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BUSINESS
Apr 14, 2004

Japan wholesale prices post first rise since 2000

Wholesale prices nationwide edged up in March from a year earlier for the first increase in three years and eight months, the Bank of Japan said Tuesday in a preliminary report.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Apr 14, 2004

In search of the perfect swindle

Cherry trees bloom on the Kabukiza stage all year round, but this month, as befits hanami season, they're particularly spectacular. That's not surprising, because "Shiranami Gonin Otoko (The Five Shiranami Men)" by Kawatake Mokuami (1816-93), was inspired by ukiyo-e prints by the renowned Utagawa Toyokuni...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Apr 14, 2004

Lessons still unlearned

Timely or what! Just as Japan's autocratic leaders appear to have junked war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution -- with news last week of SDF aircraft even having transported armed U.S. soldiers into Iraq -- along comes "Taiko Tataite Fue Fuite (Playing Drum and Flute)," which vividly portrays...
BUSINESS
Apr 13, 2004

DaimlerChrysler may take control of Mitsubishi Motors

DaimlerChrysler AG may funnel capital into Mitsubishi Motors Corp. in two stages and thereby convert the struggling automaker into a consolidated subsidiary, sources close to the plan said Monday.
BUSINESS
Apr 13, 2004

Kao CEO exits, denies Kanebo link

Kao Corp., the nation's largest toiletry maker, said Monday its president and chief executive, Takuya Goto, will step down and 54-year-old Motoki Ozaki will succeed him.
BUSINESS
Apr 13, 2004

Private-sector deregulation panel launched

A newly launched government panel on deregulation held its first meeting Monday and selected Yoshihiko Miyauchi, chairman of Orix Corp., as chairman.
BUSINESS
Apr 10, 2004

Millea, BankThai to forge alliance

Millea Holdings Inc. said Friday it has agreed with BankThai Public Co. to tie up in the life insurance business in Thailand from May.
BUSINESS
Apr 10, 2004

BOJ grants economic upgrade as domestic demand rises

The Bank of Japan upgraded its assessment of the Japanese economy Friday for the first time in four months, citing growing domestic demand.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Apr 10, 2004

Rattlin' around globe making her kind of music

With a stage name like Rattlesnake Annie, it's easy to imagine a musical cowgirl with a guitar in one hand and a lasso in the other. Instead, waiting in front of Tokyo's Yoyogi Station is a grandmother with great bones, piercing blue eyes and long softly graying hair. She has just come from Tachikawa,...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST
Apr 10, 2004

Bigfoot's smaller but cuter Japanese friend

Every decent country needs some weird mystery in order to ooh and awe the young and attract feeble-minded tourists.
BUSINESS
Apr 9, 2004

Seibu Railway president steps down

Seibu Railway Co. said Thursday that senior managing director Terumasa Koyanagi has been promoted to president, succeeding Hiroyuki Toda, who became a board member to take responsibility for a payoff scandal that erupted last month.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 9, 2004

Banpresto to buy Tokyo fun park

Banpresto Co. said Thursday it plans to purchase the Asakusa Hanayashiki amusement park in downtown Tokyo from roller-coaster maker Togo Japan Inc.
BUSINESS
Apr 9, 2004

Worker sentiment best since August '01

Business sentiment among workers with jobs sensitive to economic fluctuations rose in March to the highest level since August 2001, the government said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Apr 9, 2004

Shin Mitsui Sugar, Mitsui units to merge

Japan's biggest sugar producer, Shin Mitsui Sugar Co., and two other sugar refiners affiliated with Mitsui & Co. said Thursday they have signed a contract to merge next April 1.
BUSINESS
Apr 9, 2004

SMBC to open new Tokyo branch

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. said Thursday it will open the first branch in seven years to promote services for individuals.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 8, 2004

Volunteer offers consultation to women trafficked to Japan

KOBE -- A volunteer probation officer and court interpreter in Kobe has begun a telephone consultation service for foreign women trafficked to Japan and forced into prostitution.
COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE
Apr 8, 2004

The campaign-finance floodgates open

WASHINGTON -- Only 208 days are left in this presidential campaign. From the intensity that both President George W. Bush and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry are going at it, you would think that decision day is next week. The advertising is pouring out over the airwaves at mid-October frequency and the...
JAPAN
Apr 7, 2004

Kids' English education business thrives

Private English schools catering to children are thriving, reflecting a growing number of parents, especially younger mothers, who want their kids to start learning the language at an early age.
JAPAN
Apr 6, 2004

Confab delegates seek peace in Balkans

Five western Balkan countries, Japan, the European Union and other parties reaffirmed Monday their commitment to consolidating peace and stability in the western Balkans as they wrapped up a one-day ministerial conference in Tokyo.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Apr 6, 2004

Singers, antiques and racism

Singing hope K.M. is a 23-year-old singer from Sweden with some 8 years performing experience who would love to sing at jazz clubs, corporate events and private paries. "How can I get in touch with the right people?"
JAPAN
Apr 6, 2004

Japanese living abroad in record high numbers

A record 911,062 Japanese were living overseas on a long-term basis as of Oct. 1, up 4.5 percent from the previous high posted a year earlier, a senior Foreign Ministry official said Monday.
EDITORIALS
Apr 6, 2004

NATO expands, Russia worries

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization took another step forward in its post-Cold War evolution last week when it officially inducted seven new members. While there were celebrations in NATO capitals, political leaders in Moscow voiced concern about a move that brings the organization to Russia's borders....
Events
Apr 4, 2004

KANSAI: Who & What

Seminar in Osaka on U.S., Japan visas: The American Chamber of Commerce Japan is holding a seminar Thursday on getting a visa for the United States or Japan.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / CLOSE-UP
Apr 4, 2004

Robert Whiting: Outside the box

Back in 1972, a 30-year-old New Jersey native who had recently graduated from Tokyo's Sophia University was in New York City, trying to talk to anyone who would listen about politics and life in Japan. Nobody was interested.
JAPAN
Apr 3, 2004

Crackdown has publishers running scared

Yasunori Okadome last month suspended publication of his profitable monthly gossip magazine Uwasa-no-shinso (The Truth Behind Rumors), due to fears that a lawsuit could put him out of business for good.
BUSINESS
Apr 3, 2004

Microsoft raid highlights growing fears

The surprise raid by Japanese antimonopoly authorities on Microsoft Corp.'s Tokyo offices was impeccably timed -- barely a month before the European Union slapped a $613 million fine on the company.
BUSINESS
Apr 3, 2004

Senior executive of MMC leaves firm under a cloud

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Friday that Steven Torok, executive vice president in charge of overseas sales, left the company the same day to return to the Chrysler Group.

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