search

 
 
BUSINESS
Sep 18, 2001

Gas firms face pressure to open lines to new entrants

The government will oblige principle gas suppliers to let new market entrants access their pipelines as part of efforts to liberalize the gas retail market, sources in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Monday.
BUSINESS
Sep 18, 2001

Pharmaceutical firms to integrate operations

Taisho Pharmaceutical Co. and Tanabe Seiyaku Co. announced Monday that they will integrate operations under a holding company.
JAPAN
Sep 18, 2001

U.S. ships depart Yokosuka naval base

U.S. military bases in Japan are stepping up activity as the United States prepares to retaliate for the devastating terrorist attacks last week in New York and Washington.
JAPAN
Sep 18, 2001

Tokushima, Ibaraki governors win re-election

The governors of Tokushima and Ibaraki prefectures cruised to victory Sunday as both won re-election to their third consecutive terms, according to early election results.
BUSINESS
Sep 18, 2001

Nidec cancels global share offering

OSAKA -- Nidec Corp., a maker of precision motors, said Monday it has canceled a plan to conduct a global offering of 4 million outstanding shares.
Events
Sep 18, 2001

Kobe airport foes marshall forces

KOBE -- Although construction began on controversial Kobe airport two years ago, citizens opposed to the facility continue pursuing all avenues to try to stop it, including new public disclosure laws and the upcoming mayoral election.
JAPAN
Sep 18, 2001

Cabinet job adviser warns of worse to come

The government's newly appointed adviser on employment and labor issues said in a recent interview that people should not overreact to the nation's jobless figure, but prepare for worse to come.
Events
Sep 18, 2001

Slice of U.S. pie reveals dreams aren't in the sky

KYOTO -- In 1996, Akiko Hirano was finally ready to fulfill her dream of earning a diploma at a U.S. university. So the 47-year-old boarded a flight to Connecticut to chase a higher education.
BASEBALL / MLB
Sep 18, 2001

Buffs' Mizuguchi puts on a show for salarymen

OSAKA -- Eiji Mizuguchi stole the show from the big names at the Osaka Dome on Monday night, going 3-for-4, reaching base four times and driving in the decisive run for the Kintetsu Buffaloes in a 2-1 victory over the Seibu Lions.
MORE SPORTS
Sep 18, 2001

Navratilova sympathetic

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova expressed sympathy for the victims of the terrorist attacks in the United States on Monday evening at a low-key press conference for the Toyota Princess Cup, which also started Monday in Tokyo. "I have to offer my condolences to all the people involved," the Czech-born...
JAPAN
Sep 18, 2001

Government aims to cut its elderly medical bill

The government may raise the age at which people can receive elderly medical care to 75 from 70 within five years, according to health ministry sources.
BASEBALL / MLB
Sep 18, 2001

Giants pound Dragons

Pinch-hitter Domingo Martinez hit a tiebreaking base-clearing double in the five-run seventh inning, helping the Yomiuri Giants down the Chunichi Dragons 9-3 at the Nagoya Dome in the only Sunday night game in Japanese pro baseball.
BUSINESS / TAKING STOCK
Sep 18, 2001

Jitters rife prior to Wall Street reopening

Last week's terrorist attacks in the United States sent stock markets reeling around the world.
JAPAN
Sep 18, 2001

Koizumi wants SDF to support U.S. action

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Monday instructed Cabinet members to study the possibility of drawing up a new law that would allow the Self-Defense Forces to give logistic support to the U.S. should the Americans follow through with military threats made after last week's terrorist attacks.
BUSINESS
Sep 18, 2001

BOJ steps in to boost dollar

The Bank of Japan on Monday went on a dollar-buying spree to stem further falls in the U.S. currency in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
BUSINESS
Sep 18, 2001

Consumer confidence plunged to record low in August

Consumer confidence about the nation's economic conditions for the remainder of the year plunged in August to a record low, Nippon Research Institute said Monday.
BUSINESS
Sep 18, 2001

Matsushita, Leica tieup to bear fruit

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. said Monday it will begin marketing two high-speed digital still cameras on Oct. 27, the first products under an alliance with Leica Camera AG of Germany.
SOCCER / THE BALD TRUTH
Sep 18, 2001

Japan's taxi drivers will nip hooligans in the bud

If a bunch of terrorists can reduce the World Trade Center towers to rubble, imagine what they could do at next year's World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea. Unfortunately, this is not mere scare mongering.
BUSINESS
Sep 18, 2001

Sharp to launch 'bubble' washer

OSAKA -- Sharp Corp. said Monday it will launch on Nov. 1 what it claims to be the world's first washing machine that uses "supersonic vacuum bubbles" to remove tough stains without laundry detergent.
Events
Sep 18, 2001

Shikoku has 1,400-km path to spirituality

OSAKA -- People often go to great lengths for spiritual enlightenment, and a 1,400-km pilgrimage to 88 key temples on the island of Shikoku is certainly no exception.
BUSINESS
Sep 18, 2001

NTT likely to take 550 billion yen loss over Verio

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. may book a latent loss of up to 550 billion yen this business year due to the depreciated value of Verio Inc., its U.S. Internet wholesale service subsidiary, NTT sources said Monday.
BUSINESS
Sep 18, 2001

Consortium buys land in Roppongi

A consortium led by Mitsui Fudosan Co. on Monday made a successful bid for a vacant lot in Roppongi, central Tokyo, where Defense Agency headquarters once stood, the Finance Ministry said.
BUSINESS
Sep 18, 2001

Vodafone confirms bid for J-Phone

Vodafone Group PLC confirmed Monday that its wholly owned subsidiary is negotiating with East Japan Railway Co. over a possible takeover bid for Japan Telecom Co.
JAPAN
Sep 17, 2001

Logistics aid depends on '97 guidelines

Japan's ability to logistically support the U.S. when it retaliates against those behind Tuesday's attacks in the United States depends on how a law on emergencies in "areas surrounding Japan" will be interpreted, said Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe on Sunday.
JAPAN
Sep 17, 2001

High school students begin job hunt

The official job-hunting season for high school students kicked off Sunday as manufacturers and supermarket operators prepared to offer their fewest jobs ever.
JAPAN
Sep 17, 2001

Incumbent governors win in Tokushima, Ibaraki

Incumbents were victorious in both gubernatorial elections held Sunday in Tokushima and Ibaraki prefectures, beating off challenges from one opponent each, according to early election results.

Longform

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