Business leaders vow to make 2006 year for new leap
December 31, 2005Japanese business leaders vowed Sunday to make 2006 a year for challenges to create a vigorous Japan by further promoting structural economic reforms. ''We want to accelerate reforms to realize an energetic and attractive Japan and make 2006 a year for a new leap,'' Okuda Hiroshi, chairman of the Japan Business Federation, known in Japanese as Nippon Keidanren, said in a New Year's statement.
Koizumi resolves in New Year's comment to advance reforms
December 31, 2005Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reiterated his resolve to accelerate administrative reforms to further advance his structural reform drive in a New Year's Day statement Sunday. ''There is no end to reform,'' Koizumi said as he offered his fifth New Year's greeting as prime minister since taking office in April 2001.
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ debuts, 3 mega bank system set up
December 31, 2005The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ debuted Sunday via the merger of the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi and UFJ Bank, setting the stage for three Japanese mega banks to compete with each other and overseas rivals. The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ will effectively start business Wednesday as it halts operations of automated teller machines across Japan from Sunday through Tuesday in an effort to integrate the computer system.
Yamasaki to call off China trip due to 'scheduling conflict'
December 31, 2005Senior Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Taku Yamasaki will call off his planned trip to China in mid-January because Chinese officials told him that they cannot arrange meetings for him with senior Chinese government officials, officials at Yamasaki's office said Saturday. Some LDP legislators suggested that a spat between the two countries over the suicide of a staff member at the Japanese Consulate General in Shanghai in May 2004 has affected Yamasaki's planned visit. Yamasaki was planning to leave Tokyo on Jan. 7 for a six-day tour of China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore for talks with leaders in those countries, but he is now considering visiting Vietnam instead of China. The rest of the schedule will be unchanged, the officials said.
U.S. asks Japan to leave some GSDF officers in Iraq after withdrawal
December 31, 2005The United States has asked Japan to consider having a few senior ground troop officers remain in southern Iraq after a troop withdrawal from Samawah in order for Japan to continue to support Iraqi reconstruction, sources of the two countries said Saturday. Japan had already declined a proposal by Washington that Japan transfer its Ground Self-Defense Force troops from the southern Iraqi city of Samawah to elsewhere in the country.
Firms allegedly involved in fraud donated 23 mil. yen to lawmakers
December 31, 2005Engineering companies recently investigated by prosecutors over an alleged fraud of government subsidies donated at least 23 million yen to 11 lawmakers and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party between 1998 and 2004, informed sources said Saturday. Among the 11 lawmakers were Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Jiro Kawasaki; Iwao Matsuda, state minister in charge of science and technology; former Democratic Party of Japan Vice President Ichiro Ozawa; and Muneo Suzuki, a House of Representatives lawmaker who heads his newly launched party, New Party Daichi, said the sources, referring to political fund balance reports submitted to the government.
Chinese Embassy says Japan urged nondisclosure of diplomat's suicide
December 31, 2005The Japanese government urged China not to disclose the suicide of a staff member at the Japanese Consulate General in Shanghai in May 2004, saying the suicide was caused by job stress, the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo said in a statement Saturday. According to the statement, the Japanese government said the consular staffer killed himself over pressure from his duties and told the Chinese side not to disclose the incident based on the wishes of the bereaved family.
Fujimori may run as vice presidential candidate in April election
December 31, 2005A Peruvian party supporting former President Alberto Fujimori may field him as its vice presidential candidate in the Peruvian presidential election in April, senior officials of the party have told Kyodo News. The move appears to be part of a strategy by Fujimori supporters to help Fujimori make a political comeback even if the Peruvian national election commission rejects his quest for the presidency.
Bomb blast kills 7, injures 45 in eastern Indonesia
December 31, 2005A bomb exploded Saturday in a crowded market selling pork in Indonesia's Central Sulawesi provincial capital Palu, killing seven people and injuring 45 others, police and officials said. ''It was a bomb blast, but we still don't know whether a high or low explosive one,'' local police chief Oegroseno told Metro TV.
Soccer: Hirayama scores again in Heracles' win in Dutch league
December 31, 2005Japanese striker Sota Hirayama scored his second goal in many matches Friday as Heracles Almelo beat Vitesse Arnhem 3-1 at home in the Dutch top division. Hirayama headed home a Marc Hocher cross in the 24th minute for his fifth goal the season before setting up both of Gert-Jan Tamerus' strikes in the 33rd and 39th minutes as Heracles took control of the match with a three-goal advantage at halftime.
Mycal completes rehabilitation process 7 years ahead of schedule
December 31, 2005Supermarket chain operator Mycal Corp. said Saturday the reconstruction process following its failure in 2001 has been completed seven years ahead of schedule. The company has almost finished repaying more than 200 billion yen in debts to financial institutions as of December and the Tokyo District Court has notified it of the conclusion of the process, Mycal said.
FEATURE: Dogs may give boost to Japan's 2006 consumer spending
December 31, 2005Two-year-old Melon slept on a small bed at one of myriad beauty salons in Tokyo's posh Daikanyama shopping district while being showered with negative ion mist that the salon says helps reduce his stress. After the hour-long relaxation treatment, that also included a body massage using specially blended aromatic oil and careful hair brushing, at the cost of 9,000 yen (about $80), Melon breezily popped up onto his four legs, wagging his tail frenetically.
4 families near hot spring advised to evacuate due to poisonous gas
December 31, 2005The Yuzawa city government in Akita Prefecture on Saturday advised 16 residents in four households near the Doroyu hot spring to evacuate as a high density of hydrogen sulfide gas has been detected in some locations there. The issuance of the recommendation came after all members of a family of four died near an inn in the Doroyu area in the city Thursday and Friday, probably affected by hydrogen sulfide gas from hot springs.