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JAPAN
Aug 11, 2004

Education reform plan includes ongoing subsidies

Education Minister Takeo Kawamura formally announced Tuesday an education system reform plan that includes continuing subsidies, allowing local governments to change the number of years students study at elementary and junior high schools and introducing a teaching license renewal system.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / NEW ART SEEN
Aug 11, 2004

Artist builds from zero

Suspicious of the pervasive role of Western culture in his homeland, Katsushige Nakahashi resolved to become a "Japanese artist."
JAPAN
Aug 11, 2004

China Falun Gong followers appeal for permission to remain in Japan

Chinese followers of the Falun Gong spiritual movement who are seeking asylum in Japan appealed Tuesday for permission to stay here out of fear they will be persecuted in China.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Aug 11, 2004

In love with a beautiful woman

L'Histoire de Marie et Julien Rating: * * * * (out of 5) Director: Jacques Rivette Running time: 150 minutes Language: French Currently showing [See Japan Times movie listings] Among French directors, Jacques Rivette seems to have an enduring fascination for la femme -- and that's saying...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Aug 11, 2004

Used airline, cop uniforms given new lease on life

An airline and several police departments are recycling employee uniforms -- but workers aren't getting hand-me-downs.
JAPAN
Aug 11, 2004

Kepco cost-cuts proved fatal: protesters

OSAKA -- Antinuclear activists in Fukui and Osaka prefectures said Tuesday the accident the day before at the Mihama atomic plant was due to Kansai Electric Power Co.'s attempts to cut costs and will negatively effect the utility's plans to burn MOX fuel in the reactor.
JAPAN
Aug 11, 2004

Fischer transfer to Ibaraki signals lengthy confinement

Fugitive chess legend Bobby Fischer was transferred Tuesday from the Immigration Bureau facilities at Narita International Airport to the East Japan Immigration Center in Ushiku, Ibaraki Prefecture, his lawyer said.
BUSINESS
Aug 11, 2004

BOJ monetary stance stands amid soft consumer prices

The Bank of Japan's policy-setting panel said Tuesday it won't change its ultraeasy monetary stance, as the country's deflationary trend for consumer prices has not turned around despite the ongoing economic recovery.
BUSINESS
Aug 11, 2004

Microsoft admits image tarnished by antimonopoly battle

The head of Microsoft Corp.'s Japan unit acknowledged Tuesday that the U.S. software giant's battle with Japanese antimonopoly authorities over a controversial licensing clause has hurt its corporate image here.
BUSINESS
Aug 11, 2004

High-tech bank notes due Nov. 1

The Finance Ministry said Tuesday it will put newly designed 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen and 1,000 yen bills into circulation on Nov. 1.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 11, 2004

Pariah regime doesn't deserve ADB aid

SUSSEX, England -- Bombers have been out again in Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital. The bombs that went off at the U.S. and Israeli embassies and the prosecutor general's office on July 30 marked the opening of the trial of 15 men charged with setting off bombs that rocked Tashkent a year ago. The government...
BUSINESS
Aug 11, 2004

Most breweries report strong first half

Three of Japan's four largest breweries have reported strong earnings for the first six months of 2004 despite a continued fall in beer sales.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / CERAMIC SCENE
Aug 11, 2004

National treasures of Bizen-ware pots

The city and pottery style of Bizen hold a special place in my heart; in a sense, Bizen was my "first love" in the ceramic world. When I was first given a Bizen yunomi (tea cup) twenty years ago I had never held something so earthy and "alive" -- a vessel for use in daily life, to enhance drinking pleasure,...
BUSINESS
Aug 11, 2004

Daiei told by three creditor banks to seek IRCJ help

The rehabilitation of Daiei Inc. entered a new stage Tuesday after its three major creditor banks told the embattled retail giant to seek help from the Industrial Revitalization Corp. of Japan, according to sources.
JAPAN
Aug 11, 2004

Seibu 'sokaiya' perk nets suspended term

A former Seibu Railway Co. managing director was sentenced to a suspended 18-month prison term Tuesday for providing as much as 187 million yen in benefits to a "sokaiya" corporate extortionist and his accomplices in 2001 so they wouldn't disrupt a shareholders' meeting.
SOCCER / J. League
Aug 11, 2004

Verdy inks midfielder Hiroyama

Tokyo Verdy has acquired former Japan midfielder Nozomi Hiroyama on a contract running through the end of the season, the J. League first division side said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Aug 11, 2004

Education reform plan includes ongoing subsidies

Education Minister Takeo Kawamura formally announced Tuesday an education system reform plan that includes continuing subsidies, allowing local governments to change the number of years students study at elementary and junior high schools and introducing a teaching license renewal system.
BUSINESS
Aug 11, 2004

End to U.S. beef import ban long way off: Kamei

Japan's farm minister hinted Tuesday that reaching a resolution in beef-trade talks with the United States may take a long time, despite the two countries' desire to settle the issue of Japan's beef import ban this summer.
COMMENTARY
Aug 11, 2004

U.S. changes challenge Japan

The transformation of U.S. forces overseas, which is now under way, will have a profound effect on Japan's security policies.
JAPAN
Aug 11, 2004

Schools to get more English help

The government hopes to have 1,000 native speakers of English assisting English classes at public elementary schools in fiscal 2006, up from 73 at present.
BUSINESS
Aug 11, 2004

Lion eyes CJ household goods stake

Lion Corp. said Tuesday it has agreed to buy South Korean firm CJ Corp.'s household goods operations by the end of this year as part of its growth strategy in Northeast Asia.
JAPAN
Aug 11, 2004

Mortars hit near Samawah camp

Three mortar rounds Tuesday morning apparently hit several dozen meters northwest of the Japanese camp in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah, the Defense Agency said.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Aug 11, 2004

Clever plot of "Dumb Animal" play

It was two years ago, that the three main actors in "Donju (Dumb Animal)," currently running at the Parco Theater, met up over a drink or three. Arata Furuta, Katsuhisa Namase and Narushi Ikeda, are all now in their late 30s and early 40s, but were very prominent in the energetic 1980s Shogekijo (small...

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?