search

 
 
JAPAN
Nov 26, 2005

Oshima tapped to lead Hariri panel

The U.N. Security Council has picked Japanese Ambassador to the United Nations Kenzo Oshima to chair a panel tasked with determining whether to punish those suspected of being involved in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the Foreign Ministry said Friday.
JAPAN
Nov 26, 2005

Koizumi hopes to visit Sharon, Abbas in January

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is eyeing a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories in January, government sources said Friday.
BUSINESS
Nov 26, 2005

Fujitsu heads' pay cut for TSE glitch

Fujitsu Ltd. said Friday it will cut the salary of President Hiroaki Kurokawa and six other executives as a penalty for a series of computer system malfunctions at the Tokyo Stock Exchange and other Japanese bourses earlier this month.
BUSINESS
Nov 26, 2005

State severs talks with localities on subsidy cutbacks

The central government broke off talks Friday with local government representatives on ways to decentralize fiscal authority, brushing off local-level opposition to proposed cuts in welfare subsidies.
BUSINESS
Nov 26, 2005

Digital players killing off MDs

Global sales of recordable MiniDiscs are expected to total 144 million units in 2005, down 25 percent from the previous year, due to the widespread use of portable digital music players, an industry association said Friday.
BUSINESS
Nov 26, 2005

FSA issues improvement orders to 26 nonlife insurers

The Financial Services Agency ordered 26 nonlife insurers Friday to make improvements after failing to honor more than 8 billion yen in legitimate insurance claims in a scandal that has deepened worries about the faltering industry.
BUSINESS
Nov 26, 2005

DoCoMo handset for kids boasts crime alarm, locater

NTT DoCoMo Inc. has unveiled a mobile phone that features an alarm and an automatic calling function to keep children safe, as an increasing number of them fall victim to crime.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Nov 26, 2005

Japan HIV Center to help on World AIDS Day

Caitlin Stronell and I are sitting in front of Ebisu Station when Skip Swanson skips into view with a twirl and a balletic bow.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST
Nov 26, 2005

Do you know the way to Koganei?

Early in the 19th century an American writer named William Austin penned a story about a man on a horse and buggy lost on the roads of his nation. Yet it's much easier to be lost while abroad, and sometimes the most misplaced souls are those who have been away the longest -- as this "Flactured Fairy...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Nov 26, 2005

Gate ceremony: Pomp or circumstance?

"Please come to the opening ceremony for the gate," said the Buddhist priest. I'd never seen a ceremony for a gate before, so my first thought was, "What should I wear?" My second thought was, "I won't even be here for it, so I could probably go naked and no one would notice." I thanked the priest for...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / PERSONALITY PROFILE
Nov 26, 2005

Richard Quest

Almost 20 years ago, viewers of the BBC World Service used to watch a British television reporter whose agile, distinctive style excited comment. "Unconventional," some said. "Quirky," said others, "original and mold-breaking."
JAPAN
Nov 26, 2005

Hidden ATM cameras trio's undoing

Two men and a woman were arrested Friday in connection with hidden cameras found at UFJ Bank automated teller machine outlets in Tokyo and nearby prefectures since August, police said.
BUSINESS
Nov 26, 2005

Commission backs cutting tax breaks

While the government must slash its wasteful spending, taxes still need to be raised to support the aging society, the Tax Commission said Friday in its fiscal 2006 tax-reform proposals.
BASKETBALL
Nov 25, 2005

AND1 crew puts on good show in Tokyo

Known better as a hallowed sumo venue, Tokyo's Ryoguku Kokugikan transformed into a hoops hotbed on Nov. 13.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 25, 2005

Swallows 'no' to Ishii

Yakult Swallows closer Hirotoshi Ishii wants to pitch in the major leagues but the team has refused to give him the green light to move to North America under the so-called posting system.
JAPAN
Nov 25, 2005

Top court upholds surrogate ruling

The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a suit in which a couple had requested that authorities register as their children the twin babies they had via an American surrogate mother, upholding a ruling issued by the Osaka High Court.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 25, 2005

Female monarchs get green light

A government panel on Imperial succession concluded Thursday that females and their descendants should be allowed to ascend to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
JAPAN
Nov 25, 2005

40 billion yen fiasco sidelines low-margin forex brokers

A total of 34 low-margin foreign-exchange brokers were ordered to suspend operations after legal restrictions on the business were toughened in July, and most of the 40.2 billion yen in their client deposits has become irrecoverable, a survey showed Thursday.
EDITORIALS
Nov 25, 2005

Press on with territories issue

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Tokyo this week for the first time in five years for a summit meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. They and their ministers signed 12 documents, ranging from joint efforts to counter international terrorism to economic cooperation, including a Russian...
JAPAN
Nov 25, 2005

Abe backs Defense Agency upgrade

Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe on Thursday supported the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's recent decision to try to turn the Defense Agency into a ministry.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 25, 2005

Zebari urges extension of GSDF deployment

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari on Thursday urged his Japanese counterpart, Taro Aso, to keep the Self-Defense Forces troops deployed to Samawah, a Foreign Ministry official said.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 25, 2005

Russia releases seized fishing boat

A Japanese fishing boat and its five-member crew seized by Russia in disputed waters earlier this month returned to Japan early Thursday, according to a Japan Coast Guard official.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / BEST BAR NONE
Nov 25, 2005

Put on your party hats

Welcome to CoZmo, a cafe and bar on the edge of Shibuya where it abuts Aoyama. And meet Ronna Wagenheim, its creator, proprietor, head chef and host. With the assistance of only one hand on deck, the charming Junella Hidaka, Ronna opens her hip retreat every night to escapees from the madness down the...

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?