 or 2006), you possess a sense of duty and obligation. You are fastidious, diligent and make a peaceful, harmonious atmosphere. That's the good part....
BUSINESS
Dec 31, 2005

BOJ faces dilemma over ending its supereasy money stance

As the nation prepares to usher in a new year, policymakers at the Bank of Japan are grappling with an unprecedented dilemma: how to end the bank's "quantitative easing" monetary policy.
BUSINESS
Dec 31, 2005

High hopes harbored for mobile phone television broadcasts

Digital TV broadcasts to mobile phones are scheduled to begin in April, and expectations are high the new service will create a portable fusion of broadcasting and the Internet.
JAPAN
Dec 29, 2005

11 who lost health insurance weren't treated, died

At least 11 people have died over the past six years because they were apparently unable to receive prompt medical attention after having surrendered their national health insurance cards for nonpayment of fees, according to a Kyodo News survey compiled Wednesday.
JAPAN
Dec 29, 2005

China slammed over diplomat's suicide

Tokyo has lodged protests with Beijing four times since last year over the 2004 suicide of a diplomat at the Japanese Consulate General in Shanghai, claiming China violated an international treaty by trying to blackmail him for intelligence, government sources admitted Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Dec 29, 2005

JAL to raise fares for domestic flights, cancel pay cuts

Japan Airlines will raise regular one-way fares on domestic routes by 500 yen to 1,300 yen in April to cover higher fuel costs, the mishap-prone carrier said.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / NEW ART SEEN
Dec 29, 2005

Reasons for smiles after the disasters

I participated last Sunday in a thing called the "Dean Martin Memorial Stop Misery Outreach Action." This is a public happening that goes back some 10 years in Japan, and involves distributing one hundred martinis -- shaken on the spot, with uncommonly good gin and vermouth, garnished with pimento-stuffed...
JAPAN
Dec 28, 2005

Tokyo mum on diplomat suicide report

The government confirmed Tuesday that a Japanese employee at the consulate general in Shanghai died last year but declined to confirm a newspaper report he committed suicide and left a note indicating he was being pressured to give the Chinese information.
BUSINESS
Dec 28, 2005

Hurricane-triggered oil reserve release to end

Japan will stop releasing oil reserves by private-sector oil companies on Jan. 4, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai said Tuesday.
EDITORIALS
Dec 27, 2005

Front line on health-care costs

The government has decided to lower medical fees paid through the public health-insurance systems to hospitals, clinics and pharmacies, beginning in April. Fees paid to doctors will be reduced by 1.36 percent; fees for drugs and medical supplies will be cut by 1.8 percent. The decision is in line with...
JAPAN
Dec 27, 2005

Seven & I seals deal to buy Millennium

Seven & I Holdings Co., operator of Seven-Eleven Japan Co., formally announced Monday it will acquire department store giant Millennium Retailing Inc. for about 130 billion yen, creating the country's largest retail group.
JAPAN
Dec 27, 2005

Ministry lashed over asylum seekers' info

The Justice Ministry violated the human rights of nine Turkish Kurds seeking asylum by giving their personal information to the Turkish government last summer, an action that could infringe on their security and freedom, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations warned Monday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 27, 2005

Dazed Meiji Yasuda seeks outside help

For scandal-hit Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co., the biggest task ahead is how to reflect outsiders' voices in management decisions, newly appointed President Kenji Matsuo said.
JAPAN
Dec 27, 2005

Plan to aid crime victims adopted

The government adopted a 258-point basic plan Monday to help victims of crime, including establishment of a new scheme to reduce their burden in claiming damages.

Longform

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