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BUSINESS
May 19, 2006

U.S. beef talks to enter third day

Japan and the United States will continue technical talks for the third day Friday in Tokyo to discuss what additional steps need to be taken so Tokyo can lift its reimposed import ban on American beef, Japanese officials said Thursday.
BUSINESS
May 19, 2006

Japan, China remain deadlocked over how to resolve gas row

Japan and China clarified their respective positions but were unable Thursday to agree on how to resolve their dispute over natural gas drilling in the East China Sea, where the two sides disagree over their exclusive economic zone boundaries.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
May 19, 2006

A Japanese Jim Jarmusch

If the name Atsushi Funahashi doesn't ring any bells in the Japanese film industry, it's mainly because the domestic film scene had never been his primary concern.
BUSINESS
May 19, 2006

Fuji TV profit plunged 50% in '05

Fuji Television Network Inc. said Thursday its group net profit for 2005 plunged 50.3 percent from the previous year to 11.35 billion yen, due mostly to the loss incurred from selling its stake in Livedoor Co.
EDITORIALS
May 19, 2006

Inequalities of pensions

In 1984, the government decided to rectify inequalities between the pension plan for company employees (kosei nenkin) and the one mainly for public servants (kyosai nenkin). Public servants are entitled to receive more benefits by paying smaller amounts of contributions than company employees.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
May 19, 2006

Beacon: Power dining that shines

The stock market's up and ditto consumer spending. Real estate is rebounding and there's even talk of another bubble. No surprise then that we've been seeing plenty of upmarket restaurants opening in recent months. Better still, some of our favorite restaurateurs are getting into the action.
MORE SPORTS
May 18, 2006

Fudo, Oyama bound for c'ship

Yuri Fudo and Shiho Oyama have been guaranteed spots at next month's U.S. LPGA Championship, the second major tournament of the year on the tour, the Ladies Professional Golfers' Association of Japan said Wednesday.
SUMO
May 18, 2006

Hakuho, Miyabiyama share lead after Chiyotaikai falls

Mongolian ozeki Hakuho stayed in a share of the lead with Miyabiyama on Wednesday with a convincing win over Tokitenku at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.
EDITORIALS
May 18, 2006

Futenma relocation agreement

Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine's tense expression while shaking hands with Defense Agency chief Fukushiro Nukaga and Prime Minister Junichiro Koiziumi last week told a lot about an agreement between him and the central government on the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The Okinawa governor...
JAPAN
May 18, 2006

Three held over allegedly rigged Ken-o road bids

A former land ministry employee and two corporate executives were arrested Wednesday for allegedly fixing a bid for a land survey project for the Ken-o Expressway, the 300-km route circling Tokyo and traversing four prefectures.
JAPAN
May 18, 2006

Japan holds onto sixth place in mathematics theses

Japan ranks sixth in the number of internationally published math theses, the same position it has held since being surpassed by China in 2000, the National Institute of Science and Technology Policy said Wednesday.
JAPAN
May 18, 2006

Diet passes bill to take foreigners' prints, pics

A bill requiring fingerprinting and photographing of foreigners upon entry to Japan was passed Wednesday as a way to prevent terrorism.
COMMENTARY / World
May 18, 2006

What's next, militarization of the Andes?

BUENOS AIRES -- While the world's attention is riveted on Iraq, the Colombia Plan, developed by the United States to fight drugs and leftwing guerrillas in Colombia, may soon be applied as a general strategy across the nations of the Andes, if not all of Latin America. Colombia, it seems, is only mentioned...
JAPAN
May 18, 2006

Chongryun, Mindan hold historic talks

The leaders of the pro-Seoul and pro-Pyongyang groups in Japan ended 60 years of hostilities Wednesday with a reconciliation meeting in Tokyo.
JAPAN
May 18, 2006

Jailed duo served for smuggling

Two men already in custody for alleged possession of Ecstasy were served new arrest warrants Wednesday on suspicion of involvement in smuggling several hundred kilograms of stimulants into Japan from North Korea, bringing the total number nabbed in the smuggling case to seven, police said.
COMMENTARY / World
May 18, 2006

Sub-Saharan Africa's failing leadership

Why are the countries of sub-Saharan Africa the poorest in the world? One reason is the set of ill-designed development strategies that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank have implemented in the region for nearly half a century. But the centuries-old culture of leadership that is...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
May 18, 2006

"Wide Eyed Theatre: Shita No Shita"

La Deco, Shibuya Fridays (8 p.m.), Saturdays (3 and 8 p.m.) and Sundays (3 p.m.) till May 28
JAPAN
May 18, 2006

Annan asks Koizumi to give air support to U.N. in Iraq

Visiting U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan asked Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Wednesday to provide air support for U.N. activities in Iraq, opening the possibility that the Air Self-Defense Force will get a new mission there.
BUSINESS
May 18, 2006

Bankruptcies surged 14.9% in April

The number of corporate bankruptcies in Japan jumped 14.9 percent in April from the previous year to 1,087, with debts totaling 426.78 billion yen, and among them are contractors stung by a state crackdown on bid-rigging, Tokyo Shoko Research said Wednesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
May 18, 2006

"Yankee Doodle Flea Market & Art Show"

Hillside Terrace Daikanyama Friday to Sunday
BUSINESS
May 18, 2006

Philip Morris, BAT seek OK to increase prices

Philip Morris Japan KK and British American Tobacco Japan Ltd. both said Wednesday they have asked the Finance Ministry to approve price increases for their cigarettes in line with a planned tobacco tax hike in July.
COMMENTARY / World
May 18, 2006

Redefining the Middle East

SARAWAK, Malaysia -- It may be convenient to perceive the Middle East as a politically charged, fractious region, rife with conflicts and disputes, void of many prospects, save those leading to even further uncertainty and turmoil.
JAPAN
May 18, 2006

Racism rapporteur repeats criticism

OSAKA -- The U.N. rapporteur on racism repeated Wednesday his strong criticism of the Japanese government's attitude toward combating the problem, saying the country needs an antidiscrimination law.
JAPAN
May 18, 2006

Opposition lawmakers lash out at conspiracy bill

Lawmakers, lawyers and citizen groups voiced opposition Wednesday to a proposed bill that would make conspiracy to commit a crime punishable for more than 600 offenses even if no crime is actually carried out.

Longform

Juzo Itami’s “Tampopo” was released Nov. 23, 1985, and though it wasn’t a hit at the time, it has gained a cult following in the years since.
Eat, slurp, love: 'Tampopo' turns 40