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BUSINESS
Nov 29, 2002

Cigarette tax examined as reform item

A tax hike on cigarettes is being considered as part of tax reforms for fiscal 2003, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Thursday.
JAPAN
Nov 29, 2002

Hachiyo solicited funds during dividend default

A defunct Okinawa-based health-food firm that allegedly engaged in a Ponzi scheme collected about 1.7 billion yen from investors even on the day it failed to pay dividends, sources said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Nov 29, 2002

NTT phone access fees should stay same: panel

A Lower House panel said Thursday that interconnection fees charged by NTT East Corp. and NTT West Corp. to other carriers for accessing their phone lines should remain unchanged for the 2003 business year.
JAPAN
Nov 29, 2002

Insurance system for elderly eyed

In an attempt to ease the financial strain of a rapidly aging society, a panel from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party released an interim report Thursday that calls for the establishment of an independent medical insurance system into which those aged 75 and older would have to contribute.
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2002

Pyongyang won't talk nukes with Japan

North Korea will discuss its nuclear weapons program only with the United States, diplomatic sources said Wednesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2002

Shelter for 300 street people opens in Osaka Castle Park

OSAKA -- The Osaka Municipal Government on Wednesday opened the city's third shelter for homeless people at a park in Chuo Ward.
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2002

Japan to continue dialogue about Jenkins with U.S.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Wednesday that Japan plans to continue consultations with the United States about a U.S. deserter married to a Japanese national abducted by North Korea, following the U.S. defense chief's remarks on the issue.
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2002

Diet enacts Postal Law amendment

The Diet on Wednesday enacted an amendment to the Postal Law aimed at expanding the scope of the government's liability for erroneous delivery of registered mail and parcels.
BUSINESS
Nov 28, 2002

Shiokawa now urges 5 trillion yen bond limit

Underscoring the need for fiscal restraint, Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa said Wednesday he wants to keep the issuance of new government bonds under 5 trillion yen when compiling an extra budget for fiscal 2002.
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2002

Microsoft to reveal source code to Japan, which has eyed Linux

Microsoft Corp. will disclose the source code of the Windows operating system to the Japanese government in line with the government's e-Japan project, company officials said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2002

More nations wanted for '05 expo

Lawmakers helping to prepare for the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi Prefecture pledged Wednesday to step up efforts to invite more countries to become official participants.
BUSINESS
Nov 28, 2002

Vehicle exports accelerate 6.8%

Exports of cars, trucks and buses rose 6.8 percent in October from a year before to 402,608 vehicles, up for the 10th straight month, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2002

Lower House panel OKs bill on financial aid for abductees

A House of Representatives committee approved a bill Wednesday that would allow the government to provide financial support for Japanese abducted to North Korea who return to Japan.
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2002

Two arrested in swindle of NTT Communications

Two people, including a former employee of NTT Communications Corp., were arrested Wednesday for allegedly defrauding the firm out of some 200 million yen by padding payments for electronic devices, Tokyo police said.
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2002

Opposition bloc idea popular but may be doomed

In an apparent effort to boost their leverage against the ruling coalition, leaders of two opposition parties on Wednesday expressed eagerness to push forward with a plan to form a joint parliamentary group among the Democratic Party of Japan, the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2002

Housing quest still tall order for foreigners

One of the first hurdles for people planning to work or study abroad is securing a place to live.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2002

'Multicultural studio' offers hope

Teenagers gathered one weekday evening at an old two-story building next to a housing project in a Yokohama suburb.
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2002

Hardline aide has Koizumi's ear when it comes to Pyongyang policy

A foreign policy hardliner has gained a stronger presence in the administration since he accompanied Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to Pyongyang for his historic Sept. 17 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Nov 28, 2002

China's Yao making giant strides in first month in NBA

MEMPHIS -- Yao Ming is almost making me forget about Priest Lauderdale.
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2002

World Cup spurs South Korea exchanges

Following Japan and South Korea's cohosting of the World Cup soccer finals last summer, 36 prefectural governments have held or will hold 123 sports exchanges with South Korean teams in fiscal 2002, according to a survey conducted by the sports ministry.
BUSINESS
Nov 28, 2002

Orient plans to liquidate four more subsidiaries

Struggling consumer credit firm Orient Corp. said Wednesday it will liquidate four more financial subsidiaries to bolster the rehabilitation efforts of the parent company.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 28, 2002

Irabu close to signing deal with Hanshin

OSAKA -- Right-hander Hideki Irabu, who was released by American League club Texas Rangers earlier this month, is on the verge of signing for the Hanshin Tigers, Hanshin sources said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2002

Diet enacts law on intellectual property rights

The Diet enacted a basic intellectual property law Wednesday that the government hopes will promote the emergence of eminent scientists like Koichi Tanaka, who won the 2002 Nobel Prize in chemistry.

Longform

Sociologist Gracia Liu-Farrer argues that even though immigration doesn't figure into Japan's autobiography, it is more of a self-perception than a reality.
In search of the ‘Japanese dream’