Search - news

 
 
JAPAN
Mar 30, 2004

GSDF inaugurates undercover antiterrorist squad

A special operations unit debuted Monday in the Ground Self-Defense Force in response to growing fears of terrorism and guerrilla attacks on Japan.
JAPAN
Mar 30, 2004

Deadly door's sensor was set at 135 cm

The sensor system of the automatic revolving door that crushed a 6-year-old boy to death Friday in Tokyo's Roppongi Hills complex had been adjusted upward to respond only to objects standing 135 cm or higher, police sources said Monday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 30, 2004

TV Tokyo hopes kids will visit Japanized 'Sesame Street'

More than three decades after "Sesame Street" was first broadcast in Japan in 1971, the program will for the first time involve Japanese directors and artists in a bid to reach the show's intended audience: children.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Mar 28, 2004

A subversive sampler of the future

Since the '80s -- when the first samplers came on the market -- sampling in music has evolved from a revolutionary and barely understood practice to become a standard tool in the production of even the most mundane pop song. It's all in the hands of the user -- and when those hands belong to Coldcut,...
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 28, 2004

The Iraq war in retrospect

The question that crops up repeatedly when we register our opposition to the Iraq war is: Would you rather then have Saddam Hussein still in power? It's a fair question that deserves a serious answer. Unlike in 1990, when Hussein did have a few admirers, last year he had none. This makes the failure...
JAPAN
Mar 28, 2004

Deadly Roppongi door draws scrutiny

The automatic revolving door at the Roppongi Hills complex in Tokyo that crushed a child to death moves about 25 cm even after built-in safety sensors are activated, the door's manufacturer said Saturday.
JAPAN
Mar 27, 2004

Isle intruders get fast boot back to China

Seven Chinese activists who were arrested for illegal entry after landing on the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea were deported to China on Friday night.
JAPAN
Mar 27, 2004

Japan on Hamas' side: Israel envoy

Israeli Ambassador to Japan Eli Cohen lodged a protest Friday with the Foreign Ministry over Japan's condemnation of Israel's assassination of Hamas leader Ahmed Yassin.
BUSINESS
Mar 27, 2004

Listed firms try to keep faith of investors by bearing gifts

The rationale is simple: If you want investors to hold on to your company's shares, send them gifts.
BASEBALL / MLB
Mar 27, 2004

Yankees, Rays set to hit Tokyo

Even halfway around the world, the New York Yankees bring a buzz.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 26, 2004

Japan grills isle intruders; China demands their release

Police on Thursday questioned seven Chinese activists who landed on disputed territory in the East China Sea the previous day and plan to hand them over to prosecutors for allegedly violating immigration laws.
BUSINESS
Mar 26, 2004

State's debt amounts to 5.25 million yen per capita

The government's outstanding debt totaled a record-high 670.12 trillion yen at the end of December, according to data released Thursday by the Finance Ministry.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 25, 2004

Mitsubishi Fuso recalls 112,000 vehicles

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp. announced Wednesday it will recall about 112,000 large vehicles due to defective wheel hubs that have caused a series of accidents.
BUSINESS
Mar 25, 2004

Banks must use realistic interest rates, lobby says

Japanese banks' interest rates on loans should better reflect borrower creditworthiness to mitigate against the risk of borrowers going under, a powerful business lobby said in a report Wednesday.
MORE SPORTS
Mar 25, 2004

Takahashi to race in city marathon

Naoko Takahashi, who was left off the national team for this summer's Athens' Olympics, will take part in a city marathon in April, sources close to the runner said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Mar 25, 2004

Chinese activists collared on disputed islet

Seven Chinese activists were arrested by Japanese authorities Wednesday after landing on one of the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, Japanese officials said.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Mar 24, 2004

Columbine, sanitized for your protection

Elephant Rating: * (out of 5) Director: Gus Van Sant Running time: 81 minutes Language: English Open March 27 at saison Shibuya [See Japan Times movie listings] Gus Van Sant's latest film is called "Elephant," and no, it's not about Babar, or Hannibal's epic crossing of the Alps. It...
JAPAN
Mar 24, 2004

Japan criticizes Israel over 'reckless' Yassin assassination

Japan joined other nations Tuesday in criticizing Israel for its murder of Ahmed Yassin, the founder of Palestinian militant group Hamas, and called on both Israel and the Palestinian Authority to resume peace talks.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 24, 2004

MTFG set to take Acom under wing

Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group Inc. announced Tuesday it will raise its equity stake in Acom Co. to more than 15 percent, a deal that effectively puts the consumer financing firm under the banking group's umbrella.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 23, 2004

Surgeon gets suspended term for coverup

The Tokyo District Court sentenced a heart surgeon Monday to a suspended one-year prison term for destroying evidence related to the malpractice death of a 12-year-old girl in 2001.
BUSINESS
Mar 23, 2004

Fast Retailing set to exit fruit, vegetable market

Fast Retailing Co. said Monday it will terminate its fresh food business after abandoning hope of turning a profit from selling premium vegetables.
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Mar 23, 2004

Taste: the final frontier

Now that Japanese food is like, totally in all over the globe, chances are that you (a Westerner) will not be grossed out by the smell of roasting sanma or the sight of dried eel kidney floating in clear soup.
BUSINESS
Mar 23, 2004

Mitsubishi Fuso's recall likely to include city buses

The imminent recall of large vehicles by Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp. is likely to include city buses excluded from its initial recall plan.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Mar 23, 2004

More big sizes and outdoor pursuits

Big sizes So many of you responded to the reader looking for larger sized clothes. Here are some more tips.
JAPAN
Mar 23, 2004

Pension role model a shirker herself

While reproaching the nation's youth last year in a government-sponsored TV commercial for not paying into the financially pinched mandatory National Pension System, popular actress Makiko Esumi was keeping her own dark secret.

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