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COMMENTARY / THE VIEW FROM MOSCOW
Jan 7, 2004

Putin's plan takes aim at democracy

MOSCOW -- 2004 is a leap year. Merely an astronomical convenience in most countries, in Russia a leap year has been traditionally regarded as a bad year, potentially charged with calamities. Ironically enough, none of the country's worst years was a leap year: neither 1917, when the Communists took power,...
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2004

Obituary: Tomokazu Sakamoto

Tomokazu Sakamoto, former chairman of NHK, died Wednesday of liver failure, NHK said Monday. He was 86.
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2004

Fallout over Yasukuni continues

South Korean Ambassador to Japan Cho Se Hyung voiced further anger Monday over the visit paid by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to Yasukuni Shrine on New Year's Day.
EDITORIALS
Jan 6, 2004

Danger signs in Serbia

It would be easy to dismiss the results of last week's poll in Serbia as "a protest vote." The strong showing of hardline nationalists certainly reflects the country's economic difficulties and the humiliations that have followed the war-crimes trials of former leaders. The problem is the nationalists...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2004

Sumo ranks' crime patrols also good PR

The night echoes with the heavy footsteps of sumo wrestlers, moving slowly and casting sharp glances, but their opponents this time will not stand before them under the bright lights of the elevated clay "dohyo" ring.
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2004

Koizumi opens year with Iraq-dispatch resolve

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reiterated his resolve Monday to send Ground Self-Defense Force troops to Iraq to help in the country's reconstruction, despite the repeated attacks there believed carried out by insurgents and terrorist elements.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2004

Family plot not for all women

Women in Japan may have made great strides in deciding how they live their lives, but such freedom has yet to translate into their final resting place.
BUSINESS
Jan 6, 2004

Official slams U.S. response to mad cow

Vice Agriculture Minister Yoshiaki Watanabe voiced doubt Monday over the effectiveness of safety measures announced by Washington last week in the wake of the discovery of the first case of mad cow disease in the United States.
BUSINESS
Jan 6, 2004

Rakuten, Lawson in ticket alliance

Rakuten Inc., the nation's largest Internet shopping mall operator, and convenience store operator Lawson Inc. said Monday they have forged an alliance on selling tickets for concerts, movies and other kinds of entertainment.
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2004

Three arrested over fatal assault

A mobster and two others have been arrested in connection with a deadly assault on a man last week in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, police said Monday.
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2004

NEC caught overcharging Defense Agency 63 million yen

NEC Corp. overcharged the Defense Agency a combined 63 million yen between 1997 and 2001 in five equipment contracts, according to internal agency documents obtained Monday by Kyodo News.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 6, 2004

Mobile phone giants strive for pre-eminence in 3G market

Anticipating that third-generation services will dominate the mobile phone market within a few years, NTT DoCoMo Inc., KDDI Corp., and Vodafone K.K. are rolling out new handsets with a range of advanced 3G functions.
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Jan 6, 2004

Freedom of speech

Consider this: You are a student in a Japanese J.H.S. Your native language may or may not be Japanese, but you are learning English as a second language like everyone else.
BUSINESS
Jan 6, 2004

Sales of new vehicles rise for first time in three years

Domestic sales of new motor vehicles, excluding minicars, rose 1.5 percent in 2003 to 4.03 million units, the first year-on-year increase in three years, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Monday.
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2004

Crack found in landing gear of another JAS MD-81

Japan Air System said Monday it has found a small crack in the landing gear of one of its MD-81 jetliners, after another MD-81's main left gear collapsed Thursday as the aircraft braked after landing.
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2004

Golf courses and gardens may be added to CO2 calculation

Japan may include golf courses and gardens in residential and public areas, including those at shrines, in carbon dioxide absorption calculations to meet its goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, Environment Ministry officials said Monday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jan 6, 2004

Do you want to travel to Japan?

Sam Kanne Broadcasting, 25
COMMENTARY
Jan 6, 2004

Delegation: good intentions, bad idea

HONOLULU -- Some unsolicited advice to professors, congressmen, former ambassadors and other ex-diplomats, and anyone seeking a Nobel Peace Prize nomination: if you really want to help resolve the nuclear standoff on the Korean Peninsula, stay home!
BUSINESS
Jan 6, 2004

Move afoot for retaining phone numbers

Discussions have finally begun on allowing mobile phone users to keep the same number if they switch carriers, and thus avoid the hassle of having to inform all their contacts about a new number.

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