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JAPAN
Jan 5, 2004

DPJ may agree to relax ban on weapons exports

The Democratic Party of Japan may consider supporting a government proposal to relax Japan's ban on exporting arms, DPJ leader Naoto Kan said Sunday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 5, 2004

Anatomy exhibit's real bodies prove popular draw

Women giggle and men turn pale at the "Mysteries of the Human Body" exhibition at the Tokyo International Forum in Chiyoda Ward.
JAPAN
Jan 5, 2004

New Komeito cautious on Iraq situation

New Komeito, despite its coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party, may oppose the dispatch of troops to Iraq if the security situation there worsens, its leader said Sunday.
EDITORIALS
Jan 5, 2004

Restoring a nuclear-energy policy

The Atomic Energy Commission's latest white paper, announced late last year for the first time in 5 1/2 years, is a reminder of the troubled condition of Japan's nuclear power industry. The report's publication had been delayed because of a series of irregularities and accidents that came to light in...
JAPAN
Jan 5, 2004

New Year's holidaymakers swamp planes, trains

Holidaymakers rushed to return home Sunday, with flights into Tokyo's Haneda airport fully booked and a record number of travelers expected at Narita, airline and airport officials said.
MORE SPORTS
Jan 5, 2004

Sunflowers bag fourth straight title

Noriko Hamaguchi of the Japan Energy Sunflowers shoots during the fourth quarter of the women's National Basketball Championship final.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 5, 2004

Continental chief pins airline's survival on service

HOUSTON -- "Break-even status" is the ultimate financial goal for Continental Airlines in the new year, even though there are some signs that the U.S. airline industry may finally be climbing out of its prolonged slump.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 5, 2004

Falling dollar barely changes trade flow

WASHINGTON -- We hear about record breaking declines in the value of the dollar, rising U.S. trade deficits and a retrenchment of inward investment flows. Cassandra-like voices point to the war-caused budget deficit, foresee a growing U.S. dependence on the mercy of foreigners and predict the imminent...
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 5, 2004

Contrived problem resists quick solution on Peninsula

LONDON -- In late autumn I attended a conference on the slopes of Mount Fuji. The focus of the conference was security issues in Northeast Asia, addressing the so-called nuclear threat from North Korea. It was a high-level conference with participants, including a minister of defense, from many countries...
COMMENTARY
Jan 5, 2004

Pro-U.S. stance on the line

U.S. political scientist Francis Fukuyama once predicted that the end of the Cold War would usher in an age when economic power would be the source of national strength. It seems his prophesy was off because of the policy stance of the Bush administration.
COMMENTARY
Jan 5, 2004

Tokyo, Seoul owe more than symbolism

WASHINGTON -- Deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is in custody, but the struggle to suppress Iraqi insurgents remains. Washington needs allied help to lighten its burden. The most generous aid should come from nations that the United States has defended for decades, particularly Japan and South Korea,...
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 5, 2004

What a liberal/conservative view means

MUNCIE, Indiana -- The new year is a good time to examine current applications and definitions of liberalism and conservatism. Writers to the letters section of newspapers often pen their missives in absolutes with few illustrations of what their ideological pronouncements mean or imply for citizens,...
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 5, 2004

As axis turns, Pyongyang feels the squeeze

...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 4, 2004

Is 'burying' carbon dioxide the cure for global warming?

As the world's largest emitters of carbon dioxide -- including Japan -- struggle to find quick and effective ways of cutting emissions to curb global warming, projects to store the gas underground are attracting public attention.
JAPAN
Jan 4, 2004

Vacationers swamp airports, stations

Japan's major airports and railway terminals were packed on Saturday with travelers returning from New Year's vacations in their hometowns and overseas, according to airport and railway authorities.
EDITORIALS
Jan 4, 2004

Ten words that mirror a year

It's the time of year when people try to make sense of the past 12 months by coming up with lists -- the best this and the worst that, what was in and what was out and, above all, Top 10 Everything. Some of the latter lists are so familiar and expected that New Year's wouldn't be the same without them:...
JAPAN
Jan 4, 2004

Planned new Tokyo bank threatens lenders that are presently struggling

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is beginning steps to establish a new bank to support small and medium-size companies in April 2005 by starting work on drawing up the details of its services, a task that will be completed by September.
JAPAN
Jan 4, 2004

North Korea blasts visit by Koizumi to Yasukuni

North Korea joined a chorus of criticism across Asia denouncing a surprise visit by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on New Year's Day to a shrine honoring the nation's war dead, warning Saturday it signaled a "revival of militarism."
MORE SPORTS
Jan 4, 2004

Ritsumeikan comes from behind

Quarterback Tetsuo Takata rushed for two touchdowns as Ritsumeikan University came from behind to defeat the Onward Skylarks 28-16 to claim its second consecutive championship at the Rice Bowl national championship on Saturday.
MORE SPORTS
Jan 4, 2004

Komazawa completes ekiden relay hat trick

Satoru Kasuya anchored Komazawa University to victory in the Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden road relay for the third straight year upon completion of the return legs of the 216.4-km race on Saturday.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / OLD NIC'S NOTEBOOK
Jan 4, 2004

It's time to stop looting Japan's tree treasures

A couple of decades ago, I had a very public confrontation with the government's Forestry Agency. It was about the cutting of old-growth deciduous forest around where I live in Kurohime, Nagano Prefecture -- trees that were hundreds of years old.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / PLAY BUTTON
Jan 4, 2004

Nothing lost in the digital translation

Sitting in his record distributor's office in a small house in Naka-Meguro, Riow Arai is ostensibly being interviewed. But he isn't answering questions, he is asking them.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jan 4, 2004

Jong gets the gong in 2003 media awards

Media person of the year: Kim Jong Il
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Jan 4, 2004

Innovative dance program aims to shift the balance

In the arena of artistic production, a publicly run performing arts facility on the Sea of Japan coast is issuing a challenge to Tokyo, the nation's center of cultural activity. The Niigata City Performing Arts Center (Ryutopia) has tapped Jo Kanamori, a 29-year-old star dancer and choreographer, to...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Jan 4, 2004

From mourning to 'magic'

It may be only mildly surprising that Japanese translations of the first four "Harry Potter" titles have racked up 16.5 million sales to date. It is, though, quite astonishing that the publisher is not an industry giant, but a small Tokyo firm with no previous best seller to its name.

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