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Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 25, 2003

Tokyo under pressure to do more to upgrade ASEAN state economies

The success of Japan's proposal for a comprehensive economic partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations depends greatly on Tokyo's "strong interest and capacity to assist ASEAN's industrial upgrading and competitiveness," said Hank Lim, director for research with the Singapore Institute...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 25, 2003

Travel agencies open theme branches to lick SARS, Iraq war

Amid the sharp decline in the number of Japanese taking overseas trips, travel agencies are opening novelty branches to lure customers.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 25, 2003

Competition showcases diplomats' Japanese-language skills

Some took the opportunity to look back on the historical relationship between their countries and Japan. Others focused on everyday life in today's Tokyo, like sending e-mail by mobile phone.
JAPAN
Apr 25, 2003

Arsonist appeals death sentence

A man sentenced to death for the murder of six people in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, by setting fire to a jewelry shop and stealing 140 million yen worth of jewels filed an appeal against the ruling with the Supreme Court on Thursday, his lawyers said.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Apr 25, 2003

Un Cafe: I'm falling in love again

Going back to favorite restaurants after a gap of several years is much like meeting up with an old flame after being out of touch for too long. Anticipation is likely to be tempered by a good measure of anxiety. How have they changed? What if they don't look so good any more, or they've gone to fat,...
LIFE / Food & Drink / VINELAND
Apr 25, 2003

When necrophilia isn't best

One of the perennial debates among wine lovers is whether wine is best drunk straight on release, after five or 10 years, or decades down the road. Even collectors and winemakers can't agree, leading to understandable confusion among the rest of us. And cultural differences also come into play, spawning...
BASEBALL / MLB
Apr 24, 2003

Takatsu sets saves record as Swallows swoop late

Yakult rallied for five runs in the top of the ninth to take the lead and closer Shingo Takatsu worked the ninth to notch his 230th career save and set the Japan record as the Swallows beat the Yomiuri Giants 8-6 at Tokyo Dome.
SUMO
Apr 24, 2003

Yokozuna Asashoryu takes over elite east slot

Asashoryu, who made his debut as a yokozuna in March, occupies the prestigious east slot for the first time as the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) released its rankings for the upcoming Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2003

Accounting decision due before June

A private accounting-standards body will decide whether to freeze mark-to-market rules on corporate securities holdings by the end of May, according to organization officials.
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2003

More proposals target stock falls

The ruling coalition reached a basic agreement Wednesday over more proposals aimed at halting the stock market decline, according to coalition lawmakers.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 24, 2003

Responding to provocations

SINGAPORE -- In late February and early March, North Korea launched two antiship cruise missiles in the direction of Japan. Japan tried its best to downplay the events. In the first instance, it said the 90-km test did not technically violate the North's moratorium on ballistic-missile tests. After the...
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2003

Work to be done in Kansai to attract cash

OSAKA -- Kansai offers great potential for foreign direct investment -- but numerous problems are deterring foreign firms from doing business in the region, according to American and Japanese participants at a seminar Wednesday in Osaka.
JAPAN
Apr 24, 2003

Death sentence for killer confirmed

The Tokyo High Court on Wednesday upheld the death sentence for a man convicted of murdering six female employees during a jewelry store raid in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, in June 2000.
JAPAN
Apr 24, 2003

Outlying regions want a piece of the action, too

Anticipating that the upcoming Visit Japan campaign will prove successful, businesses and local governments are developing strategies to draw prospective foreign tourists out of major cities and into their regions.
EDITORIALS
Apr 24, 2003

Quick action needed to stabilize Iraq

Last Sunday marked one month since the war began in Iraq. The United States and its allies have yet to declare victory, but for all intents and purposes the military operation is over. In fact, the fighting in strategic areas ended in less than four weeks, making this war one of the shortest in history....
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2003

Shinsei Bank slashes bad loans 80%

Shinsei Bank said Wednesday that its outstanding bad loans as of March 31 will likely come to 233.2 billion yen, down 880.4 billion yen -- or nearly 80 percent -- from a year earlier.
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2003

Nissan reports record operating profit

Nissan Motor Co. announced Wednesday a record group operating profit of 737 billion yen for the year through March, up 50.7 percent from the previous year, thanks mainly to increased car sales at home and reduced purchasing costs.
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Apr 24, 2003

Feedback

Dear readers, as you rarely get the last word, this week's column aims to put that right. Two weeks ago, I wrote about the dangers of our society's addiction to oil, and noted that much of the world still believes the primary purpose of the U.S. invasion of Iraq was to dominate its oil supplies and establish...
JAPAN
Apr 24, 2003

332 municipalities inappropriately gave SDF data on youths

More than 300 municipalities across the country have provided the Defense Agency with personal data on teenage residents that should not have been shared, Defense Agency chief Shigeru Ishiba said Wednesday.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Apr 24, 2003

Bottlenose dolphin

* Japanese name: Bandou iruka * Scientific name: Tursiops truncatus * Description: Dolphins are marine mammals, toothed whales, with a broad dorsal fin and a long snout with a characteristic "smile." They grow to between 1.9 and 4 meters long, and weigh 90-650 kg, living for up to 50 years. The dorsal...
Japan Times
JAPAN / IN WITH THE NEW
Apr 24, 2003

DPJ's Noda intent on pursuing noble cause in Diet

Before Yoshihiko Noda took over as Diet affairs chief of the Democratic Party of Japan in December, his early morning weekday schedule was set in stone.
CULTURE / Books / THE BOOK REPORT
Apr 24, 2003

Challenging English at 65

April is traditionally the time of new beginnings in Japan, at school and at work. Novelist Sae Shuichi, however, makes it a practice to embark on a new project every five years. At 55, for example, he took up kendo. And at 65, as detailed in his latest book, "65-sai Ojisan no Eikaiwa Benkyo ga Tanoshiku...
JAPAN
Apr 24, 2003

Merger to create monster law firm

Nishimura & Partners and Tokiwa Sogo Law Offices said Wednesday they have agreed to merge Jan. 1.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 24, 2003

Getting serious about tourism -- finally

Japan is finally getting serious about attracting some foreign visitors to its shores.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 24, 2003

Tokyo should act as model, Ishihara says

Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, at the outset of his second four-year term on Wednesday, stressed that metropolitan government officials should act as a model for the nation.

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