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BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2002

Oriental Land improves outlook

Oriental Land Co., the operator of Tokyo Disneyland, said Tuesday it will book a consolidated net profit of 12.7 billion yen for the just-ended business year, up from 5.9 billion yen forecast in November.
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2002

Yanagisawa seeks reports from 'chogin'

Financial Services Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa said Tuesday he is seeking reports from four pro-Pyongyang credit unions to be created to take over six failed ones, on their relations with the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon).
BASEBALL / MLB
Apr 24, 2002

Daisuke goes distance in high school reunion

Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched his second complete game of the year Tuesday, scattering five hits and striking out 11 for his fourth win against no losses as he lifted the Seibu Lions over the Daiei Hawks 4-2 at the Fukuoka Dome.
JAPAN
Apr 24, 2002

Arrest warrants issued; mobster held over fake bills

A 39-year-old gangster was arrested Tuesday in Shizuoka on suspicion of passing fake 10,000 yen bank notes in Tokyo, according to police sources.
BUSINESS / ON THE FRONT LINE
Apr 24, 2002

Fate of the dollar remains anybody's guess

The latest meeting of financial officials from the Group of Seven industrial nations went nowhere as far as exchange rates are concerned.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 24, 2002

Jet of future powered by water?

The last days of noisy, gas-guzzling airplanes polluting the skies could be on the horizon as Japanese scientists have successfully -- if briefly -- flown an aircraft powered by water.
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2002

U.S. imports one step closer to retaliatory tariffs

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick responded coolly Tuesday to Japanese demands for compensation over U.S. steel import tariffs, meaning Japan may be closer to imposing unilateral retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports.
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2002

Shipments of PCs suffer 13.2% slide

The number of personal computers shipped within Japan in fiscal 2001 fell 13.2 percent from the previous year to 12.14 million units, marking the first decline in four years, the Multimedia Research Institute said Tuesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES
Apr 24, 2002

Bobby McFerrin: 'Beyond Words'

Singer Bobby McFerrin knows the mixed blessing of a hit song. His 1988 pop hit "Don't Worry, Be Happy" earned him sales that most jazz vocalists would kill for, but, somehow, people missed the irony. They also failed to realize that the full sound of the song came from his voice -- and his voice only...
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2002

'Spirited Away' boosts Toho profits

Film producer and distributor Toho Co. said Tuesday it posted record group revenue and pretax and net profits on the success of its box-office hit "Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi" ("Spirited Away").
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2002

Mizuho faults known: Tokyo Gas

Tokyo Gas Co. said Tuesday that the Mizuho financial group knew it was having problems integrating the computer systems of its three component banks before the April 1 merger.
CULTURE / Music / J-POPSICLE
Apr 24, 2002

Two men and a poor baby

I have a thang, as Isaac Hayes would say, for Yuki Koyanagi. Maybe it's her sultry pout. Maybe it's her bleached-blonde hair. Or it could be her gloriously trashy fashion sense.
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2002

Toyota, Mitsubishi, Honda enjoy increases in overseas production

The nation's five major automakers reported mixed results for exports in the 2001 business year, according to data released Tuesday, with three of them seeing an increase in overseas production figures.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / HIGH NOTES
Apr 24, 2002

Elf Power: 'Creatures'

After almost a decade on the lo-fi indie scene and numerous personnel shuffles, the Atlanta-Denver axis known as the Elephant 6 Collective has engendered a love-hate reaction from those of us who appreciate what it stands for but not always what it produces. The Olivia Tremor Control releases nearly...
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2002

Lower House OKs corporate reform

The House of Representatives approved a bill Tuesday to revise the Commercial Code to pave the way for corporations to make quick management decisions with a small number of executives.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Apr 24, 2002

Mixed messages follow love at first sight

Love is complex enough at the best of times, but when it crosses cultural borders, things can get really confusing. Opening April 24 at the Shimokitazawa Geki Shogekijo is "John-kun and Yoko-chan," a play co-written by American Michael Naishtut and Japanese Yoko Narahashi that takes a seriocomic look...
JAPAN
Apr 24, 2002

Time features living Asian heroes

A special issue of Time magazine to be published Monday highlights 25 living Asian heroes, including Japanese sports stars Ichiro Suzuki and Hidetoshi Nakata, who are featured on the cover.
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2002

Suntory to sell 'happoshu' ad space

OSAKA -- Suntory Ltd. in June plans to launch a low-malt beer carrying advertisements for other firms, company officials said Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2002

JAL-JAS merger plan likely to get approval

The Fair Trade Commission is expected to approve a revised merger plan submitted Tuesday by Japan Airlines and Japan Air System.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Apr 24, 2002

Kinnie Starr: from strength to strength

Kinnie Starr has a voice that sometimes purrs and sometimes snarls, but either way it is virtually unknown in Japan. That may be changing, though, as she is spending the better part of this month touring the country, both on her own and in the coveted opening slot for the hugely popular Speech, formerly...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 24, 2002

Nationwide HIV support network set up

A nationwide network to support people infected with HIV and people with full-blown AIDS has been established by Hiroshi Hasegawa, who is HIV-positive.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Apr 24, 2002

Rage against the machine: anti-tech art

"The First Move," a showcase of finalists for the 2002 Philip Morris Art Award, opens this Saturday at Tokyo International Forum. On display until May 6, the exhibition includes paintings, photographs, 3-D pieces, videos, installations and computer-generated work by 57 young artists selected from more...
JAPAN
Apr 24, 2002

Police urged to be more vigilant

Prefectural police officials got a pep talk Tuesday from the National Police Agency chief, who urged that they be on guard for terrorist attacks and cyber-terrorism, and to generally bolster their activities, including neighborhood patrols.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Apr 24, 2002

Fashion's painful pursuit of beauty

When did French women first coin the phrase, "Il faut suffrir pour être belle (One must suffer to be beautiful)"? Judging by the historic costumes and illustrations on display at the Bunka Gakuen Costume Museum, it could have been any time in the last three centuries. Here are fashions that demand (literally)...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Apr 24, 2002

U.S. collection takes a trip home

What is a Japanese art collection doing in the middle of a farm in California?
JAPAN
Apr 24, 2002

Consultant charged with tax evasion

Mitsuro Ozaki, a Tokyo consulting firm executive already indicted for bribery, was charged Tuesday with allegedly evading more than 32 million yen in corporate taxes.
EDITORIALS
Apr 23, 2002

Mr. Gusmao's next fight

East Timor has its first president. To no one's surprise, Mr. Xanana Gusmao won last week's election by a landslide. He will need every bit of that popularity as his country deals with the difficult times ahead. East Timor starts from scratch; it will need the help and patience of the world, and the...

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’