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SUMO
May 13, 2004

There's no stopping Asashoryu

Asashoryu remained in total control at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday as the fiery yokozuna spanked winless Dejima to stay unbeaten on the fourth day of the 15-day meet.
JAPAN
May 13, 2004

SARS, 9/11 stymie high school students' trips abroad

Fewer high school students went abroad on school-sponsored trips in fiscal 2002, declining for the first time, according to a biennial survey by the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry.
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
May 13, 2004

Spurs, Pistons create 'mother of all moribund monstrosities'

LOS ANGELES -- And you thought the NFL was "One for All, All for One." That was until Camp David sent out that "make-these-series-competitive-or-else" memo . . . and the Spurs and Pistons compassionately complied.
JAPAN
May 13, 2004

Spouses banned as state-paid aides

The Diet enacted a new law Wednesday making it illegal for lawmakers to hire their spouses as state-paid secretaries, following a series of embezzlement scandals involving politicians.
JAPAN
May 13, 2004

Collection a glimpse of occupied Japan

Waseda University researchers will hold a seminar Thursday to release studies on Japanese publications collected for review by American military censors in postwar occupied Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 13, 2004

Ozawa undecided about taking DPJ helm

Ichiro Ozawa, deputy head of the Democratic Party of Japan, gave a guarded response Wednesday to a formal request that he assume the party's presidency following the resignation of DPJ leader Naoto Kan over his failure to pay mandatory pension premiums.
JAPAN
May 13, 2004

Male torso found in bag at park

The torso of an adult male was found in a bag at a park in Tokyo's Sumida Ward early Wednesday morning, police said.
JAPAN
May 13, 2004

SARS, 9/11 stymie high school students' trips abroad

Fewer high school students went abroad on school-sponsored trips in fiscal 2002, declining for the first time, according to a biennial survey by the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry.
BUSINESS
May 13, 2004

Foreign reserves fall amid lull in market intervention

Japan's foreign-exchange reserves fell in April for the first time in eight months because the government refrained from intervening in the currency market to weaken the yen, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
May 13, 2004

Barbie has the perfect body, biologically speaking

A woman with large breasts and a small waist. It's what all men want, isn't it? Western men are often cited as -- or accused of -- being obsessed with the large breasts/small waist ideal. It objectifies women, some women say.
BUSINESS
May 13, 2004

Honda to build Ohio paint facility

Honda Motor Co. said Wednesday its U.S. subsidiary will spend $123 million to construct a new paint facility at one of its two plants in Ohio.
EDITORIALS
May 13, 2004

Thailand's angry south

Violence in southern Thailand has raised fears of wider unrest in Southeast Asia. The possibility of sectarian conflict is very real following the deaths of more than 100 people in recent incidents. It is still unclear what has triggered the violence, but the Thai government's handling of the situation...
JAPAN
May 13, 2004

Spouses banned as state-paid aides

The Diet enacted a new law Wednesday making it illegal for lawmakers to hire their spouses as state-paid secretaries, following a series of embezzlement scandals involving politicians.
JAPAN
May 13, 2004

Obituary: Masami Tashiro

Masami Tashiro, managing director of Keizai Koho Center, the public relations arm of the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren), died of liver cancer Wednesday. He was 55.
BUSINESS
May 13, 2004

KDDI develops digital TV handset

Telecom carrier KDDI Corp. said Wednesday it has developed Japan's first prototype of a mobile phone that allows users to view terrestrial digital television programs and obtain various data linked to the programs, such as audience ratings.
OLYMPICS
May 13, 2004

Japanese women need one more volleyball win

Japan took a big step toward this summer's Athens Olympics after swatting aside Puerto Rico 3-0 to record its fourth straight win in the women's final Olympic qualifying tournament Wednesday.
JAPAN
May 13, 2004

Princess' household may show more consideration

The head of the Crown Prince's Household said Wednesday that he takes seriously Crown Prince Naruhito's recently stated dissatisfaction with the environment surrounding his wife, Crown Princess Masako.
JAPAN
May 13, 2004

Envoys killed by terrorists, not robbers: report

Last November's assassination of two Japanese diplomats in Iraq was probably a terrorist attack instead of a robbery, the Foreign Ministry said in a report issued Wednesday.
BUSINESS
May 13, 2004

Konami gets a kick back into profitability

Konami Corp. said Wednesday it returned to profitability in fiscal 2003 on strong overseas sales of soccer video games.
BUSINESS
May 13, 2004

Japan to seek better tax deals with Asia

Japan will propose revising tax pacts with other Asian economies at a meeting this weekend, hoping that lower levies will boost cross-border business and investment, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
May 13, 2004

Mudskipper

* Japanese name: Tobihaze * Scientific name:Periophthalmus sp. * Description: Mudskippers are fish with eyes on the top of the head (not at the sides like in most other fish) and with front (pectoral) fins that are more like legs than fins. They are olive-brown in color, have sharp teeth and large...
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 13, 2004

Ozawa undecided about taking DPJ helm

Ichiro Ozawa, deputy head of the Democratic Party of Japan, gave a guarded response Wednesday to a formal request that he assume the party's presidency following the resignation of DPJ leader Naoto Kan over his failure to pay mandatory pension premiums.
JAPAN
May 13, 2004

Male torso found in bag at park

The torso of an adult male was found in a bag at a park in Tokyo's Sumida Ward early Wednesday morning, police said.
BUSINESS
May 13, 2004

Daiei, while still ailing, now deemed 'out of intensive care unit'

Once a month, bank officials in charge of struggling Daiei Inc.'s financial affairs hold a meeting to assess how well the leading supermarket chain is rebuilding.
BUSINESS
May 13, 2004

Consumer sentiment up in April

Consumer sentiment in Japan improved in April from the previous month, with a nationwide consumer confidence index climbing to the highest level in more than seven years, the government said Wednesday.
JAPAN
May 13, 2004

Cops' use of rubber gags questioned

The Japan Federation of Bar Associations urged police authorities Wednesday to stop using rubber gags in the wake of reports that a man detained at a police station in Wakayama died last month after one was used on him.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji