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JAPAN
Jan 25, 2006

Shoppers to be charged for bags possibly starting in 2007

Councils under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Environment Ministry have approved a report proposing that shoppers be charged for plastic or paper bags distributed at supermarkets and other stores, according to officials.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 25, 2006

Texts combine piano with basic English for kids

A Tokyo-based publisher of music books has debuted texts that let children combine piano study with English in an effort to help them continue playing instruments.
JAPAN
Jan 25, 2006

Arrest of 'son' has LDP eating crow

The arrest of Livedoor Co. founder Takafumi Horie has rocked the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which had unofficially supported the 33-year-old Internet tycoon in the Sept. 11 general election as a standard-bearer in Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's reform drive.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 25, 2006

Horie involved in buyouts, execs now say

Livedoor Co. executives, including Ryoji Miyauchi, the Internet company's No. 2 man, have reversed themselves and are now telling prosecutors that President Takafumi Horie was involved in corporate takeovers currently under scrutiny, investigative sources said Tuesday.
EDITORIALS
Jan 25, 2006

More women taking charge

January has been a precedent-setting month for women. Ms. Michelle Bachelet was elected Chile's first female leader, becoming South America's second woman elected head of state, while Ms. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf took office as president of Liberia, Africa's first elected female head of state.
JAPAN
Jan 25, 2006

Pair held over hidden ATM cameras

Police arrested two men Tuesday in connection with the discovery of hidden miniature cameras installed at automated teller machines in the greater Tokyo area earlier this year.
JAPAN
Jan 25, 2006

Major events related to Livedoor

* April 1996 -- Takafumi Horie sets up Livin' on the Edge Inc., a Web site design firm, in Tokyo while a University of Tokyo student.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 25, 2006

Foreign-language skills can help Americans fight terror

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- "Learning somebody else's language is a kind gesture," stated U.S. President George W. Bush, because it suggests "I care about you."
COMMENTARY
Jan 25, 2006

Congressional group aims to improve U.S.-China ties

...
JAPAN
Jan 25, 2006

U.N. asks for plane to aid transport in Iraq

The United Nations has asked Japan for a small aircraft to be at its disposal for transport assistance in Iraq, the U.N. deputy special representative for Iraq has said.
BUSINESS
Jan 25, 2006

U.S. official tries to play down risky beef shipment

U.S. agricultural official J.B. Penn tried Tuesday to minimize the impact of a recent shipment of banned U.S. beef material, saying it was "an isolated incident" carried out by a meatpacker inexperienced in export procedures.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 25, 2006

Will Horie's impact on Japan business world last?

The arrest of Takafumi Horie, 33, founder of high-flying Internet startup Livedoor Co., has shocked business leaders and prompted some soul-searching.
JAPAN
Jan 25, 2006

Pyongyang may hold secret info on missiles

Confidential data on a Defense Agency surface-to-air missile system may have been leaked to a group affiliated with the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryun) in 1995, the Defense Agency said Tuesday.
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Jan 25, 2006

Saving our environment one step at a time

Having ended 2005 with a rant (see below), let me begin 2006 on a more positive note by introducing some valuable environmental education resources.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Jan 25, 2006

Great egret

* Japanese name: Daisagi * Scientific name: Egretta alba * Description: The great egret is the largest of the egrets in Japan. It is 80-100 cm tall, with a wingspan of 140-170 cm. The plumage is pure white; the legs, feet and bill are black. In flight, great egrets are languid, with slow and deep wingbeats,...
MORE SPORTS
Jan 24, 2006

Uemura plays down concerns

Japanese freestyle skier Aiko Uemura said Monday the injury to her left knee was not serious as feared and played down concerns about her performance at next month's Winter Olympic Games in Turin.
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2006

Fuji TV mulls selloff, compensation

Fuji Television Network Inc. will consider selling off its stake in Livedoor Co. and seeking compensation for the valuation loss on the shareholdings, which were estimated at about 9.76 billion yen as of Monday, sources said.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jan 24, 2006

Mariners pitcher Hasegawa retires

Right-hander Shigetoshi Hasegawa has ended his 15-year playing career split between both sides of the Pacific Ocean, his management office, Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., announced Monday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2006

Livedoor's Horie arrested

Prosecutors arrested Livedoor Co. President Takafumi Horie and three company executives Monday night on suspicion of securities law violations, investigative sources said.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2006

Yamaha blunder shows firms lacking info are security risks

Yamaha Motor Co.'s alleged illegal export of unmanned helicopters to China shows the lack of awareness on the part of Japanese companies of how their technology could have military applications, an expert said Monday.
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2006

Miyauchi 'financial brain' behind firm's M&A blitz

Livedoor Co. Chief Financial Officer Ryoji Miyauchi, who prosecutors arrested Monday, was central to the company's rapid expansion since joining its predecessor, Livin' on the Edge, as a director in July 1999.
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2006

Queen nixed mum's surrender sword slight: book

LONDON (Kyodo) Despite her rather formal appearance, Queen Elizabeth is known to enjoy the occasional joke and can take pleasure when formal proceedings don't go exactly as planned.

Longform

A store clerk tries to cool things down in front of their shop by spraying a hose.
Is extreme weather changing the way Japan shops?