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COMMENTARY / World
Jun 29, 2006

Uribe raises hope for Colombia's future

PRAGUE -- A leftwing tide has supposedly been sweeping Latin America. But President Alvaro Uribe's re-election in Colombia may not only have begun the process of reversing that tide; it has perhaps also shown conservative and liberal parties across the continent a way forward -- one that may soon be...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 29, 2006

Posies blossom as fans continue to pop up

Shonen Knife didn't make much of an impression overseas until the release of a 1989 tribute album that included versions of their songs by the likes of Sonic Youth and Red Kross. Coincidentally, the whole Seattle rock scene went global shortly thereafter, pulling into the spotlight bands that happened...
BUSINESS
Jun 29, 2006

21% fewer nonbank lenders in '05

There were 14,236 registered nonbank lenders in Japan at the end fiscal 2005, which ended March, down 20.9 percent from the previous year, as many consumer credit firms shut their doors in the face of tighter regulations, the Financial Services Agency said Wednesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jun 29, 2006

Clay captures the motion of organic forms

Seeming to peer out the window of the gallery is a brightly colored red and blue polka-dot blob. For a moment the amorphous shape looks like it is slowly crawling up the wall, till further inspection suggests that the piece is actually still -- or is it? Such is the work of Japanese ceramic artist Chiho...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jun 29, 2006

"Olafur Eliasson -- Your Constants are Changing"

Gallery Koyanagi Closes in 9 days
OLYMPICS
Jun 28, 2006

Tokyo plans 'compact' 2016 Games

The Tokyo metropolitan government announced its bid plans Monday to host the Summer Olympics in 2016, when it hopes to host arguably the most compact Games in recent Olympic history.
SPORTS / MULLY'S MISSIVES
Jun 28, 2006

Divers must be dealt with

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany -- The extravagant fall by Italy's Fabio Grosso over the body of Lucas Neill which gave Italy the last-minute penalty it needed to beat Australia on Monday was once again proof that playacting players can and do prosper at this World Cup.
SOCCER
Jun 28, 2006

Japan hopes for Trinidad friendly

The Japan Football Association is in talks with Trinidad and Tobago as potential opponents in an international friendly on Aug. 9 -- the first match for Japan's new national coach, JFA President Saburo Kawabuchi said Tuesday.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 28, 2006

Japan needs better PR, less whale meat

LONDON -- Every year on my annual visit to Tokyo I spend at least one evening drinking sake in a small bar in Shibuya. And every year after I have finished eating one of the dishes the mama-san has put in front of me, while I am talking, there will be a big cheer and a lot of laughter. Yet again I have...
EDITORIALS
Jun 28, 2006

Supreme Court sidesteps issue

A banner that a plaintiff held up outside the nation's top court on Friday aptly summed up a ruling made the same day. It read: "Supreme Court avoids deciding on the constitutionality (of the issue)." The issue is Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 13,...
BUSINESS
Jun 28, 2006

Long-term fiscal health needs cuts, taxes: experts

Monday's decision by the government to cut spending and aim for a primary surplus by 2011 is a step in the right direction, but more drastic reforms are needed to whip the books back into shape, experts say.
BUSINESS
Jun 28, 2006

Japan Post to give up on TNT tieup

Japan Post's plan to enter the international distribution market with leading Dutch logistics company TNT N.V. will be scrapped because the two carriers disagree on strategy, Japan Post officials said Tuesday.
EDITORIALS
Jun 28, 2006

Justice for hepatitis victims

On June 16, the Supreme Court ruled that government-sponsored inoculations were responsible for infecting five people with the hepatitis B virus. It ordered the government to pay 5.5 million yen to each in compensation. Separately, on June 21, the Osaka District Court ordered the state, a drug maker...
JAPAN
Jun 28, 2006

Top court rejects Yasukuni appeals

The Supreme Court on Tuesday threw out two appeals challenging the constitutionality of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's controversial visits to Yasukuni Shrine.
BUSINESS
Jun 28, 2006

Toshiba shareholders OK poison pill

Toshiba Corp. shareholders approved measures to fend off hostile takeover bids at their annual meeting Tuesday, company officials said.
JAPAN
Jun 28, 2006

Japan, Turkey can be close as both nations bridge East and West: envoy

Japan and Turkey are able to build a close relationship as both nations have a lot in common as bridges between East and West, Turkey's ambassador to Japan told an audience in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jun 28, 2006

Police may be sent to East Timor

The government is considering taking part in the U.N. peacekeeping operations in East Timor, which has been rocked by violence, according to government sources.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 28, 2006

Totti puts Italy into quarters

Italy inflicted a defeat on Australia that was tough to take when substitute Francesco Totti scored with the last kick of the game.
BUSINESS
Jun 28, 2006

Ghosn asks shareholders to be patient

YOKOHAMA -- Nissan Motor Co. President and CEO Carlos Ghosn asked shareholders for patience Tuesday, promising to overcome "head winds" in the domestic market and produce better results in 2006.
JAPAN
Jun 28, 2006

Pension system bugbear only got band-aid fix

Five years was not enough time for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to overhaul the nation's ailing pension system.
BUSINESS
Jun 28, 2006

Government staff cuts, new financial body headline reforms

A plan to streamline the bureaucracy by cutting 5.7 percent of the central government workforce and a plan to create a new financial institution in October 2008 under an overhaul of public financial institutions were approved Tuesday by two separate government panels.
BUSINESS
Jun 28, 2006

Livedoor to maintain financial services, chief says

Livedoor Co. will still provide financial services after it sells off its financial-business arms, Livedoor President Kozo Hiramatsu said Monday.
BUSINESS
Jun 28, 2006

Steelmakers warned to look out for cross-border M&As

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshihiro Nikai told steelmakers Tuesday to be aware of the global reorganization taking place in the industry after Sunday's decision by Arcelor SA of Luxembourg to accept a takeover bid from Mittal Steel Co. of the Netherlands.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Jun 28, 2006

Eight-barbel loach

* Japanese name: Hotoke-dojo * Scientific name: Lefua echigonia * Description: Loaches are in the family of ray-finned fish. They have a flattened body, and four pairs of sensory organs, known as barbels, around the mouth, like whiskers. Catfish have similar sensory organs, but belong to a different...

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji