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JAPAN
May 18, 2004

UFJ Holdings faces 100 billion yen net loss

UFJ Holdings Inc., one of Japan's top four banking groups, will probably book a net loss of some 100 billion yen for 2003, with its loan-loss charges having swelled to about 1 trillion yen, banking sources said Monday.
COMMENTARY / World
May 18, 2004

Myanmar's thorn in the ASEM process

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- Once again, the experiment known as the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) enters the limelight for the wrong reasons. With preparation under way for a summit meeting in Hanoi next October, the focus is not so much on real issues as on the format for participation. Characteristically,...
JAPAN
May 18, 2004

Nukes, abductions progress key

Japan will not resume normalization talks with North Korea unless there is progress on the abduction issue as well as Pyongyang's suspected nuclear weapons program, the top government spokesman said Monday.
JAPAN
May 17, 2004

67% now against pension reform bills

Almost 70 percent of respondents to a Kyodo News poll do not want the Diet to pass a set of pension reform bills during the current legislative session, following revelations that many lawmakers have failed to join the national pension system or pay premiums.
MORE SPORTS
May 16, 2004

Japan's women remain undefeated

Undefeated Japan notched its sixth straight win at the women's volleyball final qualifying tournament for this summer's Athens Olympics with a 3-1 win over Taiwan on Saturday.
CULTURE / Music
May 16, 2004

Avril under the skin of consumers

Walking out of Shibuya Station on May 12, you couldn't help but be aware that Avril Lavigne's second album, "Under My Skin," had just gone on sale. There she was, belting out her new single, "Don't Tell Me," up there on the big screen above the 109 Building. Tsutaya had a booth set up with Avril's kohl-eyed...
JAPAN
May 15, 2004

Koizumi didn't pay pension premiums

The list of politicians who have not paid pension premiums found a star addition Friday with the revelation that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi did not make payments for almost seven years.
JAPAN
May 15, 2004

Koizumi to visit Pyongyang on May 22

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will visit Pyongyang on May 22 for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in an effort to secure the passage to Japan of eight family members of five repatriated abductees, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda said Friday.
BUSINESS
May 15, 2004

NTT logs record profit; outlook seems less rosy

NTT Corp. said Friday its net profit jumped 2.8-fold to a record 643.86 billion yen for the year through March, helped by strong earnings at its mobile phone unit, NTT DoCoMo Inc.
BUSINESS
May 15, 2004

Sony Bank remains mired in the red

Sony Bank Inc. posted a net loss of 2.1 billion yen in fiscal 2003 for third consecutive annual loss since it started operations.
JAPAN
May 15, 2004

Relatives of missing demand results from Pyongyang trip

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi must achieve concrete results when he meets North Korean leader Kim Jong Il on May 22 in Pyonygang, relatives of Japanese abducted to North Korea, and others working on their behalf, demanded Friday.
JAPAN
May 15, 2004

Koizumi to visit Pyongyang on May 22

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will visit Pyongyang on May 22 for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in an effort to secure the passage to Japan of eight family members of five repatriated abductees, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda said Friday.
JAPAN
May 15, 2004

Ozawa gives in, accepts request to head DPJ

Ichiro Ozawa gave in Friday and accepted appointment to the helm of the Democratic Party of Japan, replacing Naoto Kan, who resigned Monday to take responsibility for his past failure to pay mandatory premiums into the National Pension System.
JAPAN
May 15, 2004

Defense paper assumes China invasion of Japan

The Defense Agency would deploy 7,200 ground troops to protect Japan's southernmost islands from invading Chinese forces in the event of a conflict between China and Taiwan, according to confidential documents obtained by Kyodo News.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 14, 2004

DPJ names 33 pension delinquents; LDP mum

The Democratic Party of Japan said Thursday that 33 of its 244 Diet lawmakers did not pay mandatory premiums for the nation's basic pension system, leaving the Liberal Democratic Party as the only major party still refusing to disclose the payment records of its members.
JAPAN
May 14, 2004

China warned over Senkaku foray

Japan lodged a protest Thursday with China after a Chinese marine research vessel entered Japan's exclusive economic zone without prior notice near one of the disputed Senkaku Islands, Foreign Ministry officials said.
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
May 13, 2004

Spurs, Pistons create 'mother of all moribund monstrosities'

LOS ANGELES -- And you thought the NFL was "One for All, All for One." That was until Camp David sent out that "make-these-series-competitive-or-else" memo . . . and the Spurs and Pistons compassionately complied.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 13, 2004

Ozawa undecided about taking DPJ helm

Ichiro Ozawa, deputy head of the Democratic Party of Japan, gave a guarded response Wednesday to a formal request that he assume the party's presidency following the resignation of DPJ leader Naoto Kan over his failure to pay mandatory pension premiums.
JAPAN
May 13, 2004

Princess' household may show more consideration

The head of the Crown Prince's Household said Wednesday that he takes seriously Crown Prince Naruhito's recently stated dissatisfaction with the environment surrounding his wife, Crown Princess Masako.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 13, 2004

Ozawa undecided about taking DPJ helm

Ichiro Ozawa, deputy head of the Democratic Party of Japan, gave a guarded response Wednesday to a formal request that he assume the party's presidency following the resignation of DPJ leader Naoto Kan over his failure to pay mandatory pension premiums.
BUSINESS
May 13, 2004

Special farm subsidies face reduction or abolishment

The Finance Ministry wants to reduce or abolish the special subsidies paid to farmers who cultivate land deemed to be at a geographical disadvantage, ministry sources said Wednesday.
BUSINESS
May 13, 2004

McDonald's Japan chief quits after two years

McDonald's Holdings Co. (Japan) said Wednesday its president and chief operating officer, Yasuyuki Yagi, has stepped down to "mark a new chapter" for the company.
JAPAN
May 12, 2004

Toyota first firm to exceed 1 trillion yen

Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday it posted a record net profit of 1.16 trillion yen for the year to March, becoming the first Japanese company to exceed the 1 trillion yen mark.
SUMO
May 12, 2004

Asashoryu wins 33rd straight

Grand champion Asashoryu extended his perfect record at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday, winning his third bout of the 15-day tournament.

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