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EDITORIALS
Oct 18, 2004

Two years after the bombings

Last week marked the second anniversary of the terrorist bombings that killed hundreds of tourists and Indonesians in the vacation paradise of Bali. That tragedy was a wakeup call to Southeast Asia about the dangers lurking within the region, a call to which governments have only slowly responded.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Oct 16, 2004

Good Day Books to touch base with literary icon

My husband does not often bow to me. But when I announce that I am off to meet the renowned scholar and translator of Japanese literature Edward Seidensticker, Significant Other is so impressed he near bends in half and instantly offers up half a dozen questions he himself would like to ask.
COMMENTARY
Oct 16, 2004

Preventing a new dark age

The entire geopolitical system is now enmeshed with Middle East issues. Mideast stability is the absolute key to peaceful global progress, both economic and social, as well as to the future of many world leaders and their policies.
EDITORIALS
Oct 15, 2004

Enough words, let's see some action

The Social Insurance Agency, which has been accused of corruption and criticized for wasteful use of pension-insurance premiums, has announced a set of countermeasures aimed at reforming itself through its own efforts. However, many of the measures are presumed to have been enforceable within the existing...
BUSINESS
Oct 15, 2004

IRCJ begins assessing struggling Daiei's assets

The state-backed Industrial Revitalization Corp. of Japan began a full-scale evaluation of Daiei Inc.'s assets Thursday, a day after the ailing retailer decided to seek its help instead of using only private-sector funds.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 15, 2004

Daiei fix followed twisted path

It took one phone call from auditor Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu to convince Daiei Inc. to accept help from the state-backed Industrial Revitalization Corp. of Japan and end a lengthy standoff between the retailer and major banks.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Oct 14, 2004

Arias, Petagine, Woods may play musical chairs in offseason

Three foreign players, all first basemen on Central League teams this past season, may be about to embark on a National Football League quarterback-style game of musical chairs.
JAPAN
Oct 14, 2004

Banks force Daiei into climbdown, arms of IRCJ

Pressure from creditor banks has forced debt-ridden retailer Daiei Inc. into deciding to seek help from the Industrial Revitalization Corp. of Japan, officials said Wednesday.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 14, 2004

Crisis that hangs on hearsay

LONDON -- I am rapidly approaching the age of retirement. I am already cutting back on my activities, slimming down my portfolio of work and deciding what activities are wastes of time.
JAPAN
Oct 14, 2004

Politicians block comic over 'fake' Nanjing Massacre tale

Shueisha Inc. said Wednesday it will halt publication of a "manga" comic featuring the Nanjing Massacre of 1937 in response to complaints by Japanese politicians who claim the slaughter never happened.
JAPAN
Oct 13, 2004

Koizumi opens Diet session with pledge to stick to reforms

A 53-day extraordinary Diet session began Tuesday, with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reiterating his determination to stick to his administrative reform initiatives, including the privatization of Japan's postal services.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 13, 2004

Daiei snubs IRCJ rehab offer, risks banks' wrath

The state-backed Industrial Revitalization Corp. of Japan said Tuesday it will stop preparatory procedures to help rebuild Daiei Inc. after the retailer's president formally rejected calls by the IRCJ and major creditor banks for Daiei to seek the entity's help, IRCJ sources said.
BUSINESS
Oct 13, 2004

Fast Retailing to open Uniqlo store in Seoul

Fast Retailing Co. said Tuesday it will open a Uniqlo casual clothing store in Seoul next fall.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Oct 10, 2004

"Black Jack" comes back to Nihon TV and more

In addition to being Japan's manga/anime god, Osamu Tezuka was a licensed physician, an abandoned calling that he channeled into one of his later comic series, "Black Jack," about a hard-boiled, unlicensed doctor who possessed amazing surgical skills.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Oct 9, 2004

Sisterly reporting from Catholic feminist view

It comes as quite a surprise when Joan Chittister opens her hotel room door. All photos seen to date suggest a rather fearsome individual. Here instead is a smiling roly-poly figure in a casual two-piece summer suit. All she needs is a large white apron and she could be a merry farmer's wife instead...
BUSINESS
Oct 8, 2004

Nissan buys naming rights to stadium

Nissan Motor Co. said Thursday it has acquired the naming rights for International Stadium Yokohama, venue for the final match of the World Cup soccer finals in June 2002.
BUSINESS
Oct 7, 2004

METI considers hostile-takeover defenses

Fear over a swarm of hostile takeover attempts by foreign firms has prompted the government to examine whether Japanese companies can adopt U.S.-made defensive measures under the nation's legal framework.
MORE SPORTS
Oct 6, 2004

Asagoe crashes out of Japan Open

Japan's Shinobu Asagoe crashed out of the women's singles competition after being condemned to a first-round defeat by nemesis Tamarine Tanasugarn at the Japan Open on Tuesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Oct 6, 2004

Poor, mad, bad king

During the five years he was Artistic Director of Setagaya Public Theatre, 61-year-old Makoto Sato began calling and e-mailing his old friend and stage colleague Renji Ishibashi, 63, in an attempt to persuade him to take the role of King Lear, with him (Sato) as director.
JAPAN
Oct 6, 2004

Okutama takes aim at forest-eating denizen that's best served as venison

Deer are increasing sharply in number around the town of Okutama, western Tokyo, devouring plants and stripping the already logged mountains of new vegetation, thereby, some say, posing a landslide risk.
JAPAN
Oct 6, 2004

Japan should bring in overseas labor: panel

The government should consider opening the country to foreign unskilled labor and work to create public support for the issue, an advisory body to the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
BUSINESS / CABINET INTERVIEW
Oct 5, 2004

IRCJ to stop accepting new projects in March

Seiichiro Murakami, newly chosen state minister in charge of industrial revitalization, said the Industrial Revitalization Corp. of Japan will stop accepting new turnaround assignments in March, as scheduled.

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