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Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 3, 2004

Former abductee saw 20 Japanese in North Korea

A South Korean man who had been abducted to North Korea said Tuesday in Tokyo he saw at least 20 suspected Japanese abductees there in the early 1970s.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 3, 2004

Three stamps and a can of Coke, please

Soft drink makers will take the unprecedented step of selling their products via uniform vending machines in post offices across the country, industry officials said Tuesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Mar 3, 2004

And never the twain shall meet, on canvas

Modernism, which was born in Paris and came of age in New York after World War II, was one of Europe's most successful cultural exports of the 20th century, making it to South Africa, Vietnam, Brazil . . . and Japan.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Mar 3, 2004

Giants' Latham aiming for big season after 'nice camp'

Every baseball fan knows the term "nice catch." But in Japanese sports, the use of the word "nice" to praise just about any fine play has become common.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 3, 2004

Japanese troops might be of more benefit elsewhere

WASHINGTON -- After much difficult deliberation and debate, the Koizumi government has decided to send several hundred Japanese troops to the U.S.-led stabilization operation in Iraq. They will be working alongside roughly another 25,000 foreign troops, including just over 10,000 Brits and 3,000 South...
JAPAN
Mar 3, 2004

Northrop Grumman chief doesn't expect Japan competition

A U.S. defense industry leader said Tuesday in Tokyo that Japanese weapons manufacturers are unlikely to emerge as major competitors to their American rivals, even if Tokyo lifts its decades-old embargo on arms exports.
BUSINESS
Mar 3, 2004

Kumamoto Family Bank threatened with fresh rebuke from government

The government may issue a second business improvement order to the ailing Kumamoto Family Bank, Financial Services Minister Heizo Takenaka indicated Tuesday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 3, 2004

China becomes lifeline for local Japanese industries

Small industries in Japan that have long been plagued by cheap imports from China are now finding a means of survival by exporting high-grade products there.
BUSINESS
Mar 3, 2004

Koizumi eyes postal reform chief

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Tuesday he will appoint a special minister this summer to oversee privatization of the postal services, hoping the appointment will help complete the reform by 2007.
BUSINESS
Mar 3, 2004

Monetary base expands 16.2%

Japan's monetary base expanded 16.2 percent in February from a year earlier for the 37th straight monthly increase, the Bank of Japan said Tuesday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Mar 2, 2004

Valentine wants entertainment

Bobby Valentine, who has returned to Japan to manage Chiba the Lotte Marines, said Monday he will urge his players to become less of a samurai and more of a performer while the game is in play.
Japan Times
JAPAN / POLITICS IN FOCUS
Mar 2, 2004

Komeito torn between LDP, Soka Gakkai

When New Komeito backed the Liberal Democratic Party's decision to send the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq earlier this year, members of Soka Gakkai, Japan's largest lay Buddhist organization whose political arm is New Komeito, launched rare opposition to the party's decision.
JAPAN
Mar 2, 2004

Bird flu drives chicken from Kansai menus

OSAKA -- Chicken was off the menu in many parts of the Kansai region Monday following reports that meat from chickens infected with the bird flu virus had been sold in the area's restaurants and supermarkets.
JAPAN
Mar 2, 2004

Kanzaki stays coalition-focused for election

New Komeito leader Takenori Kanzaki said Monday the party is determined to continue supporting the Liberal Democratic Party in the House of Councilors election in July so the two-party coalition can maintain a majority in the chamber.
EDITORIALS
Mar 2, 2004

Lowering the bar in Beijing

One thing is very clear after last week's round of six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear crisis: No one wants the negotiations to fail. While that has spurred diplomacy to solve the problem, it also means that "progress" could become illusory. Apparently, agreement to continue working-level discussions...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 2, 2004

Seibu execs arrested for 'sokaiya' payoff

Police arrested nine people Monday, including board members of Seibu Railway Co., over their suspected involvement in the firm's alleged payoff of a "sokaiya" corporate extortionist to ensure that its shareholders' meetings went smoothly.
BUSINESS
Mar 2, 2004

New car sales fell 1.6% in February

A total 361,787 new cars, trucks and buses were sold in Japan in February, down 1.6 percent from a year earlier, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Monday.
BUSINESS
Mar 2, 2004

Mitsui Mutual, SMBC to tie up

Mitsui Mutual Life Insurance Co. and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. said Monday they have agreed on a tieup in mortgage loans.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Mar 2, 2004

Is it worth it to live inside the Yamanote loop?

Vanessa Gillett Teacher, 30-ish
BUSINESS
Mar 2, 2004

Wholesale prices of Australian beef down

Wholesale prices of imported Australian beef declined last week to levels seen before the discovery of mad cow disease in the U.S. in December.
BUSINESS
Mar 2, 2004

McDonald's, Yoshinoya diversify fare

McDonald's Co. (Japan) chose fish Monday and Yoshinoya D&C Co. went for pork as new alternative dishes.

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