Search - 2004

 
 
JAPAN
Nov 7, 2002

Intruder who threatened maid avoids prison

A 66-year-old man was handed a suspended one-year prison term Wednesday for entering the home of former Yomiuri Giants manager Shigeo Nagashima and threatening a maid with a knife.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Nov 7, 2002

Zico reveals his plans for Japanese team

In an exclusive interview with The Japan Times, Brazilian soccer legend and newly appointed Japan national team coach Zico aired his views on his philosophy and plans for the future of Japanese soccer.
BUSINESS
Nov 6, 2002

No growth without reforms, report says

Persistent deflation and massive bad loans in the nation's banking system have weakened Japan's economy and no improvement will be seen until structural reforms are implemented, according to an annual government white paper released Tuesday.
JAPAN
Nov 6, 2002

Defense chief gives missile program with U.S. push toward development

Defense Agency chief Shigeru Ishiba said Tuesday he hopes to see a bilateral missile defense initiative with the United States enter the development phase soon.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 5, 2002

Welcome weapons cutbacks

WASHINGTON -- According to recent reports, Pentagon officials are considering cuts in several weapons programs as they develop their 2004 budget proposal. If defense spending is to be kept within reasonable bounds, these are exactly the sorts of reductions that will be required.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 4, 2002

Narita funds to go to Kansai airport

The government will reduce its capital in a new special-purpose company that will operate Narita airport in order to use the money for Kansai International Airport Co., it was learned Sunday.
CULTURE / Music
Nov 3, 2002

Ashkenazy signed to direct NHK Symphony Orchestra

Pianist and conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy has signed a contract to serve as musical director for the NHK Symphony Orchestra for three years, starting September 2004.
BUSINESS
Nov 1, 2002

Sumitomo posts 5.4% rise in profit

Trading house Sumitomo Corp. said Thursday its group net profit in the first half to Sept. 30 grew 5.4 percent to 21.41 billion yen, despite sales sinking 5.5 percent to 4.57 trillion yen.
COMMENTARY
Oct 29, 2002

Liberalize farm trade now

LONDON -- Reform of the European Common Agricultural Policy, or CAP, is essential if the European Union's expenditures are to be contained and remain acceptable to European voters as a whole. This summer the European Commission floated some proposals for changes designed not to reduce the overall burden...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Oct 27, 2002

Grazing between East and West

The dining-bar is a strange concept, one that is quite peculiar to Japan. Unlike at regular bars, food is a central part of the experience -- not just beer nuts, but real sustenance. Unlike a proper restaurant, though, you are not expected to order a whole meal from starter through to main course and...
EDITORIALS
Oct 23, 2002

Ireland gives the EU a go-ahead

I f at first you don't succeed, try again. That appears to have been the thinking of Irish politicians in their battle to secure public endorsement of the Nice Treaty, which provides the ground rules for expanding the European Union. Last weekend, a second ballot won popular support. Ireland's change...
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Oct 11, 2002

Irish media not too Keane on McCarthy

LONDON -- It is difficult to imagine a coach can be under pressure after his team made a positive impression at the World Cup finals, has lost only three of its last 27 games and just seven of 41 competitive matches during his 6 1/2 years in charge.
CULTURE / Stage
Oct 6, 2002

Yukio Ninagawa: visionary player on the world's stage

Internationally acclaimed theater director Yukio Ninagawa has staged countless plays in Japan, elsewhere in Asia, and in the United States and Europe.
MORE SPORTS
Oct 4, 2002

Classy Chang leaves Japan smiling

As Michael Chang vividly recalls each memory of Japan, he sounds more like a grandfather telling family tales than the former No. 2 tennis player in the world. The good old days of the past flashed back to him, piece by piece, as Chang began talking as if this were his curtain call on this Asian island....
BUSINESS
Sep 28, 2002

Kenwood eyes radical debt-for-equity swap by year's end

Tokyo-based Kenwood Co. said Friday it will conduct a 25 billion yen debt-for-equity swap to drag itself out of negative net worth.
JAPAN
Sep 28, 2002

Cabinet reshuffle to focus on reform

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said he will reshuffle his Cabinet on Monday in line with a new policy agenda aimed at accelerating structural reforms.
COMMENTARY
Sep 25, 2002

Strengthen Sino-Japanese ties

Japan and China will soon observe the 30th anniversary of their normalization of relations, which took place Sept. 29, 1972. The bilateral relationship was placed on a solid foundation with the conclusion of a treaty of peace and friendship in 1978. Economic relations have since dramatically expanded....
EDITORIALS
Sep 25, 2002

Mr. Hatoyama's next challenge

Mr Yukio Hatoyama, re-elected Monday to his third term as head of the Democratic Party of Japan, faces a daunting challenge: leading the country's largest opposition party to victory in the next legislative election for the influential Lower House. Mr. Hatoyama retained the post in a close runoff with...
BUSINESS
Sep 24, 2002

Rival DVD formats jockey for position

Speculation is rampant these days over which DVD format will follow the path of the Betamax.
BUSINESS
Sep 24, 2002

Construction on a roll in central Tokyo

The newly rebuilt Marunouchi Building symbolizes the huge transformation that is taking place in the hub of corporate business activity in the capital.
COMMENTARY
Sep 22, 2002

Al Gore's amnesia on abuse of liberties

WASHINGTON -- Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore is apparently on the hunt for votes in the 2004 presidential race. He criticized the Bush administration on just about every ground at a recent dinner hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus. The greatest moment of unintended hilarity came when he said...
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Sep 20, 2002

Ronaldo's greed becoming legend indeed

LONDON -- Next Wednesday -- thighs, hamstrings, knees and transfer request permitting -- Ronaldo will make his belated debut for Real Madrid when the European Champions play Belgium's KRC Genk in a Champions League tie at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
BUSINESS
Sep 19, 2002

BOJ eyes unprecedented purchase of stocks from ailing banks

In a surprise break with market principles, the Bank of Japan said Wednesday that it is considering purchasing stocks held by the nation's most troubled banks, effectively bolstering their financial standing and stock prices at its own expense.
JAPAN
Sep 17, 2002

'70 Expo Osaka museum relocation stirs forum to mull site's future use

OSAKA -- The planned relocation to central Osaka of the National Museum of Art from the Expo '70 Commemoration Park in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, has drawn no public protest, but for some people it stirs deep emotions about one of their most memorable events in decades.

Longform

Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.