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SUMO
May 29, 2007

Hakuho wrestles his way into the history books

The 2007 Natsu Basho is over, and it will only ever be remembered for one thing: the 15-0 unbeaten zensho yusho winning record of Mongolian ozeki Hakuho that etched his name forever in the annals of Japanese sporting and cultural history.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
May 29, 2007

'Amakudari' too entrenched to curb?

The Diet began deliberating a bill this month aimed at curbing "amakudari," the practice of giving retiring top bureaucrats lucrative jobs in private-sector firms and quasi-government entities in the business sectors they oversee.
JAPAN
May 29, 2007

No-confidence motion targets health chief for pension fiasco

Opposition parties said Monday they will jointly submit a no-confidence motion against health minister Hakuo Yanagisawa over the fiasco in which the Social Insurance Agency scrambled huge amounts of pension premium payment data.
EDITORIALS
May 29, 2007

Basic Law of the Sea

A s an island nation, Japan owes its economic prosperity largely to trade via sea routes. The United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea, which stipulates a 12-nautical mile territorial limit and a 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone, went into effect in 1994 and Japan ratified it in 1996.
JAPAN
May 29, 2007

Embattled farm minister kills himself at residence

Farm minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka, embroiled in a political funds scandal, committed suicide Monday at his residence in Tokyo's Akasaka district.
BUSINESS
May 29, 2007

BTMU ties with Disney for online bank service

Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and Walt Disney Japan launched a new online banking service Monday using Disney characters in its interface to attract female customers and families.
BUSINESS
May 29, 2007

Sanyo reduces losses, forecasts return to profit

Scandal-plagued Sanyo said Monday it trimmed its losses for the fiscal year and forecast a return to profit for the current year.
COMMENTARY
May 29, 2007

World's 'best' health care fatally flawed

NEW YORK — One of the most contentious issues of the U.S. presidential campaign will be how to fix what many agree is a malfunctioning health-care system. Adding fuel to the fire is a recent study detailing the shortcomings of the U.S. health-care system compared with those of Australia, Canada, Germany,...
BUSINESS
May 29, 2007

Food prices rise as more crops go into producing biofuels

The increasing demand for biofuel, which is derived from biomass — usually plants — has taken a bite out of supplies of crops and other farm products worldwide. The redirection of crops from mouths to fuel tanks is reflected in the rise of prices of ordinary food items in Japan.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
May 29, 2007

Aso Mining's POW labor: the evidence

One year after media reports that Aso Mining used 300 Allied prisoners of war for forced labor in 1945, Foreign Minister Taro Aso is refusing to confirm that POWs dug coal for his family's firm — and even challenging reporters to produce evidence.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
May 29, 2007

British comedy returns to Tokyo

Stand-up comedians, like parents, have a tendency never to give up on a joke. They keep going until it somehow makes someone laugh, even if it's only because of the absurd amount of effort they've put into it.
COMMENTARY / World
May 29, 2007

A prodigal divides Australia

SYDNEY — The prodigal son has returned from exile in Cuba. After five years of bitter controversy, David Hicks, Australia's gift to world terrorism, is back in hometown Adelaide, South Australia, safely locked away but still dividing a nation's conscience.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
May 29, 2007

How to avoid the melt down

With the weather heating up, it's time to put on more UV protection and get out those hardy cosmetics that can withstand the summer's melting sun.

Longform

Rock group The Yellow Monkey played K-Arena Yokohama in June as part of a nationwide tour. Concerts are increasingly popular in the age of social media as users value in-person experiences.
Inside Japan’s arena boom: Sports, sound and city-building