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BUSINESS
Nov 20, 2002

Construction firms savaged by economic slump

Hit by shrinkages in both the public and private sector markets, four of the nation's five largest construction companies on Tuesday reported sharp falls in both sales and profits in the fiscal first half.
BUSINESS
Nov 20, 2002

DVD group to license audio patents

An industry body representing seven developers of DVD technology and formats said Tuesday it will start global licensing of patents for DVD-audio and recordable DVD products in early January.
BUSINESS
Nov 20, 2002

Tepco profit melts in wake of lower charges fallout

Tokyo Electric Power Co. announced Tuesday that its group net profit for the first half of fiscal 2002 dropped 11.9 percent to 155.88 billion yen on a year-on-year basis, due largely to an April cut in electricity charges.
BUSINESS
Nov 20, 2002

Four megabanks hit 2002 intraday lows

Shares in Japan's major banks tumbled Tuesday amid concerns over the nation's financial system, with the four biggest banks all hitting intraday lows for the year and Mizuho Holdings Inc. sinking below the key 100,000 yen mark.
BUSINESS
Nov 20, 2002

UFJ may integrate bank operations

The UFJ financial group may integrate the banking operations of UFJ Bank and UFJ Trust Bank by around January 2005, group officials said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Nov 20, 2002

Major automakers increase profits

Despite a stagnant domestic economy, the nation's major automakers managed to boost consolidated profits for the April-September period, thanks to a weaker yen and cost-cutting efforts, according to earnings reports released by Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Nov 20, 2002

Tax panel gets early jump on fiscal 2003 reform plan

The Tax Commission on Tuesday proposed a reform plan for fiscal 2003 that would attempt to boost the economy by allowing tax cuts for corporate activity and to secure more revenue by reducing exemptions for individuals.
EDITORIALS
Nov 20, 2002

War must not be seen as inevitable

U.N. weapons inspectors are back in Iraq after a four-year hiatus. An advance team of about 30, accompanied by Mr. Hans Blix, head of the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, and Mr. Mohamed ElBaradei, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, arrived in Baghdad on Monday...
JAPAN
Nov 20, 2002

Cabinet OKs six-month extension of support for war on terror

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a six-month extension of Japan's logistic support for antiterror operations led by the United States.
JAPAN
Nov 20, 2002

Crimes set record high, arrests record low in '01

Last year saw a record 2.74 million Penal Code violations, excluding traffic offenses, up 12 percent from 2000, but the arrest rate fell to a postwar low of 19.8 percent, the government reported Tuesday, adding that although foreigners committed a small percentage of the crimes, their offenses were models...
JAPAN
Nov 20, 2002

State seeks job opportunities for youngsters

The government urged business leaders Tuesday to boost employment opportunities for high school graduates and other juveniles who find it increasingly difficult to find jobs.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Nov 20, 2002

Tiger shrugs off rust in exhibition win over Choi

MIYAZAKI -- Some of the biggest names in golf Tuesday got their first taste of the conditions they are likely to face ahead of the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament starting on Thursday in Miyazaki when they competed in a light-hearted, made-for-TV exhibition match.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 20, 2002

Pedicabs try 'eco-trendy' revival

When the brightly colored vehicles debuted in Tokyo's fashionable Omotesando district in mid-October, they turned heads and passersby wondered if some special event was afoot.
JAPAN
Nov 20, 2002

Ruling bloc nixes Diet testimony by former North Korean agent

A proposed Diet appearance by a former North Korean agent was effectively canceled Tuesday after ruling coalition parties said they oppose inviting him to the legislature.
BUSINESS
Nov 20, 2002

Monetary policy to go unchanged

As stock prices continue to slide, the Bank of Japan made a rare announcement Tuesday that it will flood the market with yen to the limit of its current policy.
JAPAN
Nov 20, 2002

Aum members launch residency suit

OSAKA -- Three Aum Shinrikyo cult members have filed a damages lawsuit against the city of Suita, Osaka Prefecture, for rejecting their residency registration applications last month, Suita officials said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Nov 20, 2002

Lower House OKs privatization bills

The House of Representatives passed bills Tuesday to turn 49 special-purpose public corporations into independent or privatized entities.
BASEBALL / MLB
Nov 20, 2002

Giambi sees big things ahead for 'Godzilla'

As hard as it is to imagine a Japanese ballplayer batting in the heart of the order for the New York Yankees, Jason Giambi won't second-guess Hideki Matsui's potential.
COMMENTARY
Nov 20, 2002

North Korean motives fan speculation

SEOUL -- I have given a series of lectures on U.S. Asia policy in the weeks since the revelation about North Korea's secret nuclear weapons program. While the audiences and locations in South Korea, Japan and the United States have varied widely, the questions have been remarkably similar. Along with...
JAPAN
Nov 20, 2002

Judges, prosecutors face pay cut

The Judicial Affairs Committee of the House of Councilors approved bills Tuesday to cut the monthly salaries of judges and prosecutors by an average of 2.1 percent.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES
Nov 20, 2002

"Captain Trip Records Sampler Vol. 1"

The fact that major record labels in Japan fail to tap the wealth of excellent underground bands undoubtedly irks a lot of these groups who -- with live, recording and practice schedules to keep -- cannot take up salaried jobs and instead have to work arubaito on a permanent basis. They carry on with...
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Nov 20, 2002

Expos evoke memories of Japan's 'gypsies'

There's a lot of speculation about what will happen to the Montreal Expos and where the team will play its home games during the 2003 season.

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’