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COMMENTARY / THE VIEW FROM MOSCOW
Jun 11, 2004

Simple visionary hastened Soviet collapse

MOSCOW -- Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who died last week after a long and dehumanizing struggle with Alzheimer's disease, will be remembered by most as one of the last great figures of the 20th century.
BUSINESS
Jun 11, 2004

Sales of used vehicles down 14%

Sales of used motor vehicles in Japan in May dropped 14 percent from a year earlier to 379,706 units, logging the biggest year-on-year fall on record, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Jun 11, 2004

Sharp moves to block Taiwan rival's sales of LCD televisions

Sharp Corp. has filed for a court injunction to halt sales of liquid crystal display televisions produced by Taiwan's Teco Electric and Machinery Co. group, claiming the firm is infringing on its patents, Sharp officials said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Jun 11, 2004

Wholesale prices rise 1.1% in biggest increase since '97

Wholesale prices in Japan rose 1.1 percent in May from the previous year, marking the highest rise in about 6 1/2 years, the Bank of Japan said in a preliminary report Thursday.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Jun 11, 2004

Serendipity in the sticks

I noticed a young boy staring at me from afar as I stood alone at the bus stop, poring over my tourist map. Then, with a shy smile and a face full of curiosity, he walked toward me. And when he got close enough for me to hear him, he opened his mouth and spoke.
BUSINESS
Jun 11, 2004

Nonresident investors turn net sellers of Japan stocks

Nonresident investors became net sellers of Japanese stocks for the first time in 14 months in May, with sales exceeding purchases by 52.6 billion yen on a contract basis, the Finance Ministry said Thursday.
BUSINESS
Jun 11, 2004

Current account surplus jumps 23.1%

Japan's current account surplus for April widened 23.1 percent from a year earlier to 1.58 trillion yen, backed by strong exports, the main engine behind the country's economic recovery, the Finance Ministry said Thursday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 11, 2004

Shiny future seen for self-cleaning glass

Windows that clean themselves may seem too good to be true, but so-called photocatalytic-cleaning glass is likely to take over this annoying chore.
EDITORIALS
Jun 10, 2004

Iraqi people's trust will be decisive

The people of Iraq may have mixed feelings about the interim government that came into existence last week, for it is an unelected government assembled ostensibly under the aegis of the United Nations but actually under the influence of the United States. Nevertheless, it is set to take over power from...
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 10, 2004

Japan smashes seven past India

SAITAMA -- Within five minutes of the Asia Zone Group 3 World Cup qualifier between Japan and India at Saitama Stadium 2002 on Wednesday, it was clear that the only interest in this game from a spectator's point of view would be how many Japan players could get their names on the scoresheet.
OLYMPICS
Jun 10, 2004

Yawara-chan to skip training camp

Ryoko Tani, who is aiming for her second straight Olympic gold medal in the women's 48-kg weight category, will sit out training in France after injuring her right ankle, women's national coach Kazuo Yoshimura said Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Jun 10, 2004

Kepco inks LNG deal with Sakhalin

Kyushu Electric Power Co. said Wednesday it has signed an agreement with an international consortium to buy liquefied natural gas to be tapped at the Sakhalin 2 gas field in Russia for 22 years beginning fiscal 2009.
SOCCER / J. League
Jun 10, 2004

Ilhan set for Vissel return

Turkish striker Ilhan Mansiz is set to return to J. League side Vissel Kobe after missing most of the first stage of competition.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 10, 2004

High oil prices yet to pose threat: ADB

High oil prices pose a risk to Japan's recovery only if they remain high for a long time, the vice president of finance and administration at the Asian Development Bank said Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Jun 10, 2004

Simmons to offer upmarket sofas

Furniture importer Simmons Co. announced Wednesday that the firm will start selling sofas and reclining chairs made by two Northern European furniture makers in August.
BUSINESS
Jun 10, 2004

Gasoline prices hit highest levels since April 1997

Retail gasoline prices in Japan rose to their highest levels this week since April 1997 as oil distributors passed on recent increases in wholesale prices triggered by higher crude prices, an industry group said Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Jun 10, 2004

Economy grew 1.5% in January-March period

The economy grew a real 1.5 percent in the January-March period from the previous quarter, revised upward from the initially reported 1.4 percent, due to a rise in private inventories to deal with growing demand, the government said Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Jun 10, 2004

Nintendo eyes revolution in game sector

Nintendo Co., which dominates the portable video-game machine market, said Wednesday it is developing a new home game console in an apparent attempt to catch up with rival Sony Corp.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / ANIMAL TRACKER
Jun 10, 2004

Snout butterfly

* Japanese name: Tengucho * Scientific name: Libythea celtis * Description: This butterfly with a wingspan of 19-29 mm is easily recognized: The upper sides of the wings are brown with large bright-orange and smaller white patches. The back edges of the forewing are deeply toothed. The Japanese name...
BUSINESS
Jun 10, 2004

Sumitomo close to tieup accord with Promise

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. is close to reaching an agreement with moneylender Promise Co. to form a capital and business alliance, sources close to the deal said Wednesday.
COMMENTARY
Jun 10, 2004

China woos influence with softer style

HONG KONG -- Publicly, American officials such as Secretary of State Colin Powell are saying that relations with China are the best they have ever been. Privately, however, policymakers are not shy about admitting that the two countries are engaged in a diplomatic contest in many arenas, most notably...
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Jun 10, 2004

Kicking up a storm over climate change

For those who cannot decide whether to see "The Day After Tomorrow," I sympathize. This recent Hollywood thriller that offers an apocalyptic portrayal of global climate change has me at odds with myself. I am torn between the desire to wallow in mindless hyperbole, and the fear of seeing an audience...
BUSINESS
Jun 10, 2004

Japan, China reveal mail target

Japan Post and China's State Postal Bureau have agreed to aim to double mail services between the two countries in the next three years, Japan Post said Wednesday.
MORE SPORTS
Jun 10, 2004

Campo hits out at disco-dancing robots, penny-pinching unions

It's probably fair to say that David Campese is not exactly at the top of the International Rugby Board's Christmas card list. Or for that matter the Australia Rugby Union's.

Longform

An illustration features the Japanese signs for "ganbare" (good luck) and the Deaflympics, which will be held between Nov. 15 and 26.
A century of Deaf sport finds its moment in Tokyo