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BUSINESS
Jun 16, 2001

Expedite bad-loan disposal: Koizumi

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Friday instructed Cabinet ministers in charge of the economy to accelerate banks' final disposal of nonperforming loans.
JAPAN
Jun 16, 2001

Missile plan, Okinawa top Tanaka trip agenda

Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka heads for Washington today with the U.S. missile defense plan and issues related to the U.S. military presence in Okinawa topping the agenda for talks to be held on Monday.
COMMENTARY
Jun 14, 2001

Solving Asia's nuclear-waste dilemma

Nuclear energy is news again. It has always been an issue for some people -- environmental activists and energy industry groups -- but nuclear power has largely faded from public consciousness, despite periodic incidents that highlighted fears of a catastrophic mishap at a nuclear power plant. The luxury...
BUSINESS
Jun 13, 2001

Shiokawa expects BOJ to conduct 'proper' action

Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa said Tuesday he expects the Bank of Japan to respond appropriately to current economic conditions but monetary policy remains in the realm of the central bank.
COMMENTARY
Jun 12, 2001

Cloudy outlook for Kim's Sunshine Policy

SEOUL -- One year after the historic Pyongyang summit, euphoria has disappeared on both sides of the 38th Parallel. Following the news of the past weeks, one gets the impression that with North-South relations having returned once more to a climate of confrontation and accusation, the two Koreas are...
CULTURE / Books
Jun 10, 2001

Publishing still in a slump; DaVinci stays popular with young

Last month, the National Tax agency made its annual announcement of those paying more than 10 million yen in income tax and, as always, the list reflected major trends of the times.
JAPAN
Jun 9, 2001

Eight dead in school stabbing spree

A knife-wielding man stormed into an elementary school Friday morning in Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture, and fatally stabbed eight children and wounded 15 others before he was subdued, police said.
BUSINESS
Jun 9, 2001

Economy to be rated down for fifth month

The government will downgrade its assessment of the economy for the fifth straight month in its report for June, Heizo Takenaka, minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, indicated Friday.
JAPAN
Jun 7, 2001

Tanaka's reported faux pas concern U.S., Yanai says

WASHINGTON — The U.S. has expressed strong concern over the confusion surrounding reports that Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka has raised doubts about missile defense and the Japan-U.S. alliance, the Japanese ambassador to the U.S. said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jun 5, 2001

Australian foreign minister denies saying he'd tattle on Tanaka

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer on Monday denied news reports that he told the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Ryutaro Hashimoto he would convey Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka's remarks over the missile defense plan to the United States.
JAPAN
Jun 5, 2001

Glass-maker Hoya aiding nuclear arms facility, U.S. scientist says

A U.S. scientist and former employee of a U.S. Energy Department institute, to which Japanese glass maker Hoya Corp. ships materials, says the institute is conducting nuclear weapons research.
JAPAN
Jun 4, 2001

Group calls for education of illegals' kids

OSAKA — Members of an Osaka group supporting children of illegal immigrants in Japan will deliver to the United Nations letters from children facing deportation with their parents but who wish to remain in Japan to continue their studies, group members said.
JAPAN
May 29, 2001

Koizumi plans to boost PR after town votes no on MOX

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Monday the government will have to work harder to win public support for a plan to burn plutonium-uranium mixed oxide fuel in Japan's nuclear plants, following the rejection in a plebiscite Sunday of the use of MOX fuel in Kariwa, Niigata Prefecture.
JAPAN
May 26, 2001

New panel proposal is criticized as soft on violations by state

Concern over freedom of the press has been the media's main focus in covering a government panel's proposal to launch an independent human rights watchdog, while other key aspects have been largely ignored.
JAPAN
May 26, 2001

Koizumi, coalition to be tested in July

Although Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his Cabinet continue to enjoy record-high public approval ratings, the real test for the new administration will come in the July House of Councilors election.
BUSINESS
May 25, 2001

Japan preparing to discuss import quotas with China

The government is preparing to hold talks with China on the emergency import restrictions imposed on three agricultural products, a senior trade ministry official said Thursday.
JAPAN
May 21, 2001

Tanaka hit for alleged remarks on Lee's visa

Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka came under fire over the weekend from both her ruling Liberal Democratic Party colleagues and opposition leaders over allegations that she told China earlier this month that Japan will not again issue an entry visa to former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui.
EDITORIALS
May 20, 2001

Congratulations -- and questions

There was barely a pause after the good news of the pregnancy of the Crown Princess was announced before widespread discussion broke out on whether the law should be changed to allow a woman to succeed to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
May 20, 2001

Time to get back to the garden

Can it really be the season for beer gardens again already? Well, not really. But what's the point in waiting, when there are so many perfectly fine evenings at this time of year. Seize the night, we say. And, anyway, we were impatient to revisit our longtime favorite summer drinking spot, the wonderful...
JAPAN
May 19, 2001

LDP sees nuclear as a core source of power

Nuclear power is regarded virtually as a core energy source in a bill for Japan's basic law on energy being prepared by Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers, according to the full text obtained by Kyodo News.
JAPAN
May 18, 2001

Koizumi rejects Beijing's demand for text revision

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Thursday rejected China's demand to revise a controversial junior high school history textbook, but said he will work to improve ties with Beijing.
EDITORIALS
May 14, 2001

Looking history in the face

For the United States, the Vietnam War is a war that will never go away. This has again been made clear by the public confession of former U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey and the continuing commentaries on the matter, some expressing outrage and anguish and others trying to explain what seems almost impossible...
BUSINESS
May 9, 2001

Shiokawa rules out leap to austerity

Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa said Tuesday that he will strive to carry out the two-step approach to fiscal reform unveiled this week by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, although he ruled out an immediate shift to belt-tightening policies that could hurt the fragile economy.
JAPAN
May 9, 2001

Mystery man's passport used three times in Japan

The forged passport used in a recent illegal entry attempt by a man believed to be the eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il had been used three times before to successfully enter Japan, Justice Minister Mayumi Moriyama said Tuesday.
EDITORIALS
May 6, 2001

Pressing for freedom

Last Thursday was World Press Freedom Day. Most people probably missed it here in Japan, where Thursday was also Constitution Day, part of the mass timeout we call Golden Week. (They probably didn't spend much time thinking about the Constitution, either, or the coincidence that freedom of the press...

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