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EDITORIALS
Jan 6, 2001

Good luck, Mr. Bush, you'll need it

At the start of a new century, the world situation remains in flux. The much-heralded "new world order" has yet to arrive. The United States, of course, holds the key. Developments in the next few years -- not only in the field of economics, but also in politics and security -- will depend largely on...
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2001

Yen hits 17-month low on fears that economy is losing steam

The yen has come under fresh downward pressure on world currency markets amid lingering worries about the flagging Japanese economy.
BUSINESS
Jan 6, 2001

Nippon Life, Tokio Marine start cancer insurance sales

Nippon Life Insurance Co. and Tokio Marine & Fire Insurance Co.'s life insurance unit started selling cancer insurance policies Thursday, the two firms said.
CULTURE / Film
Jan 6, 2001

The movie's the thing

Who do you think you are, the Prince of Denmark? Such is the complaint I'd like to lodge with wordy, lordly, self-obsessed people whose introverted grievances often manifest themselves in extroverted acts of harm. Hamlet had always struck me as a curious choice for a hero. It's true he gave some great...
BUSINESS
Jan 6, 2001

NEC in talks on the sale of Mexican unit

NEC Corp. is negotiating with several prospective buyers for Technologias NEC de Mexico S.A. de C.V., a cellular phone unit in Mexico, with a deal expected to be reached soon, an NEC spokesman said Friday.
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2001

Foreign Ministry starts year with misappropriation probe

The Foreign Ministry has set up an in-house team to investigate an alleged pocketing of public funds by a senior ministry official and will disclose the findings "as soon as possible," Foreign Minister Yohei Kono said Friday.
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2001

Hashimoto prospering in new Cabinet

Former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, who joined Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori's Cabinet in the December reshuffle, is showing great zeal and is even outshining Mori, according to political pundits.
BUSINESS
Jan 6, 2001

Business chiefs gauge economy

The leaders of Japan's four most powerful business groups on Friday voiced cautious optimism over the nation's economy, predicting an annual growth rate of between 1.5 percent and 2 percent for 2001.
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2001

One tuna fetches 20 million yen at Tsukiji

A single tuna fetched a record 20.2 million yen Friday at the year's first auction at Tsukiji Uoichiba Co., Tokyo's biggest fish market for marine-product wholesalers, Tsukiji officials said.
BUSINESS
Jan 6, 2001

Young information technology execs join social revolution

The role played by young people in promoting information technology in society was highlighted in early December when a teenage company executive was recognized and won an award for being the person most representative of the IT revolution.
BUSINESS
Jan 6, 2001

Four major department stores plan to merge home deliveries

Four of Japan's leading department store chains will jointly launch in April a unified goods home-delivery system in Tokyo and end their separate services, Mitsukoshi Ltd. said Friday.
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2001

Record 89 million visit shrines over New Year

A record 88.75 million people visited major Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples across Japan on the first three days of the 21st century to pray for good fortune, the National Police Agency said Friday.
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2001

U.S. halted base cuts in '60s due to Soviet threat

The United States considered scaling down its military bases in Japan due to difficulties in deploying nuclear weapons here in 1962, but scrapped the idea because of fears of a nuclear war with its communist enemies, declassified U.S. government documents showed Thursday.
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2001

Mori endures back pain

Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, who has long suffered low public support ratings, found himself suffering physical pain on Friday, enduring a backache that forced him to walk with a cane.
BUSINESS
Jan 6, 2001

Japan's economic outlook 'highly uncertain'

Japan's economic outlook "remains highly uncertain" and is likely to remain volatile, economic indicators released Friday by a U.S. business research group suggest.
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2001

'Anime' invade Akihabara's electronics monopoly

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BUSINESS
Jan 6, 2001

Ford to get new batteries from Sanyo

OSAKA -- Sanyo Electric Co. will exclusively supply battery systems for Ford Motor Co.'s first hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), which will appear on roads in 2003, the two firms announced Friday.
CULTURE / Music / HOGAKU TODAY
Jan 6, 2001

Japanese music gets support from New Year's tradition

New Year's in Japan is a period when Japanese suddenly seem to "rediscover" their traditional music. Radio and television stations, which, except for NHK, practically ignore traditional music for most of the year, get into the seasonal spirit and air programs of the classical performing and theatrical...
BUSINESS
Jan 6, 2001

Honda takes over No. 2 slot in domestic sales of vehicles

Honda Motor Co. has become Japan's No. 2 automaker, overwhelming Nissan Motor Co. in domestic sales for the first time in a calendar year, according to statistics released Friday by two industry bodies.
CULTURE / Art
Jan 6, 2001

Gentility of famed Wedgwood

Despite fears that England is increasingly becoming an unpleasant and vulgar country with an antisocial yob culture, internationally it is still blessed with an image of civilized gentility.
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2001

Mori to embark on African trip

Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori leaves Sunday for a nine-day trip to South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Greece with the aim of boosting diplomatic ties with sub-Saharan Africa. He will be the first Japanese prime minister to visit the region.
COMMENTARY
Jan 6, 2001

Globalism: our last, best hope

LONDON -- The central proposition of our times was summed up neatly over 200 years ago by Samuel Johnson. "Society," the sage doctor said, "is held together by communication and information."
COMMENTARY
Jan 6, 2001

China and Taiwan fight over the WTO

WASHINGTON -- The changing of the political guard will soon be under way in Washington. Despite disquiet in many foreign capitals, few dramatic changes in U.S. foreign policy are likely.
JAPAN
Jan 6, 2001

Mori gives Cabinet pep talk on new bureaucracy

One day before the realigned bureaucracy debuts, Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori on Friday urged his Cabinet to continue showing leadership in the face of sweeping changes to government ministries and agencies.

Longform

The students at Mitaka Municipal No. 7 Junior High School have access to various cooling devices for when they play sports.
Japan's extreme heat is causing a rethink of school sports