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JAPAN
Jun 25, 2002

Sediment dioxin standard proposed

An Environment Ministry advisory committee recommended Monday that an environmental standard for dioxin in the sediment of rivers and other bodies of water be set at 150 picograms per gram.
JAPAN
Jun 25, 2002

Suzuki determined to keep Diet seat

House of Representatives lawmaker Muneo Suzuki, who was arrested last week over an alleged bribery scandal, renewed his determination Monday to stay in the Diet despite the passing of a nonbinding resolution by the Lower House demanding his resignation.
JAPAN
Jun 25, 2002

Critics question results of child behavior study

Children who suddenly run amok or act violently without reason are reacting against bad home environments and not their teachers, according to a report on a survey released recently by an affiliate of the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 25, 2002

Former chief of Jichiro convicted of tax evasion

The Tokyo District Court on Monday sentenced Morishige Goto, a former head of the All-Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers Union (Jichiro), to a suspended 18-month prison term for tax evasion related to the union's income.
JAPAN
Jun 25, 2002

Chiyoda Ward enacts smoking ban

The Chiyoda Ward Assembly in Tokyo enacted a local ordinance Monday prohibiting smoking on sidewalks in several busy areas.
JAPAN
Jun 25, 2002

Koizumi expresses regret over info-seeker scandal

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi voiced regret Monday over the "confusion" the Defense Agency caused by initially withholding the full report of an in-house probe into a scandal involving background checks on people seeking information.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 25, 2002

Shenyang highlights bilateral problems

BEIJING -- Although the furor raised by the two-week dispute over the Shenyang incident has died down, it has not entirely dissipated -- particularly in Japan. The incident highlighted Japan's sensitivity toward China's growing power, and demonstrated that if frictions in this area are not effectively...
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 25, 2002

Nuclear taboo remains strong

Recent comments by leading Japanese politicians have raised international concern about Tokyo's nuclear intentions. Those fears are misplaced: Japan's nuclear taboo remains as powerful as ever. The comments do signal growing frustration within Japan's policy community over the need for a long-delayed...
BUSINESS
Jun 25, 2002

No plea to WTO over China curbs

Japan will not ask the World Trade Organization to set up a dispute-settlement panel to rule on the legitimacy of steel import curbs imposed by China, a top trade official said Monday.
BUSINESS / ON MANAGEMENT
Jun 25, 2002

Nosy bosses foul up

Every CEO needs to know how to strike a balance between staying aloof from the nitty-gritty of his company's operations and getting too involved in the day-to-day details of those employees and divisions far from the corner office.
JAPAN
Jun 25, 2002

Elderly, disabled encouraged to get their motors running

The elderly and the physically and mentally impaired across Japan are being encouraged to get out of their homes and take to the streets on motorized carts.
BUSINESS
Jun 25, 2002

Nissho Iwai to tie up with Excel unit

Nissho Iwai Logistics Corp. said Monday it has reached a tieup agreement with the Japan unit of Britain's largest distribution firm, Excel PLC.
BUSINESS
Jun 25, 2002

U.S. station CNBC buys into TV Tokyo

Japanese broadcaster Television Tokyo Channel 12 Ltd. (TV Tokyo) said Monday it has formed a strategic alliance with U.S. business news broadcaster CNBC.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / NATURE TRAVEL
Jun 25, 2002

The monks and the markets of Mandalay

The Ayeryarwady flows smooth as oil, dark as coffee, wide but shallow, with occasional ripples and tucks where the sandbars nudge the surface. There is none of the hectic frenzy of river traffic that smothers many of Asia's great waterways in fumes and oil slicks -- Myanmar moves to a different rhythm,...
BUSINESS
Jun 25, 2002

Creditors OK rehab plan for troubled Nagasakiya

Creditors on Monday approved a rehabilitation plan for troubled supermarket chain operator Nagasakiya Co., according to informed sources.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 25, 2002

U.S. uncertainty threatens Japan recovery: MIT dean

With uncertainty hanging over prospects for the U.S. economy, Japan, despite recent signs of bottoming out, may face difficulties achieving a full-scale recovery, according to a business school dean at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
SOCCER / THE BALD TRUTH
Jun 25, 2002

Sour grapes do injustice to South Korea

Who on earth would have predicted a World Cup semifinal between South Korea and Germany this time last month?
BUSINESS
Jun 25, 2002

Road panel votes for open discussion

A panel handling the privatization of four expressway-building public corporations unexpectedly decided Monday to open all of its sessions to the media to enhance transparency on the politically sensitive issue.
BUSINESS
Jun 25, 2002

Japan intervenes in money market as dollar sinks toward 120 yen mark

Japan intervened in the foreign-exchange market for the fifth time in five weeks early Monday afternoon, boosting the dollar from the lower half of 121 yen, financial authorities said.
BUSINESS
Jun 25, 2002

Snow, Lotte forge deal to sell ice cream

Struggling dairy products maker Snow Brand Milk Products Co. said Monday it has signed an agreement with confectioner Lotte Co. to jointly set up a firm to manufacture and sell ice cream.
BUSINESS / TAKING STOCK
Jun 25, 2002

U.S. rebound to pace stocks

The recent weakness of Tokyo stocks has created a golden opportunity to buy shares despite growing concerns about worldwide price falls.
BUSINESS
Jun 25, 2002

Aisin Seiki to set up base in Brazil

Auto parts maker Aisin Seiki Co. said Monday it is setting up its first South American production base in Brazil.
BUSINESS
Jun 25, 2002

Stores across board feel May pinch

Sales at Japanese supermarkets and department stores posted a year-on-year decline in May and have now fallen for 42 months in a row, according to industry data released Monday.
JAPAN
Jun 25, 2002

In danger of becoming white elephants

There is a growing trend among prefectural governments to distance themselves from Kasumigaseki, the seat of the nation's bureaucracy, as moves accelerate to decentralize the national government and a recent ban, issued in response to a series of scandals, prevents lawmakers from wining and dining ministry...
JAPAN
Jun 25, 2002

Panel seeks to limit toll-road projects

An infrastructure development panel in the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry unveiled Monday a new road building outline, urging the government to curb construction of toll roads.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 25, 2002

Pele worried about Brazil in semifinal

YOKOHAMA -- Brazilian legend Pele is not too optimistic about Brazil's semifinal against Turkey, slated for Wednesday night at Saitama Stadium 2002, saying the absence of forward Ronaldinho is "a big loss for Brazil."

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’