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JAPAN
Mar 1, 2003

Doctors revolt against LDP over loss of outpatient income

The Japan Medical Association, one of the most powerful supporters of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party, has turned against the LDP over its plan to require salaried workers to pay more in outpatient fees and intends to try to topple the government.
EDITORIALS
Feb 28, 2003

A new role in nation-building

Restoring internal security is an essential condition for nation-building in Afghanistan, where local warlords continue to defy the authority of the central government. It is welcome news, therefore, that the international community has pledged new aid for an Afghan program to disarm those chieftains...
JAPAN
Feb 28, 2003

Yongbyon reactivation 'regrettable'

Japanese government officials expressed regret Thursday over the reactivation of North Korea's nuclear facilities in Yongbyon and urged Pyongyang to end its provocation.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 28, 2003

Dozing train driver creates a nightmare

The transport ministry said Thursday it is considering administrative penalties against West Japan Railway Co. over an incident in which a driver fell asleep at the helm of a bullet train.
JAPAN
Feb 27, 2003

35 to run for 11 seats in gubernatorial elections

The 11 gubernatorial elections slated for April 13 are expecting a total of 35 candidates to run, down from 41 at this point in the lead up to the elections four years ago, according to a Kyodo News survey released Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Feb 27, 2003

Visiting Belgian leader seeks Japan investment

Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt called Wednesday for increased Japanese investment in Belgium, saying his country has steadily carried out economic reforms, including corporate tax cuts.
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Feb 27, 2003

Environment Bushwhack

U.S. Civil War General William Sherman is credited with uttering the sage words, "War is hell." War is hell on the environment as well, and U.S. President George W. Bush's "War on Terror" is no exception. Ironically, the environment being degraded is America's own.
JAPAN
Feb 27, 2003

Abe wins 4 million yen in libel case

The Tokyo High Court on Wednesday ordered a journalist to pay 4 million yen in damages to Takeshi Abe, a former vice president of Teikyo University and a hemophilia expert, over a defamation case linked to a scandal involving HIV-tainted blood products.
BUSINESS
Feb 26, 2003

Cabinet chimes in on antideflation expectations

Cabinet ministers voiced expectations Tuesday that the government and the Bank of Japan will cooperate more closely to combat deflation following Monday's nomination of Toshihiko Fukui as the new BOJ chief.
EDITORIALS
Feb 26, 2003

Challenges for Mr. Roh Moo Hyun

South Korea continues its impressive transition to genuine democracy this week with the inauguration of Mr. Roh Moo Hyun as the country's 16th president. Mr. Roh could be a pivotal figure in South Korean history, perhaps even more significant than the man who preceded him, Mr. Kim Dae Jung. If the new...
COMMUNITY / LIFELINES
Feb 25, 2003

Shipping news, foreign movies and medical bills

Shipping On the subject of shipping goods from the U.S.A. to Japan as unaccompanied baggage, reader Carol says that if you fly on United Airlines, they can provide you with the unaccompanied baggage forms.
JAPAN
Feb 25, 2003

'Shogi' icon claims landmark victory

Yoshiharu Habu, one of Japan's top-ranked exponents of the ancient chesslike game of "shogi," has captured his 800th win, becoming the youngest ever person to reach this milestone.
BUSINESS
Feb 25, 2003

Toyota, Fuji Heavy tie up on G-Book network service

Toyota Motor Corp. and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. said Monday they have reached a basic agreement under which Fuji Heavy will install Toyota's G-Book wireless information terminals in its Subaru vehicles in Japan beginning in 2004.
COMMENTARY
Feb 24, 2003

Reform of the fourth estate

I was stunned by recent media reports that Takuhiko Tsuruta, president of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspaper, had become a whistle-blowing target. At a company shareholders meeting, a proposal demanding Tsuruta's dismissal from the board was presented by an editor and shareholder of the newspaper. Tsuruta...
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 23, 2003

Restructuring the U.N. Security Council

CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- Although we live in an era of sad comparisons between the current status of the United Nations and the demise of the old League of Nations, let us hope and assume that the U.N. will survive its immense test without being relegated to "irrelevancy" and substituted by new formations...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Feb 23, 2003

Taisho treasure

Tokyo is in the throes of a particularly bold face-lift. In the cause of urban regeneration, massive high-rises are shooting up in Shinagawa, Shinbashi, Roppongi and Shinjuku, transforming the skyline of metropolitan Tokyo. On the ground, wrecking trucks clear more land, demolishing old homes and felling...
JAPAN
Feb 23, 2003

North Korea escapees want to return to Japan

Japan and China appear ready to discuss the transfer to Japan of a Japanese woman and her daughter who escaped from North Korea.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Feb 23, 2003

The picture of innocence?

Sex, nudity and violence -- there's a lot of it happening in Kobe.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 22, 2003

Karzai sends out a reminder

Visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Friday called on the international community to continue providing support to help rebuild his nation, even while the eyes of the world are focused on Iraq.
JAPAN
Feb 22, 2003

Tokyo taking flak for apparent backing of U.S. attack on Iraq

The government has been deflecting a growing amount of criticism, even from within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, since it came out in clear support of adopting a new resolution against Iraq at the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday.
COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE
Feb 22, 2003

Antiwar fever rises as the economy sinks

WASHINGTON -- Two big questions have dominated Washington this week. When will this horrible, cold winter end? And when will the war in Iraq begin? While they are different subjects with different consequences, they are getting about equal time in the capital's conversation content.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Feb 22, 2003

Go Girls offers safe place for learning languages

There are many ways to learn a language. And there are several introduction services that brings students and teachers together. None, however, have the commitment and organizational safety net of Go Girls.
JAPAN
Feb 22, 2003

JCP fields candidate for Tokyo gubernatorial race

The Japanese Communist Party became on Friday the first political party to field a candidate for the April 13 Tokyo gubernatorial election.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 22, 2003

Astronaut Noguchi's resolve firm for next shuttle mission

Astronaut Soichi Noguchi, whose mission on the space shuttle Atlantis in March has been scrubbed in the wake of the Feb. 1 re-entry disintegration of the Columbia, expressed determination Friday to join the crew if the flight is rescheduled.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 21, 2003

Farm minister admits ex-secretary pocketed cash

Scandal-plagued farm minister Tadamori Oshima admitted during a special Diet session Thursday that a former secretary pocketed a 6 million yen political donation in 2000.
BUSINESS
Feb 21, 2003

Plan calls for auctioning oil reserves

The government will release its oil stockpiles, primarily by auction, if a U.S.-led war on Iraq causes market disruptions and prompts the international community to act jointly to prevent a price spike, a ministry official said Thursday.

Longform

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