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JAPAN
Sep 24, 2000

Diesel linked to birth defects in mice

A group of Japanese researchers said they have recorded abnormalities in electrocardiograms and increased incidents of miscarriages in mice that breathed in harmful particles present in diesel-fuel exhaust fumes.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Sep 24, 2000

Wild and woolly times skiing in New Zealand

I recently made a visit to New Zealand. I know what you're thinking -- SHEEP! Yes, there were lots of sheep. However, their numbers have dwindled recently due to the increase of synthetics instead of wool for clothing manufacturing. I'm not sure where synthetic fibers come from. My guess is lemmings....
CULTURE / Art
Sep 24, 2000

Impressions made in paper take form

When the semioticist Roland Barthes came to Japan, he decided to do what many foreigners do, which is to base his impressions of Japan on exactly that, his impressions. His book "The Empire of Signs" is ostensibly about Japan, but the author acknowledged (with no shame) that it actually was a collection...
CULTURE / Art
Sep 24, 2000

The powerful influence of Japan

Western artists of the mid-19th century were both entranced and distracted by their turbulent times. Many sought fresh ways to see the world around them, "savoir voir" as distinct from "savoir faire."
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 24, 2000

Perryman to quit S-Pulse

Shimizu S-Pulse manager Steve Perryman is to leave the club at the end of the current season.
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 24, 2000

Debt relief key to poor nations' progress

NEW YORK -- A pledge by wealthy nations, to be announced officially this week in Prague, to provide substantial economic aid to poor nations, is an important step in the right direction. To be truly effective, however, economic aid should be part of a more general aid package -- including cancellation...
COMMENTARY / THE VIEW FROM MOSCOW
Sep 24, 2000

From lady killer to whale protector

So Japanese fishermen are banned from U.S waters. Whales rejoice, environmentalists celebrate, Texas Gov. George W. Bush loses a point, U.S., President Bill Clinton drafts a chapter for his memoir called "After Monica: Whales!", I grieve.
EDITORIALS
Sep 23, 2000

Mr. Estrada takes the offensive

After nearly six months of fruitless negotiations, Philippine President Joseph Estrada has ordered military action to free kidnap victims and arrest their captors. Mr. Estrada's patience has run out. But if he thinks the army can fix what ails the southern Philippines, he is mistaken. Some of the kidnappers...
BUSINESS
Sep 23, 2000

NTT East, West mull further workforce cuts

NTT East Corp. and NTT West Corp. are contemplating deeper workforce "cuts" because the popularity of mobile phones and a future obligation to reduce the fees it charges other carriers are eating into their profitability, officials said Friday.
JAPAN
Sep 23, 2000

High level of carcinogen found at old Nissan plant

A concentration of trichloroethylene 1,600 times above the national environmental standard has been detected at the site of a former Nissan Motors Co. plant in Tokyo's Suginami Ward, company officials said Friday.
COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE
Sep 23, 2000

The tide turns and Gore seizes the moment

In political campaigns, when things go well, they really roll. When things sour, nothing seems to work.
JAPAN
Sep 22, 2000

State admits CJD-tainted dura mater was imported

Contradicting its previous claims, the government has admitted that Japan probably imported German medical products that reportedly caused Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease even after the United States had warned of the danger in 1987.
JAPAN
Sep 21, 2000

Mori targets damage control, economic stimulus in session

During the extra Diet session convening today, Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori hopes to fix the damage done to his ruling bloc by recent money scandals and boost the fragile economic recovery with a stimulus package worth more than 10 trillion yen, including 4 trillion yen in new spending.
BUSINESS
Sep 21, 2000

Government plans to subsidize computer classes

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will consider making budget appropriations in fiscal 2000 to subsidize school fees for people who wish to learn how to operate personal computers, the party's top policymaker said Wednesday.
COMMUNITY
Sep 21, 2000

Hanae Mori's gems shine brightly

Let's begin with the keywords: graceful, feminine, sharp, inspired.
JAPAN
Sep 20, 2000

Kawada's mother to run for Lower House seat

Human rights activist Etsuko Kawada, the mother of an outspoken HIV-infected man who contracted the virus through tainted blood coagulants, announced Tuesday her decision to run for the House of Representatives seat of Joji Yamamoto in the Oct. 22 by-election in Tokyo.
BUSINESS
Sep 20, 2000

10 trillion yen urged for extra budget

Ruling coalition policymakers on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori to draw up a supplementary budget totaling more than 10 trillion yen, including some 3.9 trillion yen to be taken from state coffers for direct fiscal spending.
BUSINESS
Sep 20, 2000

Bill calls for advanced telecom network

A bill on information technology calls on Japan to build "the world's most sophisticated computerized telecommunications network" so that IT powers the nation's economic growth, government sources said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Sep 20, 2000

Tokyo Motor Show set for Oct. 31

About 130 domestic and foreign automakers and auto parts manufacturers will exhibit over 260 buses, trucks and vans and the latest components at the 34th Tokyo Motor Show, which will focus on commercial vehicles, its organizing association said Tuesday.
EDITORIALS
Sep 20, 2000

Changes in crime -- and punishment

Profound changes in the way Japan dispenses criminal justice are either forthcoming or under consideration. Many people are ready to accept changes, even to welcome some of them, given the rising tide of serious crimes by minors and an apparent breakdown in police discipline. Calls to ensure the rights...
LIFE / Travel
Sep 20, 2000

The night train to Nha Trang

A few minutes before dawn on the night train to Nha Trang I awake to the sound of a nonstop diesel speeding past in the opposite direction. It hurtles past just inches away from the open windows of our own side-tracked train, sending us rocking nearly out of our bunks.
LIFE / Travel / NATURE TRAVEL
Sep 20, 2000

The flawed forests of Cuc Phuong

As many Americans have no doubt already forgotten, and as some will never forget, Vietnam was visited not just by their flag's red, white and blue but also by Agents Orange, White and Blue; toxic herbicides named after the color of their containers. A total of 72 million poisonous liters were dumped...
BUSINESS
Sep 19, 2000

Sogo shuts 11-year-old Tama store

Failed department store chain Sogo Co.'s Tama store in western Tokyo closed its doors for the last time Sunday evening, ending its 11-year history.
JAPAN
Sep 19, 2000

South Korea's Kim urges talks between North's Kim and Mori

SEOUL -- South Korean President Kim Dae Jung said Monday that direct talks between Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il are necessary to break the ice in normalization talks and that he is willing to support them, Japanese officials said.
BUSINESS
Sep 19, 2000

Workers less optimistic on economy

The Economic Planning Agency said Monday that its index measuring workers' views on the current status of the economy showed they were more pessimistic in August than three months ago.

Longform

Atsuyoshi Koike, the president and CEO of Rapidus, says there is a “sense of urgency” when it comes to Japan’s efforts in manufacturing semiconductors. “We have to make sure we are successful,” he says.
Atsuyoshi Koike’s big game: Fourth down and 2 nanometers to go