An estimated 1.2 million graduates joined Japan's workforce Apr. 1 as businesses across the country held welcoming ceremonies for new recruits on the first day of fiscal 1997.

While the nation's economy is said to be showing signs of gradual recovery, many trading firms and banks did not hire female university graduates for auxiliary clerical posts. An increasing number of companies are adopting their own recruiting methods now that an age-old agreement between universities and companies on recruitment has been terminated.

Sony Corp. will not set aside a specific period for this year's recruitment, while Toyota Motor Corp. is expected to hold a seminar on recruitment every Saturday between late May and early July. At Mitsui & Co.'s ceremonies, President Shigeji Ueshima told 209 new recruits that he strongly hopes for the release of Mitsui employees who are among 72 hostages held by Peruvian rebels at the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima. Hirooki Kobayashi, 22, one of the new recruits, said he chose Mitsui despite the possible dangers of working for a trading house.