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July 12, 2026
 

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Mayumi Negishi
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2004
Japan to maintain import ban on U.S. beef
The United States failed Friday to persuade Japan to lift its import ban on U.S. beef during bilateral talks in Tokyo.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 23, 2004
U.S. rules out testing all cows
The United States will not test all slaughtered cattle for mad cow disease as Tokyo requests, but may consider some “procedures” specifically for the Japanese market, a visiting U.S. delegation examining Japan’s beef import ban said Thursday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 16, 2004
Woman’s calling: listening to strangers
“Come unload your troubles,” reads the tiny cardboard sign in Japanese. “Will listen. No charge.” And here in the middle of Tokyo’s busy Ginza shopping district, people actually sit and talk.
BUSINESS
Jan 15, 2004
Koizumi defends reform efforts
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi went on the defensive Wednesday, denying charges that his administration has been slow to bring about promised economic reforms.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 14, 2004
Security concerns jeopardize future of age-old tradition of ‘hanko’ seals
Masao Sekine, a 77-year-old doctor in Fukushima Prefecture, keeps his personal seals locked up in a safe-deposit box at the bank.
JAPAN / TALKING SHOP
Jan 13, 2004
Prada Japan’s Italian chief knows the merits of vagueness
Davide Sesia, representative director of Prada Japan Co., is on the prowl.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 8, 2004
Dollar now expected to hit 100 yen
The dollar fell to its lowest point against the yen in more than three years this week, prompting fast, sustained and solitary dollar-buying intervention by the Finance Ministry.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 31, 2003
Stock rise in ‘03 was a pleasant surprise
The year of the sheep lived up to its reputation as a year of perseverance, bringing the first overall gains in four years for the benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average.
BUSINESS
Dec 17, 2003
Saitama governments to pump Resona with taxpayer money
The prefectural and municipal governments of Saitama are willing to use roughly 1 billion yen in local taxpayer funds to claim a stake in Saitama Resona Bank, the local arm of Resona Holdings Inc., Saitama Gov. Kiyoshi Ueda said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Dec 13, 2003
Optimism among big manufacturers soars
Bolstered by strong overseas and information technology-related demand, optimism among large manufacturers overcame fears over a rising yen and soared to a 6 1/2 year high, according to a key business survey released Friday.
BUSINESS
Dec 12, 2003
Regional bank bailout plan gets LDP nod
The Liberal Democratic Party approved a plan Thursday that will give the government greater freedom to inject public funds into troubled regional banks and credit unions.
BUSINESS
Dec 11, 2003
Ashikaga FG shares do brisk trade despite core unit’s nationalization
It ain’t over till the fat lady sings. Investors are buying up Ashikaga Financial Group Inc. shares, never mind that regulators nationalized the group’s core unit, Ashikaga Bank, after declaring it insolvent.
BUSINESS
Dec 9, 2003
Bank lending slipped again in November
The volume of bank lending fell in November to a new low for the second consecutive month, as major banks remain focused on writing off past loans gone bad and large corporations continue to write down debt instead of borrowing new funds.
JAPAN / TALKING SHOP
Dec 8, 2003
When lenders balk, entrepreneur banks on worthy cause, trust
When Safia Minney first learned over a decade ago the Japanese phrase “mottai-nai” (what a waste) in regard to resources, she knew she was on the right track.
BUSINESS
Dec 5, 2003
FSA seeks DIP experts to run Ashikaga Bank
The Financial Services Agency will seek new managers for the nationalized Ashikaga Bank who boast expertise in extending short-term loans to troubled companies and can respond to the claims of local businesses.
JAPAN
Dec 1, 2003
Tochigi tries to pick up the pieces
UTSUNOMIYA, Tochigi Pref. -- One sleepless night after the government’s decision to nationalize Ashikaga Bank, senior executives at manufacturer Rheon Automatic Machinery Co. held an emergency meeting Sunday at its headquarters to assess the damage.
JAPAN
Nov 30, 2003
Government intervenes to rescue Ashikaga Bank
Stepping into a political minefield, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi decided Saturday that the government would temporarily nationalize Ashikaga Bank, currently part of the Ashikaga Financial Group Inc.
BUSINESS
Nov 28, 2003
Life insurers surviving but see business shrink
Stable stock prices have eased concerns about potential failure at the nation’s nine largest life insurance companies, but they continue to struggle against shrinking business volume, according to interim reports announced as of Thursday.
JAPAN
Nov 26, 2003
Top banks project profits for full year
All but one of the nation’s seven major banks are projecting that they will coast to full-year profits in March given stable stock prices and improved corporate sentiment.
BUSINESS
Nov 22, 2003
Most key nonlife insurers report rise in net profits
Seven of the nation’s nine largest nonlife insurers reported an increase in net profits Friday, as elevated stock prices helped cover for limping sales.
China’s demand for Soviet-style apartments shows limits to revival
Apartments built during a Soviet Union-inspired construction drive in the 1970s and 1980s tend to suffer from poor insulation and outdated plumbing, but they are seeing a revival in interest due to their attractive locations.
Japanese scientists identify neural mechanism that may explain why we dislike people
The aggressive mouse (left) used in the experiment and a mouse defending itself
Japanese payment processor’s collapse hits banks and restaurants
Zentoshin served around 200,000 shops, many of which rely on early payments to maintain cash flow, raising concerns over their financial stability following the disruption.
Over 70% of accommodations in Japan say they are understaffed amid tourism influx
The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached a high of 42.68 million in 2025.
Lenders seek $700 million after Japanese payments firm’s collapse
The financial failure of Osaka-based Zentoshin has left 63 creditors with claims totaling ¥115.16 billion, according to Tokyo Shoko Research.
Japan’s largest exhibition of women photographers rights a wrong in cultural history
Miwa Yanagi’s “Elevator Girl House” series skewers the superficiality of gender roles through staged images.
Over 70% of accommodations in Japan say they are understaffed amid tourism influx
The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached a high of 42.68 million in 2025.
‘Princess Mononoke’ comes alive in Super Kabuki staging
The “Princess Mononoke” adaptation was created under Shochiku’s Super Kabuki initiative, a modern form of kabuki with more technology in staging and open to pop culture collaborations.
The beating heart inside ‘Human Vapor’
Different forms of love and connection form the emotional backbone of Netflix’s “Human Vapor,” says actor Shun Oguri, who plays troubled detective Kenji Okamoto.
Japan bets on character IP to drive global growth
Born on social media platforms in 2022, Opanchu Usagi has become a major hit, especially among Generation Z.

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