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BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 11, 2004

Happy Ogasawara remains a Fighter

Nippon Ham Fighters infielder Michihiro Ogasawara re-signed Friday for an unchanged annual salary of 400 million yen, officials of the Pacific League club said.
JAPAN
Dec 11, 2004

Majority want SDF brought home: survey

Sixty-one percent of respondents to a Kyodo News poll oppose the government's decision to extend the Self-Defense Forces troops' mission in Iraq, according to the results released Friday.
BUSINESS
Dec 11, 2004

Seibu Railway listing hopes dashed

Seibu Railway Co. said Friday it has abandoned efforts to get its shares listed on the Jasdaq over-the-counter market by the end of the current fiscal year.
BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 10, 2004

Popular ex-Hawk Traxler dead at 37

Sad news reached Japan recently with the word that Brian Traxler, a former member of the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, had passed away at the age of 37 in San Antonio on Nov. 19.
EDITORIALS
Dec 10, 2004

Challenges for Mr. Karzai

Afghanistan's three-year drive for stability reached a milestone when Mr. Hamid Karzai was sworn in Tuesday as its first popularly elected president. But the road is strewn with obstacles. Ethnic and tribal divisions are clouding prospects for national unity. As yet, there is no end in sight to terrorist...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 10, 2004

SDF troops will stay on in Iraq

The government made it official Thursday: the Self-Defense Forces troops in Iraq will stay for another year, as Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi renewed his commitment to reconstruction efforts and to Japan's alliance with the United States.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 10, 2004

Schroeder, Koizumi agree to back each other's UNSC candidacy bid

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder agreed Thursday to support each other's candidacies for permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council.
BUSINESS
Dec 10, 2004

Firms seen more tolerant of strong yen

Japanese companies remain generally unfazed by continued rises in the yen against the dollar, according to analysts.
JAPAN
Dec 9, 2004

Princess turns 41; seen on the mend

Crown Princess Masako marked her 41st birthday Thursday by continuing to show signs of recuperating from a stress-induced illness and raising prospects that she might resume some official duties for New Year's.
BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 9, 2004

Ichiro shows a different side in reflecting on record season

SEATTLE -- Despite being known for his philosophical character and often cryptic baseball language, Ichiro Suzuki showed a bit of his human side in reflecting on his successful pursuit of an 84-year-old major league record.
JAPAN
Dec 9, 2004

Tokyo lodges complaint over China ship in EEZ

Tokyo has lodged a protest with Beijing against unannounced research activities being carried out by a Chinese ship in Japan's exclusive economic zone around Okinotorishima Island, the nation's southernmost territory, officials in Tokyo said Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Dec 8, 2004

Police push IC cards to halt forgery

The National Police Agency has asked the Japanese Bankers Association and 12 other financial bodies to promote the use of cash and credit cards with integrated circuit chips to stem growing forgery, a Cabinet minister said Tuesday.
SOCCER / J. League
Dec 7, 2004

Keeper Kawaguchi set for Jubilo return

Jubilo Iwata has signed Japan goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi to a provisional contract and are set to finalize the deal early next month, officials of the J. League first-division side said Monday.
COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE
Dec 6, 2004

Battle looms over Supreme Court justices

WASHINGTON -- The recently announced illness of U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist confirms the prospect of turnover soon at the court. Rehnquist turned 80 last month and seems to have a serious, debilitating cancer. He continues to be absent from the court.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 6, 2004

No witch hunt for North Koreans in China

BEIJING -- North Korean "refugees," economic migrants or defectors -- take your pick -- in China have been in the news again. Staged video film of dozens of them storming embassies in Beijing has been circulated globally by South Korean and Western political activists who arrange for these incidents....
JAPAN
Dec 5, 2004

GSDF officer involved in LDP's draft for constitutional revision

A senior officer in the Ground Self-Defense Force has compiled a draft plan for revising the Constitution to authorize the existence of a "military force" and enable the nation to engage in collective defense, it was learned Saturday.
JAPAN
Dec 4, 2004

Trafficking victims to be given better treatment

As part of efforts to combat human trafficking, Japan plans to revise immigration legislation next year to exempt trafficking victims from being deported in the same way as foreigners who overstay their visas or illegally enter Japan, it was learned Friday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 4, 2004

Ex-teacher indicted over anthem

A retired Tokyo high school teacher was indicted Friday for allegedly urging parents to stay seated while "Kimigayo" was played at a graduation ceremony in March.
BUSINESS
Dec 4, 2004

Seibu group considers end to North America operations

The scandal-tainted Seibu business group needs to consider pulling the plug on money-losing operations in Hawaii and North America, the chairman of an advisory panel to the group said Friday.
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE
Dec 3, 2004

Tigers sending wrong message with Tsujimoto signing

"A mind is a terrible thing to waste."
JAPAN
Dec 3, 2004

Ruling bloc pair's plan to visit Samawah riles ministry

The Foreign Ministry is baffled by the reported plans by New Komeito Secretary General Tetsuzo Fuyushiba -- and possibly his Liberal Democratic Party counterpart, Tsutomu Takebe -- to visit the area in southern Iraq where Ground Self-Defense Force troops are deployed.
JAPAN
Dec 2, 2004

Crime victims may get key role in trials

The Justice Ministry is considering introducing legislation that would allow victims of crime to play a greater role in the trials of their accused offenders, ministry sources said Wednesday.
Rugby
Dec 2, 2004

Tokyo's rugby community honors former teammate

Rugby players haven't always enjoyed the best of reputations.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 2, 2004

Opening of new Haneda terminal heats up air war

With the Wednesday opening of a new terminal at Tokyo's Haneda airport, the nation's two main airlines have launched yet another fierce battle to woo domestic passengers with new services.

Longform

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