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JAPAN
Feb 24, 2004

Crown Prince turns 44, rues wife's woes

Crown Prince Naruhito said his wife has become exhausted from the pressures of royal life, motherhood and media scrutiny over the couple's lack of a male heir, and asks that she be left in peace.
JAPAN
Feb 24, 2004

Abductee's son wants to meet agent

A man whose mother was abducted to North Korea in 1978 handed a senior Foreign Ministry official a letter Monday addressed to a former North Korean agent who may have learned the Japanese language from the woman.
JAPAN
Feb 24, 2004

Saving best for last, guru verdict done deal?

Friday is verdict day in the eight-year trial of Aum Shinrikyo founder Shoko Asahara, who if the state has its way will hang for masterminding or ordering 13 heinous crimes that resulted in 27 slayings at the hands of his disciples.
BUSINESS
Feb 24, 2004

Yoshinoya can't get a break

Restaurant chain operator Yoshinoya D&C can't win for losing.
JAPAN
Feb 24, 2004

HIV trial ends as Abe, 87, is deemed feeble

The Tokyo High Court said Monday it will stop hearing an appeal by prosecutors against the acquittal of Takeshi Abe on charges of negligence resulting in a patient's death, saying the 87-year-old HIV expert has become mentally incompetent.
BUSINESS
Feb 24, 2004

Trade surplus up fivefold year on year

Japan's trade surplus in January grew almost fivefold from a year earlier as exports to China and other Asian economies expanded while imports from the United States dropped due to the ban on U.S. beef.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Feb 24, 2004

Advice for the stage-struck and proofing

We have received a sudden clutch of enquiries from stage-struck readers this week.
EDITORIALS
Feb 24, 2004

Malaysia's new look

Malaysia's new prime minister, Mr. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, is wasting no time distinguishing himself in office. Typically, however, he is doing it quietly. Without a lot of fanfare, Mr. Badawi has launched a campaign to root out corruption. In foreign policy, he is smoothing over the rough relationships...
JAPAN
Feb 24, 2004

'Paradise' emigrant back for lawsuit

Toru Takegama's spirits were high when he left Japan in July 1956 for the Dominican Republic under a government-backed emigration project.
BUSINESS
Feb 24, 2004

Brisk Chinese demand spurring Japan's economy

Brisk demand for Japanese goods in China is becoming a major driving force for Japan's economy, helping the nation as it struggles to shake off more than a decade of stagnation.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Feb 24, 2004

Is there value for money in English education?

Amanda Townsend Teacher, 26
BUSINESS
Feb 24, 2004

Mitsubishi Motors to sell Proton stake

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. plans to sell its equity stake in Malaysia's state-owned carmaker Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd. (Proton) as part of global restructuring efforts to reinforce its financial base, company officials said Monday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Feb 24, 2004

McEnglish for the masses

American sociologist George Ritzer coined the term McDonaldization to describe how a method of production that originated in fast food restaurants is sweeping through every aspect of society.
BUSINESS
Feb 24, 2004

Shinsei shares to be sold at best possible price, Takagi says

Financial Services Agency Commissioner Shokichi Takagi indicated Monday the government wants to sell its preferred shares in Shinsei Bank at the highest possible price to retrieve some of the public funds injected into its failed precursor.
JAPAN
Feb 24, 2004

Mind control may have been a factor but not a mitigating one

Mind control at the hands of Aum Shinrikyo founder Shoko Asahara was a key defense argument for many of the 11 cultists sentenced to death and the six others handed life prison terms for carrying out Aum's heinous crimes -- an argument that had little if any effect.
BUSINESS
Feb 24, 2004

Kanebo chief to resign over fiasco

Takashi Hoashi, president and chairman of Kanebo Ltd., will resign following a fiasco over how to revive the struggling cosmetics manufacturer, sources said Monday.
JAPAN
Feb 24, 2004

Japan's Iraq role wins praise of Annan

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Monday won a desperately needed endorsement from U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan for Japan's engagement in postwar aid missions in Iraq.
BUSINESS
Feb 24, 2004

Japan, South Korea hold FTA talks

Japan and South Korea began their second round of negotiations Monday in Tokyo to forge a free-trade agreement by the end of next year.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 24, 2004

Reserves could hasten Asian integration

Aside from a few indicators such as poverty levels that remain above precrisis levels (though they are coming down), East Asia's rebound from the Asian crisis of 1997-1998 is more or less complete. The capital-account crisis -- which was both a currency and banking crisis -- and Asia's increasing integration...
COMMENTARY
Feb 24, 2004

Abductions can't be buried

During the government-to-government talks in Pyongyang on Feb. 11-13, Japan and North Korea went no further than stating their respective positions on the abduction and nuclear issues. They did agree to continue negotiations.
MORE SPORTS
Feb 24, 2004

Icho advances in Olympic qualifier

Reigning national champion Chiharu Icho defeated former world champion Shoko Yoshimura in the 48-kg weight category in the preliminary round of the Olympic qualifying Japan Queens Cup tournament Monday.
BUSINESS
Feb 24, 2004

Cats files for bankruptcy amid management scandal

Pest-control firm Cats Inc. filed for bankruptcy Monday, saying it failed to obtain lenders' support after its executives were arrested for allegedly manipulating its share price.
JAPAN
Feb 23, 2004

Kawaguchi urges U.N. engagement in Iraq

Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, meeting Sunday with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan in Tokyo, called for active engagement on the part of the United Nations in Iraq's reconstruction, Japanese officials said.
JAPAN
Feb 23, 2004

Japan's 10th case of mad cow confirmed in Kanagawa

A dairy cow from Kanagawa Prefecture was confirmed Sunday as being infected with mad cow disease, Japan's 10th case, the health ministry said.
JAPAN
Feb 23, 2004

Mitsui Mutual in major outsourcing

Mitsui Mutual Life Insurance Co. will completely outsource its back-office duties related to insurance in April, sources familiar with the plan said Sunday.

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