Search - 2004

 
 
JAPAN
Jan 21, 2003

Ministry to subject teachers to performance-linked pay

The education ministry plans to evaluate public school teachers and reflect the assessments in pay raises and personnel moves nationwide beginning in fiscal 2007, government officials said.
JAPAN
Jan 20, 2003

Emission-trading trials planned

The Environment Ministry is planning a test trial to trade carbon dioxide emission rights in fiscal 2003, beginning April 1, ministry officials said Sunday.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Jan 20, 2003

Hike in consumption tax center of lobby's vision

The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) on Jan. 1 released a grand vision aimed at reviving Japan into a vigor- ous and attractive nation.
JAPAN
Jan 18, 2003

New Diet session opens up new questions

The Diet opens a 150-day session Monday amid widespread speculation in Nagata-cho that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi may dissolve the House of Representatives and call a snap election sometime this year -- possibly even during the session.
SOCCER / J. League
Jan 18, 2003

Tokyo Verdy signs Cameroon striker Mboma

Tokyo Verdy has signed Cameroon striker and former J. League star Patrick Mboma on a deal running through Jan. 31, 2004, officials of the first-division club said Thursday.
JAPAN
Jan 17, 2003

Heritage listing sought for holy sites

The government decided Thursday to nominate the holy grounds and pilgrimage path in the Kii Mountains that run through parts of Mie, Nara and Wakayama prefectures for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List, government officials said.
COMMENTARY
Jan 16, 2003

Japan plods path of isolation

HONOLULU — Japan continues to be the odd man out in Northeast Asia. While the other states in the region have been forging ties and building networks with each other — even North Korea — Japan has lagged behind. Tokyo could be marginalized in its own neighborhood. That risk has motivated Japanese...
BUSINESS
Jan 16, 2003

Subaru expects sales increases in '03

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., the maker of Subaru cars, unveiled on Wednesday a new 2003 worldwide sales target of 568,000 vehicles, up 2.4 percent from the year before.
BUSINESS
Jan 16, 2003

Daiei to sell stakes in four hotels

Struggling supermarket chain Daiei Inc. said Wednesday it will sell four hotels to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. of the United States for 45.4 billion yen. It also said it is also considering selling Fukuoka Dome.
JAPAN
Jan 15, 2003

Crested ibis may be freed into wilds of Sado by '07

After a comeback from the brink of extinction, Japan's crested ibis is being prepared to be reintroduced into the wild in four years, an official said.
EDITORIALS
Jan 15, 2003

Sidetracking the territorial issue

Japan and Russia remain far apart on the territorial dispute over the Northern Territories, a group of northern Pacific islands known to the Russians as the Southern Kurils. The meeting over the weekend in Moscow between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Russian President Vladimir Putin produced no...
MORE SPORTS
Jan 14, 2003

JBA set to sack national coach

The Japan Basketball Association will sack men's national head coach Kenji Yoshida after a string of poor results in international tournaments, basketball sources said Sunday.
JAPAN
Jan 14, 2003

Campaign cooperation elusive for DPJ, Liberals

The Democratic Party of Japan and the Liberal Party remain at odds over how they might pursue campaign cooperation in the next general election of the Lower House, as speculation continues to grow that it will be held sometime this year.
JAPAN
Jan 14, 2003

Moscow summit a ratings winner for Koizumi

The public approval rating for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi now stands at 54.6 percent, up 4.6 percentage points from December, according to the results of a Kyodo News survey released Monday.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jan 14, 2003

Pension posers, recycling visas, and a re-entry tip-off

New year, new faces Happy New Year from Tokyo. Congratulations to two new leaders in the community; Mr. Lance Lee, the new president of The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, and Mr. Larry Blagg, the new president of The Tokyo American Club. They don't come any better. We wish them the best. Also,...
JAPAN
Jan 13, 2003

State eyes cutting tax breaks for richer pensioners

The Finance Ministry might reduce tax breaks for pensioners in response to public criticism that the upper-class elderly are unduly benefiting, ministry sources said Sunday.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 12, 2003

Closest point to bridging an ethnic divide

PYLA, Cyprus -- Maksim Restaurant sits on the United Nations "green line," which separates the Greek and Turkish sides of this divided island, but it's a popular stop for members of both ethnic groups.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jan 12, 2003

It's no joke scripting a sitcom in Japan

When the six cast members of the hit American comedy series "Friends" recently agreed to a 10th season, no one was really surprised, even though the six had implied that the present season would be their last.
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Jan 11, 2003

Hawks want to trade Terry before he bolts; Isiah appologizes

NEW YORK -- Two weeks after replacing coach Lon Kruger with assistant Terry Stotts, the Hawks are trying to arrange a trade involving restricted free agent-to-be Jason Terry. According to sources, the Blazers and Heat are ardently interested in acquiring Atlanta's assist leader (7.4 per game) and its...
EDITORIALS
Jan 10, 2003

A shot in the arm or in the foot?

The economic package unveiled by U.S. President George W. Bush on Tuesday, coming on top of a huge tax cut announced last summer, is proof that the Bush administration is determined to revive the U.S. economy, which is still ailing from the collapse of a stock-market bubble. The stimulus plan is also...
BUSINESS
Jan 10, 2003

Asahi Mutual may abandon tieup plans

Struggling Asahi Mutual Life Insurance Co. may scrap plans to team up with nonlife insurer Millea Holdings Inc. in 2004, Asahi officials said Thursday.
JAPAN
Jan 10, 2003

DPJ, Liberal Party eye game plan

The Democratic Party of Japan and the Liberal Party will soon discuss electoral cooperation in a bid to avoid fielding overlapping candidates in some single-seat constituencies in the House of Representatives, DPJ leader Naoto Kan said Thursday.
MORE SPORTS
Jan 9, 2003

Takahashi taking life in stride

First of two parts
JAPAN
Jan 9, 2003

New system to facilitate closer flying

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to more than halve the minimum separation distance between commercial aircraft flying over the busy North Pacific and polar route between Japan and the U.S. East Coast.
JAPAN
Jan 8, 2003

Court-ordered property auctions moving to Net

Information on properties up for public auction, currently only accessible at individual courthouses arranging the sales, will be posted on the Internet, Supreme Court officials said Tuesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 8, 2003

Chinatown to be more tourist-friendly

Yokohama Chinatown, proud of its 140-year history as a symbol of the city since the early days of the port's opening, is gearing up for a makeover that it hopes will draw tourists back to its streets.
BUSINESS
Jan 8, 2003

Takenaka to keep close eye on bank restructuring moves

Financial Services Minister Heizo Takenaka said Tuesday he intends to keep a strict watch on the restructuring plans of major banks to ensure they produce favorable results in reviving the nation's banking sector.

Longform

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