Search - 2004

 
 
COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE
Jun 23, 2001

U.S. Democrats take control

Despite the confusion surrounding the changing of power in the Senate, things are still getting done in Washington. The Senate recently passed the education bill, a major item from the agenda of President George W. Bush, and sent it on to conference with the House of Representatives that had already...
JAPAN
Jun 22, 2001

Cooperation critical to reform of legal system, Yasuoka says

The key to successfully overhauling the nation's legal system lies in the extent to which the nation's top judicial circles can work with each other toward that goal, according to former Justice Minister Okiharu Yasuoka.
BUSINESS
Jun 21, 2001

Diet paves way for public entities reform

The Diet on Wednesday enacted a law aimed at reforming public corporations and government-authorized nonprofit bodies.
JAPAN
Jun 14, 2001

Upper House passes stiffer driving rules

The House of Councilors on Wednesday approved amendments to the Road Traffic Law that include heavier penalties and an extension of the validity of driver's licenses to five years from the current three.
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 3, 2001

'Miyadaiku' carpenter laments loss of traditional knowledge

HOFU, Yamaguchi Pref. — Shoji Matsuura communicates with the dead.
JAPAN
May 31, 2001

Time ripe for collective defense: panelists

Panelists at a symposium on Japan-U.S. relations held in Tokyo this week agreed that Japan should lift its ban on engaging in collective defense as both nations seek to strengthen security ties.
BUSINESS
May 30, 2001

Tokio Marine's group pretax profit surges 58.9%

Tokio Marine & Fire Insurance Co. said Tuesday its group pretax profit for the 2000 business year surged 58.9 percent to 85.45 billion yen.
BUSINESS
May 29, 2001

Asahi Mutual plans out refinancing

Asahi Mutual Life Insurance Co. plans to refinance some 50 billion yen in loans from several financial institutions, including Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, to keep its foundation fund unchanged at 100 billion yen, company officials said Monday.
BUSINESS
May 28, 2001

Isuzu plans to cut 9,000 jobs by 2004

Isuzu Motors Ltd. plans to cut costs by slashing 9,000 jobs over the next three years, reducing its 38,000-strong group workforce by 25 percent, company sources said.
JAPAN
May 27, 2001

Citizens to get say in road use

The Transport Ministry has decided to reflect local views in the use of roads near railway stations and shopping streets, according to ministry officials.
JAPAN
May 26, 2001

Magnitude 8.1 earthquake possible along Nagano fault line, panel warns

Part of central Japan could suffer a magnitude 8.1 earthquake if a temblor occurs near the Itoi River-Shizuoka fault line, a government panel said in a report Friday.
BUSINESS
May 26, 2001

Hiranuma outlines plan to boost jobs, markets

Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Takeo Hiranuma proposed a 15-point plan Friday to increase jobs and markets, including optimizing research outcomes at universities to create business opportunities in the private sector.
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 24, 2001

Matsushita Electric allies with Hitachi

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and Hitachi Ltd. formally announced Wednesday an alliance to promote businesses centering on information services and home appliances.
BUSINESS
May 24, 2001

Mitsui hopes for listing on NYSE

Mitsui & Co. said Wednesday it will try to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange as early as next year as part of its new three-year management plan.
BUSINESS
May 22, 2001

LDP to extend bad-debt buying

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party decided Monday to allow the state-run Resolution and Collection Corp. to continue buying bad debt from banks for another three years, until the end of March 2004, LDP officials said.
BUSINESS
May 22, 2001

Nissan Diesel to receive engines from rival Hino

In a bid to cut costs and meet stricter environmental standards, Nissan Diesel Motor Co. announced Monday it will buy diesel engines for midsize trucks from Hino Motors Ltd. starting in 2004.
JAPAN
May 22, 2001

Judicial reform panel calls for more lawyers, jury system, faster trials

The Judicial Reform Council released on Monday a draft of its final report on structural legal reforms, calling for more lawyers and better public access to them, more public participation in the judiciary, and juries whose decisions would be nonbinding.
JAPAN
May 19, 2001

Slovenian envoy calls for investment

The top Slovenian envoy to Japan called Friday for the opening of a Japanese Embassy in the European country to help promote Japanese investment and bilateral exchanges.
BUSINESS
May 18, 2001

Tepco, three banks buy into Recruit

Tokyo Electric Power Co. and three Japanese banks bought stakes in Recruit Co., a labor market publishing and information conglomerate, in late March, industry sources said Thursday.
JAPAN / STAGING A COMEBACK
May 16, 2001

Can 'e-Japan' make leap from paper to reality?

The economic slump over the past decade has crushed Japan's confidence and raised fundamental questions about the government's ability to turn things around.
JAPAN
May 13, 2001

Maglev link between Osaka, Tokyo starts to move forward

A plan to operate magnetically levitated -- or maglev -- trains between Tokyo and Osaka in one hour at speeds of up to 500 kph is moving ahead, with the government starting a feasibility study.
BUSINESS
May 11, 2001

Omron unveils earnings targets

KYOTO -- Omron Corp., a major automated control equipment manufacturer, said Thursday it intends to raise return on equity to 10 percent from the current 6.7 percent through sales of 750 billion yen and pretax profits of 80 billion yen by the end of fiscal 2004.
COMMENTARY / World
May 11, 2001

Draconian arrests boost Malaysian opposition's message of change

PENANG, Malaysia -- A second-echelon leadership has emerged within Malaysia's prominent opposition party, Keadilan, to pursue its fight for justice after eight top party leaders were detained by police.
BUSINESS
May 10, 2001

'Green' car panel makes debut

The government on Wednesday established and held the first meeting of a panel to craft recommendations for promoting development and use of environmentally friendly vehicles.
BUSINESS
May 10, 2001

Kawasaki Heavy wins Embraer deal

Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. said Wednesday it has struck a basic agreement with Brazilian aircraft makerEmbraer SA to develop and manufacture the main wings of Embraer's next-generation small jets.
JAPAN
May 2, 2001

NPO tackles cybercrime as government drags its feet

A group of lawyers, scholars and housewives has launched a nonprofit organization to help victims of libel, fraud and other problems that have seen a sharp increase on the Internet.

Longform

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