Search - 2004

 
 
BUSINESS
Feb 24, 2005

Tertiary industry activity up second year

The tertiary industry activity index gained 2.2 percent in 2004 from the previous year for the second straight yearly rise, with the index registering its highest score since 1988, the government said Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Feb 8, 2005

Flat TVs seen taking 86% of market in '09

Sales of plasma-display panel and liquid crystal display televisions are likely to grow about 3.5-fold from 2004 to 9.5 million units in Japan, accounting for 86 percent of overall TV sales in 2009, an industry association said Monday.
MORE SPORTS
Feb 4, 2005

Kitajima accepts award from FSAJ

Double Olympic gold medalist Kosuke Kitajima has another addition for his impressive trophy cabinet after accepting the award for 2004 Japanese Sportsman of the Year.
BUSINESS
Feb 4, 2005

Toyota sees 1 trillion yen year as profit rises 3.5%

Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday its group net profit in the October-December period rose 3.5 percent from a year earlier to 296.5 billion yen, clearing the way for its profit for the year to March to exceed 1 trillion yen for a second consecutive year.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 30, 2005

Looking up after bleak year

Two years ago, the World Economic Forum launched a Global Governance Initiative that brought together a group of experts from around the world to map the state of the world on peace and security, education, environment, health, human rights, and hunger and poverty. The initiative provides an assessment,...
BUSINESS
Jan 29, 2005

CPI declines for the fifth straight year as deflation continues to dog economy

The key gauge of consumer prices in Japan fell 0.1 percent in 2004, marking a fifth straight yearly decline and underscoring that the economy is still beset by deflation, the government said Friday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / INDUSTRY TRENDS
Jan 28, 2005

Epson's bold gamble leaves door ajar for Canon

Pole position in Japan's home printer market changed hands in 2004 for the first time in eight years, with the two principal rivals in the sector pursuing starkly contrasting product strategies.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 30, 2004

Dentsu poll finds year's top 10 consumer darlings

2004 saw many things strike the fancy of Japanese consumers, especially on the big screen at home, to the extent that some became social phenomena.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 29, 2004

Buy local produce

Japanese films had a good 2004, even if eight of the 10 top box-office slots went to Hollywood. The Japanese exhibition business is coming to resemble the American one, with more multiplex screens and wider openings. This structure favors major Hollywood product -- the latest "Harry Potter" or "Lord...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / BEST BAR NONE
Dec 24, 2004

The rundown of the big countdowns

Another year has whizzed on by and the silly season is upon us again. Those of you who haven't yet had enough of overeating and overdrinking might find some of the Christmas dinner options of interest. Otherwise, hold off on the food, tighten that belt and get ready to dance in the New Year.
JAPAN
Dec 21, 2004

82.18 trillion yen budget drafted

Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki on Monday proposed a draft budget for fiscal 2005 worth 82.18 trillion yen, up 0.1 percent from the initial 2004 budget, as higher debt-servicing costs outpaced cuts in discretionary spending.
EDITORIALS
Dec 17, 2004

Better ways to share tax money

Local governments in Japan, like the central government, are heavily in debt. The deficit problem is adding to difficulties in budget talks between the Finance and Internal Affairs ministries. The key question is how much national tax revenue should be transferred to local administrations in fiscal 2005....
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Oct 27, 2004

Foreign heavy hitters show some 'appeal' during Japan Series

Congratulations to the Seibu Lions on winning their first Japan Series in 12 years.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / CERAMIC SCENE
Oct 13, 2004

Mino for the modern world

The traditional Mino pottery styles of Shino, Oribe, Yellow Seto and Black Seto have been the pride of the Japanese ceramic world since the Momoyama Period (1568-1615). However, Mino pottery just isn't what it used to be. Gone are its chadogu (tea wares) days of the 17th-19th century, when it was used...
BUSINESS
Aug 26, 2004

'05 budgetary requests likely to surpass 85 trillion yen

The fiscal 2005 budget requests from government ministries and agencies are expected to total 85.52 trillion yen -- 3.40 trillion yen greater than the initial budget for the current fiscal year, Finance Ministry sources said Wednesday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Aug 17, 2004

Collecting your pension dues

After those who leave Japan, hand in their gaijin cards and apply for their 2.4 month refund, the remaining millions of yen they've paid into the system stay in Japan, where the money is used to pay pension payments for those they left behind.
BUSINESS
Jul 29, 2004

Demand in Asia lifts vehicle exports by 4%

A total of 2,390,701 cars, trucks and buses manufactured in Japan were exported in the January-June period of 2004, up 4 percent from a year earlier for the third consecutive year of increase.
BUSINESS
Jul 21, 2004

Toyota expects record global output this year

Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday it expects its group's global production for calendar 2004 to hit a record 7.54 million units 260,000 more than an earlier forecast thanks to brisk overseas sales.
COMMENTARY / THE VIEW FROM MOSCOW
Jul 11, 2004

Exile in America inspired a revolution

MOSCOW -- George Balanchine was an exile thrice. The first time came without his consent and even without his prior knowledge, as his family went from its native Georgia in the Caucasus to the capital of Russia, St. Petersburg, before he was born.
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Jul 9, 2004

Long season has stars worn out for international play

LONDON -- Euro 2004 needed big names rather than long names to shine.
BUSINESS
Apr 29, 2004

BOJ says Japan will 'continue its recovery'

The Bank of Japan said Wednesday in a semiannual economic outlook report that the nation's economy will "continue its recovery" in fiscal 2004.
BUSINESS
Mar 27, 2004

Diet passes 82 trillion yen '04 budget

The Diet on Friday passed the fiscal 2004 budget, which totals 82.11 trillion yen.
BUSINESS
Mar 16, 2004

Koizumi aims to maintain 1 trillion yen subsidy cut in 2005

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will retain 1 trillion yen in cuts in national subsidies for fiscal 2005, government sources said.
COMMENTARY / THE VIEW FROM MOSCOW
Mar 6, 2004

Sun sets on Russian democrac

MOSCOW -- Relapses are always regrettable, particularly when the gains lost had been won at such a high cost.
COMMENTARY / THE VIEW FROM NEW YORK
Feb 23, 2004

Critical war questions beg for an answer

NEW YORK -- First, my historian friend George Akita sent me a clipping of former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara's article that appeared in The Honolulu Advertiser (Aug. 7, 2003). Titled "We need rules for waging war," the piece begins with McNamara remembering the night of March 9, 1945, when...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 10, 2004

Diet OKs SDF dispatch to Iraq

The Diet on Monday gave its final approval for the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq on the strength of the ruling coalition's majority in the House of Councilors.
EDITORIALS
Jan 13, 2004

Prospects dim for wage round

Japan's economy is showing increasing signs of recovery, yet there is nothing to cheer about concerning the job situation as labor and management brace for what promises to be yet another difficult bargaining season. Once again, wage restraint will be the main theme of negotiation in spring 2004.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?