Search - 2004

 
 
JAPAN
Jun 28, 2002

New pollution-reduction plan set up

Senior ministry officials involved with antipollution policy agreed on a new pollutant reduction plan Thursday for Japan's three most contaminated bodies of water, the Environment Ministry said.
BUSINESS
Jun 27, 2002

Mitsubishi Heavy develops reusable polymer screw

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. said Wednesday it has developed a recyclable polymer screw that "remembers" its original shape and becomes smooth when heated, allowing it to be easily removed from household electric appliances.
SOCCER / THE BALD TRUTH
Jun 25, 2002

Sour grapes do injustice to South Korea

Who on earth would have predicted a World Cup semifinal between South Korea and Germany this time last month?
BUSINESS
Jun 25, 2002

Snow, Lotte forge deal to sell ice cream

Struggling dairy products maker Snow Brand Milk Products Co. said Monday it has signed an agreement with confectioner Lotte Co. to jointly set up a firm to manufacture and sell ice cream.
JAPAN
Jun 25, 2002

In danger of becoming white elephants

There is a growing trend among prefectural governments to distance themselves from Kasumigaseki, the seat of the nation's bureaucracy, as moves accelerate to decentralize the national government and a recent ban, issued in response to a series of scandals, prevents lawmakers from wining and dining ministry...
JAPAN
Jun 21, 2002

Most national universities find reform plan confusing

Administrators at 81 out of 90 public universities in Japan are confused by a government plan to turn national universities into independent administrative entities in fiscal 2004, according to a recent survey by the Japan Association of National Universities.
BUSINESS
Jun 20, 2002

S&P upgrades Bpi rating on JAS

Standard & Poor's Corp. said Wednesday it has upgraded its Bpi rating on Japan Air System to B-plus-pi, while maintaining the BB long-term rating on Japan Airlines, with which JAS will integrate its operations.
COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE
Jun 20, 2002

Politics of homeland security

WASHINGTON -- The specter of terrorism that has hung over America since Sept. 11 has created an enormous public demand for security. Homeland security has become a massive governmental program, a political issue, a growth industry, a rationale for all sorts of governmental spending and constitutional...
BASEBALL / MLB
Jun 19, 2002

PL directors OK Fighters' move

The Pacific League's board of directors on Tuesday approved the move of the Nippon Ham Fighters to Hokkaido for the 2004 season when the team will take up residence at the Sapporo Dome and be known as the "Sapporo Nippon Ham Fighters."
JAPAN
Jun 15, 2002

New Kansai runway faces delay

The transport ministry on Friday sharply lowered its forecast for passenger demand at Kansai International Airport off Osaka, indicating that the scheduled opening of a second runway in 2007 could be delayed.
BUSINESS
Jun 12, 2002

Panel wants 2003 budget to focus on information technology, aging society

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy will unveil a new policy blueprint later this month calling on the government to focus on information technology and the aging of society in the fiscal 2003 budget, sources said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jun 9, 2002

Baby numbers hit all-time low in 2001

The number of babies born in 2001 was a record low 1.17 million, down 20,000 from 2000, a Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry survey found.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jun 7, 2002

Fighters to play 15 games in Tokyo

The Nippon Ham Fighters, who are planning a move to Sapporo in 2004, will play about 15 games at the Tokyo Dome after relocating in Hokkaido to ensure that Pacific League games are played in Tokyo, baseball sources said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Jun 7, 2002

Japan, U.S. to work on patent deal

The Japanese and U.S. patent offices have reached a basic accord aimed at reducing duplication in their work, Japanese patent officials said Wednesday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jun 7, 2002

Igawa's three-hitter sinks Carp

Hanshin southpaw Kei Igawa threw a three-hitter and notched his Central League-leading eighth win Thursday as the Tigers roared past the Hiroshima Carp 7-0 at the Osaka Dome.
BUSINESS
Jun 6, 2002

Business sentiment in minus territory but improving

Business sentiment for the current quarter improved in the latest government survey, released Wednesday, although companies whose conditions had deteriorated still outnumbered those whose had improved.
BUSINESS
Jun 3, 2002

Will next-generation autos be in time to save Earth?

U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said that today 700 million cars navigate the industrialized world. He projected there will be 3.5 billion cars in 50 years.
BUSINESS
May 31, 2002

'Shinkin' banks get national network back online

The nationwide online network for "shinkin" credit, savings and loans banks resumed normal operations at 8 a.m. Thursday after a computer problem that crippled the system the previous day was fixed, a shinkin bank information center said.
BUSINESS
May 31, 2002

Toshiba tips hand by raising stake in U.S. Audiovox unit

Electrical machinery maker Toshiba Corp. said Thursday it has raised its stake in U.S. wireless product distributor Audiovox Communications Corp. as a step toward expanding its mobile phone business in the North American market.
EDITORIALS
May 29, 2002

The odd couple's African tour

U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and Irish rock singer Bono have just concluded a four-nation tour of Africa. During their visit to Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Ethiopia, the two men studied ways to help the world's poorest continent. They bring two very different approaches to this pressing problem....
BUSINESS
May 28, 2002

Ishikawajima, Mitsui get petroleum plant order

Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. and Mitsui & Co. said Monday they have obtained an order to build a plant designed to liquefy and store petroleum gas for U.S. oil firm ChevronTexaco Corp.
MORE SPORTS
May 28, 2002

Japan's cricketers get a lesson from a master

For those with no knowledge of the game of cricket --imagine a player with Ichiro Suzuki's eye for the ball, speed and throwing arm, throw in Barry Bonds' power and Carl Ripken Jr.'s mental and physical toughness and you will come up with Dean Mervyn Jones. Jones was arguably the most popular cricketer...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST
May 26, 2002

Waxing monstrously about the first Japanese I ever got to know

The first Japanese I fell in love with was a little taller than my wife.
BUSINESS
May 22, 2002

Matsushita, Toray to build plasma displays

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and Toray Industries Inc. said Tuesday they will build a second domestic plant to manufacture plasma display panels to push their joint global PDP output above 1.5 million units a year.
BUSINESS
May 22, 2002

Toshiba creates slim, flexible LCD

Toshiba Corp. said Tuesday it has developed what it claims is the world's first large flexible liquid crystal display, paving the way for showing images on curved screens and foldable LCDs.
Japan Times
JAPAN / KANSAI BEAT
May 21, 2002

High-flying Tigers pitch for orphans

NISHINOMIYA, Hyogo Pref. -- With the Hanshin Tigers having their best start in years this season, the pride of the Kansai area has been the center of public and media attention.
BUSINESS
May 18, 2002

Yasuda in final talks on tieup with Saison

Yasuda Fire & Marine Insurance Co., the nation's third-largest nonlife insurer in terms of assets, is in final talks to turn Saison Automobile & Fire Insurance Co. into an affiliate, Yasuda Marine said Friday.
BUSINESS
May 16, 2002

Sharp to form AC tieup in Egypt

OSAKA -- Sharp Corp. will form a technology tieup with an Egyptian company to produce air conditioners for sale in the Middle East and Africa, Sharp officials said Wednesday.

Longform

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