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BUSINESS
Dec 14, 2004

'Tankan' likely to be a downer: experts

The Bank of Japan's quarterly "tankan" business sentiment survey is expected to show a decline in confidence among major manufacturers for the first time in 21 months, according to a recent poll of economists.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Dec 11, 2004

Pink Cow princess with two feet firmly on ground

In the early 1990s, artist-sculptor Traci Consoli left her native California to see a bit of the world. "I made a life in Tokyo, married to a Japanese guitar player, but found I was still not happy. Something was missing."
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 8, 2004

Film it and they will come

When in Rome, visitors might not necessarily do as the locals do, but many certainly follow the example of Audrey Hepburn's character in "Roman Holiday" by sticking their hands in the "Mouth of Truth" near the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, or buying a gelato on the steps of Piazza di Spagna.
BUSINESS
Dec 4, 2004

Seibu group considers end to North America operations

The scandal-tainted Seibu business group needs to consider pulling the plug on money-losing operations in Hawaii and North America, the chairman of an advisory panel to the group said Friday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 2, 2004

Opening of new Haneda terminal heats up air war

With the Wednesday opening of a new terminal at Tokyo's Haneda airport, the nation's two main airlines have launched yet another fierce battle to woo domestic passengers with new services.
COMMENTARY
Nov 29, 2004

Know what reform can't do

It looks as though Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is determined to push through postal privatization as the ultimate goal of his structural reform efforts.
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2004

UFJ, Misawa Homes reportedly to seek IRCJ aid

UFJ Bank and Misawa Homes Holdings Inc. are finishing preparations to seek help from the Industrial Revitalization Corp. of Japan to restructure the struggling home builder, sources close to the move said Saturday.
BUSINESS
Nov 27, 2004

Diet enacts trust asset expansion bill

The Diet passed a bill Friday to expand the types of assets that can be put in a trust and thereby encourage nonfinancial companies to enter the trust business.
BUSINESS
Nov 26, 2004

As bad-loan worries finally recede, banks turn attention to weak profits

Major Japanese banks are finally set to bid farewell to the bad-loan problems that have dragged down the country's financial sector, not to mention the economy as a whole.
BUSINESS
Nov 23, 2004

Yamaha Motor changes leadership

Yamaha Motor Co. said Monday that Managing Director Takashi Kajikawa will replace Toru Hasegawa as president, effective Jan. 1.
BUSINESS
Nov 17, 2004

Rakuten allowed to join Keidanren

The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) on Tuesday approved the entry of online shopping mall operator Rakuten Inc.
JAPAN
Nov 13, 2004

Mob boss ordered to compensate victims' kin

The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the head of the nation's largest crime syndicate to pay damages to the family of a police officer who was gunned down by members of an affiliated gang.
BUSINESS
Nov 11, 2004

EBC upset over bill to ban prepaid cell phones

The European Business Community in Japan on Wednesday criticized a plan by Japan's governing coalition to present a bill to the Diet, possibly during the current session, to ban the use and sale of prepaid mobile phones on grounds that they are often used in crimes.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 9, 2004

Female bank exec challenges industry

For Miyuki Zeniya, the first female full-time board member in Japan's banking industry, her challenge at Saikyo Bank is a challenge to the country's conservative banking world.
BUSINESS
Nov 2, 2004

Oki Electric sets up chip subsidiary in Shanghai

Oki Electric Industry Co. said Monday it has established a semiconductor marketing and design company in Shanghai to expand its business in China, with the aim of achieving a threefold increase in sales there by March 2007.
BUSINESS
Oct 29, 2004

Kanebo may hit execs who cooked books

Kanebo Ltd. might file a criminal complaint against its former management for allegedly window-dressing its financial statements for fiscal 2001 and 2002, President Akiyoshi Nakajima said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Oct 27, 2004

Softbank to acquire C&W IDC

Softbank Corp. said Tuesday it will acquire Cable & Wireless IDC Inc., a Japanese unit of British telecommunications firm Cable & Wireless PLC, for 12.3 billion yen.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Oct 23, 2004

Hiring, firing by the book in nicest possible way

Tom Nevins, a leading expert on Japanese rules of employment and personnel policy and practices, must have the busiest "meishi" in business. Not only does it open up, offering four sides of information, but contains a discount card for the many books he has written. A name card within a name card, so...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Oct 20, 2004

Designs for life

Whether you regard Sir Terence Conran as an ambitious visionary or a restless control freak, the fact is that this 73-year-old English designer and "lifestyle guru" stays forever busy. He designs chairs, sofas and vases; restaurants, bars and cafes; apartment rooms and hotels. He consults, he lectures...
EDITORIALS
Oct 16, 2004

Battle for fair competition

Yamato Transport Co., Japan's leading parcel-delivery service, and Japan Post, the provider of "Yu-pack" service, are locked in a legal battle. Yamato claims that JP is setting prices at an unfairly low level while enjoying tax-exempt status and other privileges. It is ironic that some of the basic problems,...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 16, 2004

Daiei chief to resign over rehab fiasco

Daiei Inc. President Kunio Takagi announced Friday he will step down next week to take responsibility for the ailing retailer's decision to ask a state-backed bailout agency to help in its rehabilitation.
JAPAN
Oct 7, 2004

Boeing lobbies Japan on proposed restart of arms sales

The head of Boeing Co.'s defense division on Wednesday welcomed recent indications that Japan is moving toward lifting its self-imposed arms export ban, saying it would help pave the way for the firm to use Japanese products worldwide.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Oct 2, 2004

Democrats Abroad: last chance to vote Bush out

Lauren Shannon is both a director and the front-of-house manager of Fujimamas, the highly successful restaurant bar and cafe in Jingumae, central Tokyo. An American citizen, she is also the vice chair of Democrats Abroad.
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 9, 2004

Why Japan prefers Bush

With the U.S. presidential election less than two months away, interest is building globally in the likely outcome and its impact on America's role in the world.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Aug 31, 2004

'I want to clear my name and the name of my country'

One morning Islam Mohamed Himu woke up to find the Japanese media camped outside his home, and plainclothes police officers banging on his front door.
BUSINESS
Aug 20, 2004

UFJ group to sell Aplus to HSBC for 100 billion

The UFJ group will sell Aplus Co., an ailing consumer finance affiliate, to the HSBC group of Britain for about 100 billion yen, according to sources.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 16, 2004

State debt no boon for financial markets

PRAGUE -- There is a palpable schizophrenia concerning public-sector debt. On one hand, a high proportion of public-sector debt relative to gross domestic product is seen as a warning sign that a country is suffering from macroeconomic imbalances. Similarly, a high ratio of government debt to total debt...
COMMUNITY
Aug 15, 2004

Lanvin cuts a new dash

Only a couple of years ago, no self-respecting fashionista would have been caught dead in Lanvin. A brand stuck in the past, it had plenty of pedigree -- but was about as chic as white socks and sandals.

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