June 2002 Issue

On the cover: Does Wilbur Ross have a panaceea for Japan's economic ills? Artwork by Eiko Nishida

June 2002
No. 32

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June 2002 Issue

Upfront
	Contributors

	Blue Suede Kimono The King lives on - in Tokyo - and he's an international sensation on the small screen.

	Seal of Approval Researchers probe fuzzy logic of relaxation with cuddly robot.

	Cards on the Table Wireless Internet access cards are this seasons' 'new black.' We round up the options for cutting the ties that bind.

	BIT-SIZED: Muneo House - www.koalanet.ne.jp/~twotrue/munex

	Internet Withdrawal in Akita The heart-rending story of one man's struggle against forces conspiring to deprive him of rural Internet hit.

	Wireless Notebook What's hot and what's not hot in the wire-free world

	The best of J@pan Inc's newsletters: Gadget Watch, Wireless Watch and Music Watch

	VC Report: Words of Wisdom from Cisco's Man in Asia

	LinuxCafe Attracts All Sorts LinuxCafe Attracts All Sorts

	To The Editor Our latest readers' feedback

	From The Editor

Features
	Doctor in the House As ever greater numbers of non-Japanese investors move in to take over more and more distressed assets, we take a look at exactly who's got money to spend and why they're directing their efforts eastward. Are they in for a quick buck or looking to heal an ailing economy?

	Walls Come Tumbling Down in Japanese Banking Kansai Sawayaka Bank was the first acquisition target for all-American takeover guru Wilbur Ross when its predecessor foundered in the aftermath of Japan's 1999 financial 'Big Bang.' KSB's fate has been seen as anything from foreign interference to an intriguing experiment. Alex Stewart surveys the lie of the land.

	Ross to the Rescue The deal-making prowess of Wilbur Ross is known far and wide, but how has he slashed his way through the notorious Japanese red-tape jungles?And more importantly, why?

	Open Source Free for All Why are Japan's mainframe makers, brokerages and other big guns so interested in open source solutions these days? Sam Joseph takes us into a geeky world that is getting more attention from moneyed interests.

Research
	World Cup Winners (Sponsored Section)

	South Korea's Aggressive Rebound South Korea's economy has rebounded from the verge of bankruptcy to rude health. Soichi Nakamura and Pascal Nguyen analyze the implications for Japan.

	The Man Who Gave Us Ruby

	Head to Head With the World Cup in full swing and co-hosts Korea and Japan heading in opposite directions on the world's economic league tables, we read a few socioeconomic tea leaves.

	Blowfish Top of the pops in the sushi world, retirement options and what to do with your spare time -- if you're Japanese.