Search - 2004

 
 
BUSINESS
Feb 28, 2003

JAS to postpone launch of cargo handling unit

Japan Airlines System Corp. plans to postpone its cargo operation spinoff eyed for April 2004 as the move would make it difficult for the carrier to effectively allocate crews for the firm's overall operations, company sources said Thursday.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 23, 2003

As U.N. dithers, Australian divide grows

SYDNEY -- A United Nations resolution of the Iraq crisis cannot come too soon for Australia. Each day of delay gnaws at the easygoing tolerance that marks the Australian lifestyle.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 19, 2003

It's no longer just the economy, stupid

WASHINGTON -- In recent weeks, as often in the past, many key Democrats have contributed importantly to American national-security debates. They have been trying to increase funding for homeland security efforts, prodding President George W. Bush to remain multilateral in his approach to Iraq even as...
SOCCER / J. League
Feb 18, 2003

Japan to face Portugal

Japan to face Portugal Japan will likely play EURO 2004 host Portugal at home in June and away in October as a part of its build-up program under national team coach Zico, the Japan Football Association announced Monday in Tokyo.
EDITORIALS
Feb 17, 2003

Revival of the 'twin deficit' threat

A budget crisis is returning to the United States. Along with worsening trade deficits, record budget shortfalls projected for the fiscal year 2003 and beyond are reviving a nightmare threat of "twin deficits." It is worrisome for global growth and security that the world's only military and economic...
JAPAN
Feb 5, 2003

Japan seeks international talks on management of KEDO

Japan wants international talks on an energy project for North Korea because the U.S. has set no money aside for it for fiscal 2004 due to the nuclear standoff with Pyongyang, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Tuesday.
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Jan 31, 2003

Perryman says Toda has the pedigree for the Premiership

LONDON -- It has been a mixed week for Japan in the Premiership. One player has arrived, one is on his way back from injury while the former national coach was beaten to the Republic of Ireland job by someone few people outside Ireland had ever heard of.
BUSINESS
Jan 28, 2003

Tepco plans to enter gas wholesaling via Tokyo Gas pipelines

The Tokyo Electric Power Co. plans to enter natural gas wholesaling in fiscal 2004 by leasing pipelines owned by Tokyo Gas Co., Tepco sources said Monday.
EDITORIALS
Jan 23, 2003

Forge national consensus on taxes

One year ago the government published a five-year budget projection showing how it expected to make ends meet in fiscal 2002-06. Now, the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, chaired by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, has revised the plan -- downward. The basic picture is that the budget deficit...
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 13, 2003

Britain's far right poses a rising threat

BRUSSELS -- The press in England has had a field day over the past 20 years chronicling the rise of the Continent's far right. The first chance came in the early 1980s with the emergence of France's National Front led by Jean-Marie Le Pen, a man who believes the Americans built the gas chambers in the...
BUSINESS
Jan 11, 2003

Asahi Mutual cans Millea tieup plans

Struggling Asahi Mutual Life Insurance Co. announced Friday it has scrapped plans to team up with the Millea Insurance Group, saying it may look for another partner.
COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE
Jan 9, 2003

Democratic candidates burst out of the blocks

WASHINGTON -- Democratic presidential candidates got the best Christmas present possible from former Vice President Al Gore when he opted to stay out of the 2004 presidential elections. The decision made him a winner as well. It could not have been an easy choice, but it was sound and courageous.
EDITORIALS
Jan 1, 2003

Tumultuous politics await

A big question hangs over Japanese politics in 2003: Will a snap general election be held? The key to the question is held by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who has the prerogative of dissolving the Lower House. Mr. Koizumi, who is also president of the Liberal Democratic Party, faces a party presidential...
COMMENTARY
Dec 31, 2002

Koizumi losing ability to lead

The most striking impression about 2002 is that the world has become increasingly insecure. When two jetliners hijacked by suicide terrorists crashed into New York's World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, old-fashioned big-power games ended and a new struggle between civilized society and international...
BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 4, 2002

Nagashima to manage Japan squad in Athens

Former Yomiuri Giants skipper Shigeo Nagashima was named manager of the Japanese national baseball team on Monday in the run-up to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
BUSINESS
Nov 30, 2002

BOJ starts buying commercial banks' shareholdings

The Bank of Japan began buying shares held by banks Friday, taking on increased risk in a bid to help banks unwind cross-held shareholdings with borrowers.
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Nov 22, 2002

Reduce friendly matches, not Champions League games

LONDON -- Tord Grip, the assistant to England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, once sat next to a supporter on a plane bound for a game in Germany. The fan remarked to the Swede who watches at least three games each week at home and abroad: "You must have lots of air miles."
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 6, 2002

Hillman takes Fighters' helm

Anyone hoping the Nippon Ham Fighters' new American manager will shake things up may be in for a disappointment.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 7, 2002

EU needs a common purpose

LONDON -- Since the original European Common Market was founded in the mid-1950s, the Continent sought a common economic role, to be followed by growing political integration. Now, there is general agreement on the first count that a new institutional framework is needed to give the community more political...
EDITORIALS
Aug 17, 2002

Indonesia's new order?

Indonesia has just concluded its annual legislative session by adopting reforms that could transform the nation's politics. During its two-week session, the People's Consultative Assembly agreed to ease the military out of politics and to let voters directly elect the president. These are potentially...
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Aug 6, 2002

Tussling over a stolen treasure

ATHENS -- In 1801, Thomas Bruce, the seventh Earl of Elgin and British ambassador to Constantinople, hit upon what he considered a splendid idea.
EDITORIALS
Jul 28, 2002

End to Europe's 'last red terrorists'?

A botched bomb attack appears to have unraveled one of the most mysterious terrorist organizations in Europe. The Nov. 17 group had operated with impunity in Greece for 27 years; it seemed impenetrable and untraceable. But the premature detonation of a bomb last month gave police the leads they needed...
BUSINESS
Jul 20, 2002

Diet enacts bills to liquidate JNOC, scale back state's hand in oil business

The Diet enacted legislation Friday to dissolve the debt-ridden Japan National Oil Corp. in 2005 and reshuffle the nation's oil-exploration and petroleum-stockpiling policies.
BUSINESS
Jul 4, 2002

Major life insurers stress soundness of their finances

Four of the nation's leading life insurance companies emphasized Wednesday the soundness of their finances during annual meetings of their representative policyholders.
COMMENTARY / WASHINGTON UPDATE
Jun 10, 2002

Tariff decisions proving costly for Bush

WASHINGTON -- I cannot help but remind everyone that I thought President George W. Bush made a bonehead decision when he imposed the quotas on imported steel a couple of months ago. I said it was a mistake for him politically, both domestically and internationally. I said it would destroy his hopes of...
JAPAN
Jun 1, 2002

Upper House OKs laws in support of Kyoto pact

The House of Councilors on Friday approved statutes designed to put Japan on the path to meet its legally binding international obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, also given the legislative stamp of approval the same day.
JAPAN
May 19, 2002

Japan rethinks plan for permanent U.N. Security Council seat

In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, Japan has been forced to review its diplomatic strategy for gaining a long-coveted permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

Longform

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