Japan to take up N. Korea's alleged laundering, drug trafficking
February 1, 2006Japan plans to take up North Korea's alleged illicit activities including money laundering and drug trafficking in the upcoming bilateral talks in Beijing from Saturday, Japanese Foreign Ministry officials said Wednesday. ''Security issues (concerning North Korea) are very important. We will address what we consider are important,'' Koichi Haraguchi, who is in charge of normalization issue, said in an interview with Kyodo News.
Livedoor to reform PR section, attempt to improve corporate image
February 1, 2006Livedoor Co. will review its public relations division to increase the transparency of management and improve its corporate image after senior management officials were arrested for alleged securities law violations, company sources said Wednesday Former Livedoor President Takafumi Horie alone used to play a major role in dealing with the media, while the PR section handled the services for general customers of the Internet and financial services company.
Livedoor used Swiss, H.K. banks to transfer back share sales profits
February 1, 2006Livedoor Co. has used accounts at Swiss and Hong Kong banks to deposit, and then transfer back, gains from sales of Livedoor shares which it handed over to takeover target firms, sources familiar with the matter said Wednesday. The accounts may have been used as part of money-laundering deals to hide the routes of the flow of such gains and give outsiders the false impression that the illicitly-gotten gains were legal funds, the sources said.
Takeda Pharmaceutical to launch chronic constipation remedy in U.S.
February 1, 2006Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. said Wednesday it will launch a drug in the United States this spring to treat chronic idiopathic constipation. Developed by the Maryland-based U.S. firm Sucampo Pharmaceuticals Inc., the new remedy, called Amitiza, increases fluid secretion and motility in the intestines and consequently enhances the passage of stool.
Conductor Ozawa cancels all performances in 2006
February 1, 2006Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa has canceled all his opera commitments in 2006 due to health reasons, the Vienna State Opera said Wednesday. ''Due to his doctors' advice, Music Director Seiji Ozawa has to undergo a longer period of rest for his recovery. Therefore Seiji Ozawa had to cancel all his commitments until the end of the year,'' it said in an official press release on the condition of the 70-year-old musician.
Gov't to integrate defense facilities unit into Defense Agency
February 1, 2006The government has decided to seek integrating the Defense Facilities Administration Agency into the Defense Agency after a bid-rigging scandal involving officials of the entity to build Japanese and U.S. defense facilities in the country, government sources said Wednesday. The government plans to formulate a reorganization plan for the two agencies by the summer, when government bodies are to complete presenting budget requests for fiscal 2007, which begins in April 2007, and submit bills to the Diet during next year's regular Diet session, they said.
Livedoor case should not lead to tighter rules: Sakaiya
February 1, 2006The government should not blindly tighten financial regulations in the wake of recent alleged security laws violation by Livedoor Co., Taichi Sakaiya, a former head of the defunct Economic Planning Agency, warned Wednesday. Sakaiya expressed concerns that overreaction could cause a downturn in the financial markets. He instead called for further liberalization of stock exchanges' operations and greater disclosure of information.