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Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 19, 2003

Tanaka gets a stage in Diet as DPJ ally

The Democratic Party of Japan may have obtained a powerful weapon Tuesday to wield against Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi: former Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka.
MORE SPORTS
Nov 19, 2003

No Athens for Ai Sugiyama

Ai Sugiyama has decided not to compete at the 2004 Athens Olympics to avoid a scheduling conflict, tennis officials said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Nov 19, 2003

Koizumi, Kanzaki sign new policy agreement

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and New Komeito leader Takenori Kanzaki signed a new policy agreement Tuesday in preparation of kicking off their two-party ruling coalition led by the Liberal Democratic Party in the special Diet session that starts Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Nov 19, 2003

Japan told to lower farm trade barriers

Japan and other major industrialized nations should open up their agricultural markets to give developing countries the opportunity to sell their goods on an equal footing, according to Ian Goldin, vice president of the World Bank.
BUSINESS
Nov 19, 2003

Panel to urge taxation on rich elderly

A key tax panel decided Tuesday to urge the government to toughen taxation on the well-to-do elderly and scale down the tax break for mortgages in its fiscal 2004 tax reforms.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 19, 2003

Little Matsui hires Big Matsui's agent

Free agent infielder Kazuo Matsui, who on Monday announced his intention to try to play in the major leagues, has chosen Arn Tellem as his agent, baseball sources said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Nov 19, 2003

Turn the screws on North Korea: Ishiba

Defense Agency chief Shigeru Ishiba told visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly on Tuesday that pressure should be used when trying to ensure peace with North Korea.
BUSINESS
Nov 19, 2003

Tepco hurt by fallout from nuclear reactor closures

Tokyo Electric Power Co. posted an 86.85 billion yen net profit in the fiscal first half of 2003, down 44 percent from a year earlier.
JAPAN
Nov 19, 2003

Shots fired at Japanese Embassy in Baghdad

A group of several people fired a dozen shots at the Japanese Embassy in Baghdad early Tuesday morning, but nobody was injured, the Foreign Ministry said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 19, 2003

Keidanren comes out against carbon tax

The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) urged the Environment Ministry on Tuesday to think twice about introducing a carbon tax.
BUSINESS
Nov 19, 2003

Matsushita recalls faulty gas ovens

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. on Tuesday recalled a range of faulty gas ovens that have already caused four fires since last year.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Nov 19, 2003

Welcome to the Zen garden of the real

The artworks of an eminent father and son form the center of a striking exhibition that recently opened at Tokyo National Museum. On show in "Fusuma Paintings of Jukoin" are rare works by Kano Eitoku (1543-1590) and his father, Kano Shoei (1519-1592), which have been designated as national treasures....
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 19, 2003

Shiatsu to soothe the nervous Chihuahua?

Dog owners will readily say that just being around their pets helps ease their stress. But beyond petting and feeding, how can owners return the compliment and relieve their animals' tension? Or else just pamper them to the max?
BUSINESS
Nov 19, 2003

Yamanouchi, Fujisawa may forge tieup

Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co. and Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co. may integrate their business operations by 2005, company sources said Tuesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 19, 2003

Security key factor in future Japan-ASEAN tieup

Although the relationship between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has largely been an economic affair until now, it will cover political and security concerns in the years to come, according to ASEAN Secretary General Ong Keng Yong.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 19, 2003

NPSC chief admits more donations from rightist

The head of the agency that oversees the nation's police forces has admitted to receiving 1 million yen from a construction company whose chairman is a senior rightist.
BUSINESS
Nov 19, 2003

Casio, Hitachi to develop cell phones in joint venture

Casio Computer Co. and Hitachi Ltd. announced Tuesday they will set up a joint venture in April to develop cell phone handsets.
BUSINESS
Nov 19, 2003

Restore Japanese confidence in nuclear power: IEA

The International Energy Agency urged Japan on Tuesday to restore public confidence in nuclear energy in light of its plans to increase its nuclear power output by 30 percent by 2010.
BUSINESS
Nov 19, 2003

Meiji Dairies group profit up 42%

Meiji Dairies Corp. said Tuesday its fiscal first half group net profit improved 42.2 percent to 5.69 billion yen.
CULTURE / Art / NEW ART SEEN
Nov 19, 2003

A helping handyman

Watching Didier Courbot at work, you would probably think he was a nut.
JAPAN
Nov 19, 2003

Ishihara backs off on allegations against Fujii

Land minister Nobuteru Ishihara on Tuesday backtracked from an earlier statement that indicated Haruho Fujii, former chief of Japan Highway Public Corp., had threatened to fight his pending dismissal by disclosing sensitive information.
JAPAN
Nov 19, 2003

Japan will ink ASEAN peace pact

Bowing to strong overtures from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan has decided to sign a regional nonaggression treaty, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Tuesday.
COMMENTARY
Nov 19, 2003

China's social mores shift as economic growth soars

HONG KONG -- The profound economic changes that China has undergone in the last quarter century have resulted not only in dramatic skyscrapers in all its major cities and a marked rise in the standard of living, but also in changing social mores, with attitudes today contrasting sharply with those of...
COMMENTARY
Nov 19, 2003

Freedom of choice and the ACLU don't quite go together hand in hand

WASHINGTON -- Nadine Strossen, president of the American Civil Liberties Union, has written to ask me to become a "card-carrying member" of the ACLU. She explains: "There is no higher calling, nor greater reward, democracy can offer an individual than the opportunity to stand up for fundamental freedoms...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 19, 2003

Heads roll in NTV ratings scandal

Nippon Television Network Corp. Chairman Seiichiro Ujiie will resign as chief executive officer over a ratings manipulation scandal, NTV said Tuesday.

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