2003.10.21

Japanese Cardinal Among the new cardinals installed today by Pope John Paul II is a Japanese. He is Stephen Fumio Hamao, the former Bishop of Yokohama. Most recently he served as President of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers. The 73-year-old Tokyo native was ordained in 1957. With his red hat Cardinal Hamao is now eligible to not only vote for the next Pope but also eligible to be a candidate for Pope himself -- although he must be considered a very long shot with expectations that the next Holy Father will come from Latin America or Africa. By the way, there have been, at least, four previous Japanese Cardinals. The first was Cardinal Doi -- installed in 1960 and who died in 1970.       2003.10.21

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Arisugawa Scam (Mainichi) This is a major story here today -- even the staid NHK saw fit to include it in its 7 p.m. nationwide news telecast. Anyway, what is with people trying to impersonate defunct royals? (See NGG's recent expose on another alleged scammer here.)   2003.10.21

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Toyota-GM (Reuters)   Toyota sings the praises of rival GM.     2003.10.21

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APEC-Japan (Kyodo) A blow for Japan as APEC declines to include mention of the DPRK Abductions in its final documents.     2003.10.21

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Seoul: North Has Reprocessed 30 Percent of Nuclear Fuel Rods [VOANews.com Headlines]   2003.10.21

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Japan's DSL Subscribers Top 9 Million in September [Nikkei BP AsiaBizTech: Japan]   2003.10.21

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Japan-Markets (Reuters)   Nikkei closes off 130 points.   2003.10.21

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Another North Korean Missile Test Hijacks APEC Summit (Reuters). Reports of another North Korean missile test today hijacked a Pacific Rim summit where President Bush's efforts to resolve the Korean nuclear crisis and pursue the war on terror dominated the agenda.   2003.10.21

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S.Korea Says No Evidence of 2nd North Missile Test (Reuters). South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff says no evidence North Korea test-fired a second short-range missile on Tuesday. NGG note: Japan Defense Agency quotes U.S. intel sources saying a second Silkworm missile was indeed fired today. 2003.10.21

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Bullets sent to politicians; Suzuki called a traitor [The Japan Times] NGG note: As right-wing views creep further in the mainstream, we expect to see further acts of intimidation like this with a possible return to more overt violent actions (i.e. assassinations of politicians and leftist critics) such as those that plauged Japan in the 1920s and 1930s.   2003.10.21

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N. Korean Leader Returns to Public Eye (AP). North Korea's reclusive leader Kim Jong Il on Monday made his first public appearance in 40 days, said an official news report, ending speculation of health problem.     2003.10.21

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DPRK-Missile (Kyodo) UPDATED More on Monday's timely test firing and reaction to it.   2003.10.21

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