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Apr 24, 2004

Matsuda, Yamamoto set for Athens

Takeshi Matsuda and Takashi Yamamoto both qualified for this summer's Athens Olympics by finishing first and second, respectively, in the men's 200-meter butterfly final at the swimming national championships on Friday. Matsuda came from behind to outpace national record holder Yamamoto in the final...
JAPAN
Apr 24, 2004

Violence drives aid workers out of Iraq

Intense violence in Iraq has driven Japanese civic aid organizations to scale back their operations there.
JAPAN
Apr 24, 2004

Japan still playing catchup on kids' measles vaccinations

Japan launched a campaign to get more children vaccinated against the measles in 2001, looking to catch up with other advanced nations that combat the disease in a much more aggressive fashion.
MULTIMEDIA
Apr 24, 2004

Rachad Farah

As he prepares to leave Japan for his next diplomatic posting, Rachad Farah, ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti, admits he cannot help but have "a heavy heart." He has been here 15 years, and to leave is wrenching even though he goes to an attractive new posting. For the last 10 years, he has been...
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2004

Mitsui O.S.K. lifts earnings forecast

Shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. said Friday it has raised its earnings forecast and dividend payment plan for fiscal 2003 as a market recovery and progress in cost cuts boosted its business.
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Apr 24, 2004

Barkley's commentary makes him look like a buffoon

NEW YORK -- As most of us with a pulse know all too well, Charles Barkley rarely says something that isn't stone stupid unless he has impounded somebody else's original thought. And TNT couldn't be prouder presenting its Master of the Oblivious.
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2004

Lower House OKs bill to prop up ailing banks

The House of Representatives approved a bill Friday that would allow the government to funnel taxpayer money into financial institutions even if they are not insolvent.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Apr 24, 2004

The Catch in publishing posters, cards, calendars

Meeting Frances Koston in May 2003 after a gap of years, she presented me with a clutch of postcards bearing beautifully printed images of early hand-tinted Japanese photographs. Just last month she came up with a collection of greeting cards of century-old textile prints, again originating in Japan....
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2004

Bank bill seen unlikely to stabilize financial system

A government-sponsored bill to prop up struggling financial institutions with public funds is apparently designed to boost investor confidence.
JAPAN
Apr 24, 2004

Repercussions for MMC could be terminal: analysts

The sudden decision by DaimlerChrysler AG to halt further financial support to ailing Mitsubishi Motors Corp. has forced the Japanese automaker to drastically reconsider its restructuring program, analysts said.
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2004

Tertiary industry activity index falls

Japan's tertiary industry activity index plunged in February from January, marking the largest margin of decline in seven years, the government said Friday.
JAPAN
Apr 24, 2004

Kawaguchi spends the day in bed

Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi remained at home Friday after leaving early from a Diet session a day earlier and canceling appointments due to fatigue, ministry spokesman Hatsuhisa Takashima said.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 24, 2004

National security rests on linguistic skills

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- English is without a doubt the world's lingua franca. It's spoken by more than 400 million people as their native tongue and many others speak it as their second language.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST
Apr 24, 2004

When L's and R's go mad

Having spent much of my life perplexed by Japan, I admit to a little "payback" delight whenever I catch Japan perplexed by the West. It seems it doesn't happen so often.
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2004

China dominant player in seafood markets

China is fast expanding its presence in fisheries markets in Japan and elsewhere, a government report said Friday.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 24, 2004

Gradual, orderly progress works for H.K.

HONG KONG -- No one doubts that the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in Beijing has the "power of interpretation" for Hong Kong -- it is expressly set out in the Basic Law itself. But there has, nevertheless, been criticism on various grounds.
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2004

Investment companies to form tieup

Softbank Investment Corp. and Hong Kong investment company SW Kingsway Capital Holdings Ltd. will set up joint ventures in Japan and Hong Kong in mid-May to help Japanese and Chinese firms advance into Japanese and Hong Kong markets, Softbank Investment said Friday.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Apr 24, 2004

Man who watched tide come in goes out

I held the "fude" calligraphy pen and watched the paper absorb the first dab of ink as the tip of the pen touched the envelope. In my best possible "gaijin kanji," I wrote "gokoryou" along with my name in "katakana" at the bottom. Into this envelope I put a 5,000 yen bill.
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2004

MHI to make line for wing sections of new Boeing 7E7

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Inc. said Friday it will build a new production line to make wing sections for Boeing Inc.'s planned 7E7 airliner in an investment maneuver reportedly expected to be worth 50 billion yen.
EDITORIALS
Apr 23, 2004

Mr. Vajpayee has reason to smile

India ushered in the world's largest democratic pageant this week as it began the first phase of national elections. The vote will stretch out over three weeks, with counting and final results set for May 13. Blistering economic growth appears to be the springboard for yet another parliamentary majority...

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