Search - 2002

 
 
JAPAN
Feb 18, 2004

Itoman exec gets suspended term in K-1 tax dodge

The Tokyo District Court handed down a suspended 18-month prison term Tuesday to a former executive of the defunct trading house Itoman Corp. for destroying evidence of tax evasion at the martial arts promoter K-1.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 18, 2004

A bombardment of images leaves riddles in the rubble

Naqoyqatsi Rating: * * * * 1/2 (out of 5) Director: Godfrey Reggio Running time: 89 minutes Language: English Currently showing [See Japan Times movie listings] While all the attention has focused on "The Matrix" and "The Lord of the Rings," another trilogy, 20 years in the making, has...
BUSINESS
Feb 18, 2004

Council planned to promote FTAs with Asia nations

A group will be set up in March to press the government to promote free-trade agreements with Japan's trading partners in Asia, business and academic leaders agreed Tuesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Feb 18, 2004

Unpeeling Melt-Banana

Melt-Banana are one of the most popular Japanese bands in Europe and the United States, and there's two reasons for this: 1) They play more shows abroad than any other Japan-based band; and 2) They are one of Japan's most original-sounding bands, who, although highly experimental, make quality music...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 18, 2004

Koga got funds from South Korean resident

House of Representatives member Junichiro Koga, expelled from the Democratic Party of Japan for making false academic claims, received 3 million yen in donations from a South Korean resident of Japan, according to his political funds documents.
EDITORIALS
Feb 17, 2004

Pyongyang talks leave door ajar

It appears that North Korea now wants to reach some sort of agreement with Japan over the abduction issue. Last week, two ranking officials of the Japanese Foreign Ministry visited Pyongyang for the first government-to-government talks in 16 months. Although nothing specific is alleged to have resulted...
JAPAN
Feb 17, 2004

Bureaucrat to be top court justice

The government plans to appoint Osamu Tsuno, former director general of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau, as a Supreme Court justice, replacing Tsugio Kameyama, who is retiring, government officials said Monday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 17, 2004

Don't forget Afghanistan: ADB official

The international community, including Japan, should demonstrate further commitment toward rebuilding Afghanistan at the donors conference next month in Berlin, according to a senior official of the Asian Development Bank.
JAPAN
Feb 16, 2004

Tokyo to seek talks in March with Pyongyang

The government has decided to seek talks with North Korea in March in hopes of achieving a breakthrough on issues surrounding the abduction of Japanese nationals, including bringing the relatives of five former abductees to Japan, government sources said Sunday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Feb 15, 2004

Harper pushing himself to a higher plane

Ben Harper just had a great week. First, the singer/songwriter and master of the acoustic slide guitar spoke with Andre 3000 of hip-hop heroes OutKast about going into the studio together. A few days later, guitar legend Ry Cooder called about collaborating. Then blues great Taj Mahal called with a similar...
COMMENTARY / THE VIEW FROM MOSCOW
Feb 15, 2004

Don't tease the Russian bear

MOSCOW -- In this election year for both Russia and the United States, a major conflict is under way in Russo-American relations: the debate over the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Created to contain the Soviet Union during the Cold War, NATO had to redesign itself following the...
EDITORIALS
Feb 14, 2004

Free trade, without the sweetener

The conclusion of a free trade agreement between the United States and Australia has been greeted with mixed emotions. The deal has been applauded for significantly lowering duties on manufactured goods. It also strengthens the U.S.-Australia strategic partnership. But free trade advocates worry about...
JAPAN
Feb 14, 2004

Returnees may collect relatives in Pyongyang

Japan would be willing to allow the five Japanese who returned to their homeland after being abducted to North Korea decades ago to fly to Pyongyang airport to collect their relatives, as long as they do not get off the plane, a senior government official said Friday.
COMMENTARY
Feb 14, 2004

The fallibility of intelligence

LONDON -- The Jan. 28 report of Lord Justice Brian Hutton's inquiry into the death last July of British government defense scientist David Kelly was highly critical of the behavior of the British Broadcasting Corp. and a BBC reporter who had accused the government of "sexing up" intelligence for the...
BUSINESS
Feb 14, 2004

China chicken imports conditionally approved

Japan has agreed to resume imports of heat-treated processed poultry products from China, on condition that Chinese processing plants clear hygiene norms to be specified by Japan, agriculture ministry officials said Friday.
BUSINESS
Feb 14, 2004

McDonald's Holdings posts 7 billion yen net loss

McDonald's Holdings Co. (Japan) said Friday it posted a net loss of 7.12 billion yen for 2003, with weak sales and heavy restructuring costs forcing the company into its second consecutive losing year.
JAPAN / LABOR PAINS
Feb 13, 2004

Medical sector faces hard choice amid aging society

As Japan gropes for solutions to the imminent labor shortage amid the rapidly graying population, the failure of a private-sector project to import nurses is a bitter reminder of the hurdles involved in attracting and keeping foreign professionals here.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 13, 2004

SDP's Tsujimoto handed suspended term

The Tokyo District Court on Thursday sentenced Kiyomi Tsujimoto, former policy chief of the Social Democratic Party, to a suspended two-year prison term for defrauding the state out of 18.7 million yen.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Feb 13, 2004

New subway signals start of a new era

At 4:57 on the morning of Feb. 1, a navy-blue and yellow train pulled out of Motomachi-Chukagai Station bound for Yokohama Station, connecting with through services from there to Shibuya via the Tokyu Toyoko Line.
BUSINESS
Feb 13, 2004

Current account surplus hits record 15.8 trillion yen

Japan's current account surplus for 2003 rose 11.6 percent from the previous year to a record 15.79 trillion yen, the Finance Ministry said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Feb 13, 2004

Certain Thai poultry imports to be resumed

Japan agreed Thursday to resume imports of heat-treated processed poultry products from Thailand, on condition that Thai plants meet sanitary requirements, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry said.
Japan Times
JAPAN / LABOR PAINS
Feb 12, 2004

Osaka firms turning to foreign workers

OSAKA -- The Imazato district of Osaka has long been home to a large concentration of small and midsize enterprises.
JAPAN
Feb 12, 2004

Supplies from China's Daqing oil field halted

The supply of crude oil to Japan from China's huge Daqing oil field has been halted since January and is unlikely to resume due to increasing demand for energy in China.

Longform

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