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JAPAN
Feb 5, 2004

March hearing for alleged DNA thief

The Tokyo High Court has slated a March 10 session to take up the requested extradition of researcher Takashi Okamoto, who has been charged with economic espionage in the United States.
MORE SPORTS
Feb 5, 2004

Q-chan decides to skip Nagoya race

Sydney Olympic gold medalist Naoko Takahashi will not compete in the Nagoya International Women's Marathon next month, the final qualifier for this summer's Athens Olympics, her management office announced Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Feb 5, 2004

DoCoMo anticipates FOMA boom

NTT DoCoMo Inc. said Wednesday it will raise its subscriber projection for its third-generation FOMA service by 20 percent to 2.4 million by the end of March, having seen faster-than-expected growth in the sector.
JAPAN
Feb 5, 2004

Suspected hacker held over Web site breach

A Kyoto University researcher was arrested Wednesday for allegedly hacking into the Web site of a computer software association in November to steal personal information.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 4, 2004

My unlikely valentine

Love Actually Rating: * * * (out of 5) Director: Richard Curtis Running time: 135 minutes Language: English Opens Feb. 7 [See Japan Times movie listings] Love, love, love. Given how movies are pretty indiscriminating when it comes to strewing that word around, there's a positive recklessness...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 4, 2004

Under the skin of Gollum

Many have remarked that the most memorable performance in the "Lord of the Rings" films is given by a computer-generated character, Gollum. But let's not forget the man behind the critter, British screen and stage actor Andy Serkis, seen in films like Mike Leigh's "Topsy Turvy" and Michael Winterbottom's...
JAPAN
Feb 4, 2004

Ministry to compensate chicken farmers

The national government will cover 50 percent of the damages incurred by chicken farmers in Yamaguchi Prefecture who cannot ship their eggs due to a quarantine imposed after an outbreak of bird flu at a farm there.
JAPAN
Feb 4, 2004

SDF terrorism response joins war emergency bills

The Cabinet will set up an emergency headquarters in the event of a large-scale terrorist attack and prefectural governors will be able to request Self-Defense Forces help, according to a draft of proposed counterterrorism measures obtained by Kyodo News.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 4, 2004

Kids' books 'stir imagination,' Ghosn says

Good books can encourage children to love reading, become lifelong learners and lead a successful way of life in a global society, Nissan Motor Co. President Carlos Ghosn told a ceremony Tuesday for winners in a children's book contest.
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Feb 4, 2004

It's now or never for new Giants catcher

The story made headlines on the front page of several Japanese sports newspapers Jan. 25: The Yomiuri Giants in a money trade bought the contract of catcher Katsunori Nomura from the Hanshin Tigers, and just why would the transfer of a back-up backstop who, in fact, did not play a game at the varsity...
JAPAN
Feb 4, 2004

Japan to bring up abductions issue

Japan will take up the issue of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s during six-party talks later this month in Beijing, a senior Foreign Ministry official said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Feb 4, 2004

DPJ to support Korean pundit for Upper House

The Democratic Party of Japan will field the head of the Tokyo bureau of the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo in the House of Councilors election this summer.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 4, 2004

Crooked path pays off

Yudan Daiteki Rating: * * * * (out of 5) Director: Izuru Narushima Running time: 110 minutes Language: Japanese Currently showing [See Japan Times movie listings] Cops and crooks aren't supposed to be pals, but in any society they often become . . . acquaintances, if not quite allies....
JAPAN
Feb 4, 2004

Probe into dental group widens

Prosecutors have grilled former lawmaker Yukihiro Yoshida regarding donations from the Japan Dental Association, a major backer of the Liberal Democratic Party, investigative sources said Tuesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 4, 2004

GSDF to build high-tech Iraq fort

The roughly 90 Ground Self-Defense Force members who left Tuesday for Iraq will oversee the construction of what is expected to be one of the most high-tech, well-equipped forts on Earth.
JAPAN
Feb 4, 2004

Online conflict-prevention symposium ends on positive note

The fourth online symposium on conflict prevention closed last week with a review session that provided an overview of the nine-day Internet-based event.
JAPAN
Feb 4, 2004

Diet impasse comes to an end

Diet business returned to normal Tuesday afternoon.
JAPAN
Feb 4, 2004

Aum chemist fights to avoid the rope

Aum Shinrikyo's one-time chemist filed an appeal Tuesday against the death sentence he received last week for his role in producing the sarin gas used in two deadly nerve gas attacks and six other criminal counts.
BUSINESS
Feb 4, 2004

JAL to introduce new passenger class

Japan Airlines System Corp. said Tuesday it will offer a new class featuring larger seats on its domestic flights in June.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 4, 2004

G7 communique unlikely to touch on dollar's fall: 'Mr. Yen'

Japan will probably not gain support from the European Union in raising concerns over the dollar's recent decline during an upcoming meeting of Group of Seven finance chiefs, the man known as "Mr. Yen" said Tuesday.
EDITORIALS
Feb 4, 2004

More turmoil in Iran

Every year, Iran marks the return of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to his home country in 1979 with a 10-day celebration that begins on Feb. 1. This year, Iranians will have a special opportunity to ponder the meaning of the Islamic Republic that the Ayatollah created as Iran is in the midst of an unprecedented...
BUSINESS
Feb 4, 2004

Seiyu to push Olsen twins' products

A clothing line linked to Hollywood celebrity twins Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen will be sold at 90 supermarkets operated by Seiyu Ltd., beginning in August, Seiyu and U.S. partner Dualstar Entertainment Group said Tuesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 4, 2004

We wantsss it, we needsss it!

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Rating: * * * * (out of 5) Director: Peter Jackson Running time: 203 minutes Language: English Opens Feb. 14 [See Japan Times movie listings] It's February, so we must be in Middle Earth. The annual magical mystery tour through Tolkien's...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Feb 4, 2004

UNESCO top honor for bunraku puppet theater

On Nov. 7, 2003, bunraku was recognized by UNESCO as a World Intangible Cultural Heritage. The award cited the unique nature of Japan's indigenous puppet theater, and praised the realism with which it portrays human emotions.
BUSINESS
Feb 4, 2004

Auditing group seeks unity on bank scrutiny

A group of auditors and academics will ask the Financial Services Agency to examine efforts by banks to reconstruct their large corporate borrowers based on guidelines the group recently drew up.
BUSINESS
Feb 4, 2004

Digital goods boost Casio profit

Casio Computer Co. said Tuesday it posted a group net profit of 7.58 billion yen in the April-December period, reflecting brisk sales of digital consumer electronics products such as digital cameras and mobile phones.

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