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JAPAN
Apr 2, 2004

Koizumi pledges passage of pension reform bills

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Thursday reiterated his determination to have government-sponsored pension reform legislation enacted during the ongoing Diet session.
JAPAN
Apr 2, 2004

EU opens research center in Tokyo

The European Union opened a research center Thursday in Tokyo to teach the Japanese public about the EU and its relations with Asia.
JAPAN
Apr 2, 2004

New fiscal year brings changes in pricing, education systems

Tax-inclusive retail pricing is among the more visible new measures that went into effect Thursday at the start of Japan's new fiscal year.
OLYMPICS
Apr 2, 2004

JOC angered over domestic row

responded negatively Thursday to sending taekwondo fighter Yoriko Okamoto to the Athens Olympics after rival domestic bodies administering the sport failed to form an umbrella organization by the deadline. Last month, the JOC said it will allow the participation of no athletes in taekwondo at this summer's...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 2, 2004

High-altitude training boosts weight-loss

High-altitude training has been found to be more effective for boosting weight-loss, increasing energy consumption and burning fat than training at sea level.
JAPAN
Apr 2, 2004

Istanbul travel warning downgraded

The Foreign Ministry on Thursday downgraded its travel warning on Istanbul.
JAPAN
Apr 2, 2004

Karaoke dens of delinquency after bedtime

Police took a record 18,160 juveniles into custody at karaoke parlors nationwide last year for illicit behavior such as smoking, extortion and staying out past their bedtime.
BUSINESS
Apr 2, 2004

Casio, Hitachi launch belated mobile venture

Casio Computer Co. and Hitachi Ltd. launched a mobile-phone joint venture Thursday in another marriage between high-tech heavyweights pursuing cost effectiveness in a cutthroat market.
BUSINESS
Apr 2, 2004

Almost 1 million graduates start work

Around 948,000 new graduates from colleges and other schools entered Japan's workforce Thursday, with companies and government agencies nationwide holding initiation ceremonies.
BUSINESS
Apr 2, 2004

Japan Post fetes first anniversary

Japan Post marked its first anniversary with an air of satisfaction Thursday because its biggest management target over the past year -- eliminating a deficit in mail delivery operations -- has probably been met.
JAPAN
Apr 2, 2004

Mori to fight monster in screen debut, but will he get lines?

Gaffe-prone former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, who was forced in April 2001 to bow out as his star fell among the public, hopes it rises as he takes to the silver screen to take on a monster.
JAPAN
Apr 2, 2004

Koizumi critic to head doctor lobby

The Japan Medical Association, a key support group for the Liberal Democratic Party, on Thursday elected Haruo Uematsu, an Osaka doctor who has criticized Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's medical-reform drive, as its new president.
BUSINESS
Apr 2, 2004

U.S. seeks outside view on beef import impasse

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman has proposed that the United States and Japan jointly ask the Paris-based Organization for Animal Health to issue a judgment on Tokyo's ban on American beef imports, a senior Japanese farm ministry official said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Apr 2, 2004

Nintendo trims earnings estimate

Nintendo Co. said Thursday it has revised downward its fiscal 2003 earnings estimates because it suffered a larger-than-expected 68 billion yen exchange loss due to the yen's appreciation against the dollar.
BUSINESS
Apr 2, 2004

Temp staff begin work at Toyota

Toyota Motor Corp. introduced temporary workers on its production lines Thursday following a legal change last month that made it possible to do so.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 2, 2004

Does 150 billion yen Diet project mean capital staying put?

Diet members' dream of spacious new offices will soon come true.
BUSINESS
Apr 2, 2004

New TSE chief hopes to list on TSE

Takuo Tsurushima, who became the new president of Tokyo Stock Exchange Inc. on Thursday, said he will do his utmost to list TSE stock on Japan's largest bourse in fiscal 2005 and bolster its international competitiveness.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 2, 2004

JAS, JAL integrate operations, set sights on domestic expansion

Japan Airlines Co. and Japan Air System Co. integrated their operations in full Thursday, solidifying their position as Japan's No. 1 airline for both international and domestic routes.
EDITORIALS
Apr 2, 2004

Lessons from the Okamoto case

The Tokyo High Court earlier this week rejected a U.S. request to extradite a medical researcher to face charges of industrial espionage in the United States. The court ruled that Mr. Takashi Okamoto, a former employee of the Japanese government-affiliated Institute of Physical and Chemical Research,...
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / THEN AND NOW
Apr 2, 2004

Echoes of Edo's entertaining past

The 1830s woodblock print by Hasegawa Settan (right) might at first look like an abstract picture jammed with squares and diamond forms. In fact, it shows the bustling kabuki theater district in the Sakaicho and Fukiyacho districts of Edo.
BUSINESS
Apr 2, 2004

Japan to join China-U.S. chip talks

Japan has informed the United States, China and the World Trade Organization of its intention to sit in on China-U.S. talks on a trade dispute over semiconductor products, government officials said Thursday.
COMMENTARY
Apr 2, 2004

Musharraf gambles in war on terrorists

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan's decision to send thousands of troops to the remote northern tribal regions marks a fundamental shift in government policy. For decades, the regions have been closed to the outside world, ruled by local leaders who have defied the efforts of the central government to expand its...
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Apr 2, 2004

Warriors setting up Musselman as scapegoat for poor season

NEW YORK -- Golden State Warriors President Robert Rowell, whoever this faceless, dubiously qualified phantom may be, was quoted last week contending his team has "under-achieved."

Longform

The volunteer lifesavers of Nishihama Surf Lifesaving Club never know what's in store at the start of their day.
It's no simple day at the beach for Japan's volunteer lifesavers