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COMMENTARY
Jun 5, 2003

For Russian Far Easterners, future lies in Northeast Asia

YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, Russia -- The Russian Far East is a vast territory of 6.2 million square kilometers. Although it is about one-third the size of the United States, it has less than 3 percent of the U.S. population. Largely neglected by Moscow, some 10 percent of the population has left in search of...
JAPAN
Jun 5, 2003

Panel approves bill to revise law covering sackings

The House of Representatives Committee on Health, Labor and Welfare approved Wednesday a bill to revise the Labor Standards Law to establish legislation on layoff rules for the first time.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / WILD WATCH
Jun 5, 2003

Winged wonders of nature -- and more

We humans share the world with perhaps as many as 100,000,000 species, yet among the most conspicuous and best-loved of all these are the mere 10,000 species of birds.
JAPAN
Jun 5, 2003

Panel approves bill to revise law covering sackings

The House of Representatives Committee on Health, Labor and Welfare approved Wednesday a bill to revise the Labor Standards Law to establish legislation on layoff rules for the first time.
BUSINESS
Jun 5, 2003

IMF offers a solution to deflation

A top International Monetary Fund official urged Japan on Wednesday to adopt a medium-term inflation target to help the country break out of a crippling deflationary trap.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / OLD NIC'S NOTEBOOK
Jun 5, 2003

A few tasty tales I squirreled away

There was a very brilliant but rather eccentric biologist in Montreal who was convinced -- or perhaps he just convinced us that he was convinced -- that the squirrels were not only watching him, but were stealing his secrets.
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Jun 5, 2003

Losing your mind may produce great art

Inevitably, we learn a lot about ourselves when something goes wrong. By studying what happens to people afflicted by various forms of brain degeneration, for example, we have learned a lot about how the brain works. This generally means that by understanding what goes wrong when specific parts of the...
BUSINESS
Jun 5, 2003

JGC wins Saudi Arabia contract

Plant engineering firm JGC Corp. said Wednesday it has won a lump-sum contract from Saudi Arabian Oil Co. (Saudi Aramco) to build cogeneration facilities at the state-run Saudi oil company's Berri gas plant.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle / MATTER OF COURSE
Jun 5, 2003

National hygiene begins in the classroom

I always like to hear from readers, but it's especially nice when they provide ideas for my column. Several wrote in recently about severe acute respiratory syndrome.
BUSINESS
Jun 5, 2003

Memo suggests FSA horseplay

Opposition lawmakers on Wednesday revealed what they claim is a letter and an internal memo from a Resona group whistle-blower suggesting that the Financial Services Agency pressured Resona to window-dress its capital adequacy ratio to prevent its insolvency from surfacing.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jun 5, 2003

Hatsushiba plays lion tamer as Marines edge past Seibu

Pinch hitter Kiyoshi Hatsushiba doubled home two runs to break a 3-3 tie in the seventh as the Chiba Lotte Marines edged the Seibu Lions 5-4 at Seibu Dome on Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Jun 5, 2003

Japan 'positive' about FTA talks

Japan is positive about starting official negotiations on bilateral free-trade agreements with the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Jun 5, 2003

Koizumi earns passing grade for structural reform drive

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi needs to accelerate the speed of structural reforms if he wants to get a better grade for his handling of the economy, the leader of a major business group said Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Jun 5, 2003

Rise predicted in account surplus

Japan's current account surplus will grow 9.6 percent to 14.618 trillion yen in fiscal 2003, the second-largest figure ever, thanks to record exports led by electrical equipment and automobiles, a group of trading houses said Wednesday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 5, 2003

Sogo, Seibu launch united gift campaign

Sogo Co. and Seibu Department Stores Ltd., which integrated their operations Sunday under the holding company Millennium Retailing Inc., officially kicked off summer gift campaigns Wednesday.
LIFE / Digital / NAME OF THE GAME
Jun 5, 2003

Back on the fast track

Sega's Sonic The Hedgehog, the video-gaming world's fastest little blue rodent in tennis shoes, has returned in style. After a string of games that have ranged from old hat to downright disappointing, "Sonic Advance 2" -- a new game created by Sega for Game Boy Advance -- serves as a good reminder of...
BUSINESS
Jun 5, 2003

Ohga to get 1.6 billion yen in Sony retirement deal

Sony Corp. plans to pay 1.6 billion yen in retirement allowances to Honorary Chairman Norio Ohga, who resigned as a board member in January, according to a company letter sent to shareholders by Wednesday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 5, 2003

Insurers' chief backs new law to cut yields

The chairman of the Life Insurance Association of Japan expressed approval Wednesday about amending a law to allow life insurance firms to cut the yields they guaranteed to policyholders.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 5, 2003

Former Duskin chief held on fund misuse

Tokyo prosecutors on Wednesday arrested the former chairman of Duskin Co. on suspicion of misusing some 180 million yen of the company's money to help an ailing firm run by a friend.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Jun 5, 2003

Japanese marten

* Japanese name: Nihon ten * Scientific name: Martes melampus * Description: Martens are weasel-like animals but much larger and more powerfully built. Males are 45-49 cm long (females 41-43 cm) and the tail adds another 17-20 cm. They weigh 1.3-5 kg. In winter they have orange fur and a white face,...
JAPAN
Jun 4, 2003

U.S. commander coming to speed up talks on missile defense

In a move to accelerate Japan's introduction of a missile defense system, U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz announced Tuesday that Washington will soon send its top missile commander to Tokyo.
JAPAN
Jun 4, 2003

Health ministry study turns up 124 malpractice cases

There were at least 124 cases of medical malpractice reported by public hospitals in fiscal 2002, up 31 from the previous year, according to a health ministry file released Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jun 4, 2003

Health ministry study turns up 124 malpractice cases

There were at least 124 cases of medical malpractice reported by public hospitals in fiscal 2002, up 31 from the previous year, according to a health ministry file released Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jun 4, 2003

8,326 traffic deaths in 2002 represent half of record high

There were 8,326 deaths resulting from traffic accidents last year, roughly half the total in 1970, when such deaths reached their peak, the government reported 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