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JAPAN
Aug 11, 2002

Tanaka bombshell leaves LDP in by-election crisis

The surprise resignation of Makiko Tanaka from the Lower House means more problems for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, already facing an uphill battle in key Diet by-elections in October.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 11, 2002

Beijing forcing Chen to take own road

NEW YORK -- Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's posture toward China has undergone a significant change recently -- from showing infinite good will to proclaiming that Taiwan is an independent sovereign state and that Taiwan's future should be determined by the people of Taiwan. He now supports legislation...
JAPAN
Aug 7, 2002

U.S. terror victim's kin joins Hiroshima remembrances

HIROSHIMA -- A New York retiree who lost her brother in the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center participated Tuesday in the 57th memorial service for the 1945 atomic bombing here, sharing wishes for a world without violence.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES
Aug 7, 2002

Sonic Youth: Murray Street

Jim O'Rourke is on a roll. First, post-rock's poster child released his best solo effort, "Insignificance," late last year, and now he's on two of the best albums of 2002. As well as having produced Wilco's breakthrough album, "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot," O'Rourke has become producer for -- and a member of...
COMMENTARY
Aug 3, 2002

Flaws mar proposed reforms

LONDON -- The Japanese Foreign Ministry has been much criticized over the last year. Reforms have been made and more changes are likely. Some of the criticism has been justified, but much is misplaced and some of the proposals for changes are mistaken.
JAPAN
Aug 2, 2002

Disclaimers cause waves in scuba business

Recreational scuba divers in Japan are subject to a long-standing, and contentious, industry policy -- signing a waiver to accept all responsibility for whatever happens when they take the plunge.
BUSINESS
Aug 2, 2002

Sumitomo ties with Shinkin Central

Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. has tied up with Shinkin Central Bank, an industry body grouping 343 "shinkin" small savings banks, to enable its policyholders to take out loans from automated teller machines at most of the member shinkin banks, Sumitomo Life officials said.
JAPAN
Jul 31, 2002

Whistle-blower files not guilty plea

OSAKA -- A former senior prosecutor who blew the whistle on alleged corruption among fellow prosecutors pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to charges of taking bribes and abusing his authority.
JAPAN
Jul 31, 2002

Attack-response law dead in the water?

When the government submitted a set of emergency-response bills to the Diet in April, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was breaking a decades-long taboo under the war-renouncing Constitution.
JAPAN
Jul 24, 2002

Suzuki aides arrested over funds scandal

Public prosecutors said Tuesday they have served arrest warrants on three aides to indicted lawmaker Muneo Suzuki on suspicion of failing to declare around 100 million yen in donations to Suzuki's fund management body.
BUSINESS
Jul 23, 2002

Report to call for FTA negotiations with Mexico

Japan and Mexico should begin formal negotiations as soon as possible on concluding a comprehensive pact aimed at shoring up a bilateral economic partnership, including a free-trade agreement.
JAPAN
Jul 21, 2002

Suzuki linked to another 1 million yen bribe

Lower House member Muneo Suzuki, indicted in a bribery scandal involving a lumber company, also accepted at least 1 million yen in unreported money from a construction firm in Hokkaido in the late 1990s as reward for favors in a public works project, informed sources said Saturday.
JAPAN
Jul 19, 2002

New agency should handle ODA, panel says

An advisory panel to Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi may urge the government to weigh the possibility of creating a new agency to oversee Japan's official development assistance in line with moves to reform the nation's diplomatic operations, it was learned Thursday.
BUSINESS
Jul 19, 2002

Regional banks pressure FSA on deposit protection

A group of second-tier regional banks on Thursday joined the chorus urging the government to consider extending its blanket guarantee on demand deposits.
BUSINESS
Jul 18, 2002

Red-ink firms could face big 'pro forma' tax bills

The implementation of a proposed "pro forma standard tax" would oblige red-ink companies that have been exempt from tax to pay an average of 1.79 million yen every year, four industry bodies said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jul 17, 2002

Accused train gropers hope to clear names

Thirteen men who have been accused of acts of molestation on trains have formed a self-help group in Tokyo.
EDITORIALS
Jul 16, 2002

Afghanistan relives its past

The murder of Mr. Abdul Qadir, the vice president of Afghanistan, has heightened fears that the country is sliding once again into chaos. No suspects have been caught in the brazen midday attack, but speculation about the cause runs from a tribal vendetta to an attempt to undermine the government. The...
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jul 14, 2002

Going to any lengths to avoid giving offense

Weird Tales of Self-Restraint No. 16: Heroes are Hard to Find
SOCCER / World cup
Jul 13, 2002

With the World Cup over, J. League gets back to business

The World Cup may be over, but Japan's newly converted soccer fans will still have plenty to cheer about when J. League Division One action resumes Saturday.
JAPAN
Jul 11, 2002

Bureaucrats should have free hand on memos: panel

Foreign Ministry bureaucrats' memos on their contacts with lawmakers do not have to be cross-checked by the legislators for fact confirmation, an advisory panel on reforming the ministry agreed Wednesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / J-POPSICLE
Jul 10, 2002

A card-carrying regular guy

One interesting aspect of Japanese meishi (name-card) etiquette is that entertainers never give them out. It took me a while to figure out that one. Several interviews with musicians I thought had begun inauspiciously when I handed the artist my meishi only to receive nothing in return.
COMMENTARY
Jul 9, 2002

Turmoil after Diet adjourns

The regular Diet session, which was extended in late June for 42 days through the end of July, is entering a critical period. Since it opened in January, the Diet has performed poorly, with a number of key bills still awaiting action.
BUSINESS
Jul 6, 2002

JAL joins international air cargo alliance

Japan Airlines Co. formally announced Friday it has joined international cargo alliance WOW.
MORE SPORTS
Jul 5, 2002

Hoops stars Tabuse, Takahashi out of Kirin Cup

With three of the more experienced national players out, the Japanese men's national squad preparing to face Spain in the Kirin Cup Basketball 2002 was left pondering on one word: youth.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 3, 2002

Lawyers defend poisoning suspect's silence

Legal experts and journalists in Japan sometimes forget that defendants in criminal cases are guaranteed the right to remain silent.
BUSINESS
Jun 29, 2002

Japan, EU in no hurry to ratify nuclear energy treaty

In what may be somewhat disappointing news for the domestic power industry, Japan will not be able to sign a long-awaited nuclear energy treaty with the European Union at a regular summit next month.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 27, 2002

Aum Shinrikyo officer Niimi given death sentence for role in 26 murders

Senior Aum Shinrikyo figure Tomomitsu Niimi was sentenced Wednesday to death for his role in 26 murders and other crimes committed by the doomsday cult, including two deadly sarin attacks.
BUSINESS
Jun 25, 2002

Road panel votes for open discussion

A panel handling the privatization of four expressway-building public corporations unexpectedly decided Monday to open all of its sessions to the media to enhance transparency on the politically sensitive issue.

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