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EDITORIALS
May 12, 2005

The meaning of triumph over evil

Sixty years ago, Nazi Germany was defeated. World leaders gathered in Moscow this week to commemorate that victory over evil. Many will wonder why that celebration was held in Moscow. That such a question could be asked is a stark reminder of the speed with which the past is receding. It is reveals why...
BUSINESS
May 12, 2005

Key gauge over boom-or-bust line

A key gauge of the current state of the economy rose above the boom-or-bust line of 50 percent in March, the government said Wednesday.
BUSINESS
May 12, 2005

Kirin to hawk canned 'chuhai' in Chinese market

Kirin Brewery Co. will launch its "chuhai" canned cocktails in Shanghai in mid-June, hoping to establish itself as a brand to be reckoned with in the rapidly growing but fiercely competitive market, company officials said Wednesday.
BUSINESS
May 12, 2005

Forex reserves approach record high at 844 billion dollars

Japan's foreign-exchange reserves rose to $843.60 billion at the end of April, the second-highest level on record, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
May 12, 2005

Fetuses found to inherit mother's trauma

Stress can motivate us, but it can also get us down. And though it might just make us feel blue, it can also kill us. It depresses levels of sex hormones and people stressed by deadlines are more likely to suffer heart attacks.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
May 12, 2005

Middle-aged men seek reconciliation with wives

Oh boy. It's happened at last: the junai (pure love) boom of last year that changed even the behavioral patterns of Sentagai no Jyoshikousei (the high school girls of Center-Gai, Shibuya) has reached the last and most difficult segment of the Japanese populace: the over-45 salaryman.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
May 12, 2005

Brown-eared bulbul

* Japanese name: Hiyodori * Scientific name: Ixos amaurotis * Description: These are medium-size songbirds that grow to about 28 cm long. They are mainly olive brown with a white face and eyebrow, throat and belly; they have a small crest. The bill, feet and eyes are black. Males and females look...
BUSINESS
May 12, 2005

Omron to acquire Colin Medical

Omron Corp. said Wednesday it will acquire all shares in medical device maker Colin Medical Technology Corp. from U.S. investment fund Carlyle Group and other stockholders through a wholly owned unit in mid-June.
COMMENTARY / World
May 12, 2005

Tony Blair's Pyrrhic victory

HONG KONG -- The people of Britain have just re-elected Tony Blair and his Labour Party to a record third successive election victory. But in what should have been his moment of greatest triumph, Blair faces the ultimate question -- when will he give up the job of prime minister?
BUSINESS
May 12, 2005

Troubled MMC plans to launch electric minicar

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Wednesday it plans to launch an electric minivehicle by 2010, choosing to focus resources on development of electric vehicle technology to differentiate itself from automakers already producing hybrid-engine cars.
SUMO
May 11, 2005

Asashoryu cruises to third victory

Yokozuna Asashoryu dismantled No. 3 maegashira Miyabiyama to make it three wins out of three at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on Tuesday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
May 11, 2005

Rhodes, Uehara on form as Giants tame Buffaloes in interleague play

Tuffy Rhodes singled home the game winner in the eighth inning and Koji Uehara pitched a four-hitter in a complete game effort on Tuesday, lifting the Yomiuri Giants past the Orix Buffaloes 2-1 in interleague play.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
May 11, 2005

Sasaki goes under knife for knee

Yokohama BayStars closer Kazuhiro Sasaki underwent endoscopic surgery to clean joints in his right knee on Tuesday and will be hospitalized for four to five days, baseball sources said.
COMMENTARY / World
May 11, 2005

Japan's new foreign policy

LONDON -- As Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has traveled about and made his speeches in recent months, it is possible to trace his perception of a new foreign policy for Japan.
SOCCER / World cup
May 11, 2005

JFA accepts Thailand as venue for qualifier

Japan's soccer association said Tuesday it has accepted FIFA's choice of Bangkok as a new venue to play the June 8 World Cup qualifier between Japan and North Korea.
EDITORIALS
May 11, 2005

Confidence in train safety

The safety of public transport in Japan has been thrown into doubt by the April 25 train derailment in Hyogo Prefecture, which killed 107 people and injured 460, and by a succession of other transport-related incidents that have followed -- including train overruns, a bus accident, errors by air traffic...
BUSINESS
May 11, 2005

Bandai profit falls on weak U.S. sales

Bandai Co. said Tuesday its net profit fell 21 percent to 11.23 billion yen for the year ended in March, dragged down by a weak performance in the United States.
BUSINESS
May 11, 2005

Fuji TV, NBS, Livedoor launch alliance talks

Fuji Television Network Inc., Nippon Broadcasting System Inc. and Livedoor Co. launched executive-level talks Tuesday to discuss details of their planned business alliance, their officials said.
BUSINESS
May 11, 2005

Household spending down 0.2%

Average monthly household spending fell a real 0.2 percent in the year ended in March from the previous year for the first decline in three years, mainly due to decreases in spending on food and housing, the government said Tuesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
May 11, 2005

Dolls' surreal influence

Kachina dolls, embodying the beliefs, social structure and moral values of the Native American Hopi have fascinated and inspired artists for a century.
BUSINESS
May 11, 2005

NTT DoCoMo reports first decline in profit

NTT DoCoMo Inc. on Tuesday reported its first decline in both profit and revenue since it went public in 1998, after resorting to aggressive discount programs to lure subscribers.
COMMENTARY
May 11, 2005

The failures to counteract inhumanity

LONDON -- Sadako Ogata was at London's Royal Institute of International Affairs in April for the release of the book she has written about her experiences as U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) between 1991 and 2000.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
May 11, 2005

The eternal flamenco

The fiery folk art of flamenco is more than just a dance -- it's an entire culture. And that culture -- the dances, songs, guitar-playing and rhythms -- are all fueled by the mysterious spirit of duende.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
May 11, 2005

Ojos de Brujo fueled by flamenco and much more

Monday is not the best night for going wild and dancing till your legs are about to fall off, but as they say here, "sho ga nai," for that's exactly what you'll have to do on May 30, when Barcelona's Ojos de Brujo hit Shibuya's Duo Music Exchange for their first-ever Japan show.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
May 11, 2005

Vengeful tale of sweet poison

The Bunraku version of "Sendaihagi," currently running at the National Theater, Tokyo, begins when Yoshitsuna, Lord of Sendai, retires from his position and hands his post to his young son Tsurukiyo. He abdicates because he has been plotted against by his uncle Nishikido Gyobu and Kageyu, his chief retainer....
BUSINESS
May 11, 2005

BOJ to retain 5.5 billion yen to cover Yamaichi loan loss

The Bank of Japan on Tuesday asked the finance minister's approval to place 24.9 billion yen in legal reserve for fiscal 2004, including 5.5 billion yen in connection with special loans to the now-defunct Yamaichi Securities Co., to maintain the central bank's financial soundness, the BOJ said.
Rugby
May 10, 2005

Japan makes RWC 2011 bid official

The Japan Rugby Football Union formally presented its bid to host Rugby World Cup 2011 to the International Rugby Board on Monday.

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?