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JAPAN
May 7, 1997

Pentium II processor debuts in Japan

Personal computers featuring the new Pentium II processor went on sale May 7 in Japan, immediately after Intel Corp. formally announced the release of its fastest microprocessor to date.
JAPAN
May 7, 1997

Mitake mayor to conduct waste dump plebiscite

MITAKE, Gifu Pref. -- The mayor of Mitake plans to conduct on June 22 the nation's first local plebiscite on whether to allow construction of an industrial waste dumping facility, officials said May 7.
JAPAN
May 7, 1997

Tokyo ready to set up non-Japanese advisory council

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will launch this fall a council of about 25 foreign residents.
JAPAN
May 6, 1997

Dow surge sends Nikkei through 20,000 barrier

The Tokyo stock market forged past the 20,000 mark May 6 amid ringing reports that Wall Street's Dow Jones industrial average hit a record closing high in heavy trading overnight.
JAPAN
May 6, 1997

Asian Development Bank to meet in Fukuoka

The Asian Development Bank will hold its 30th annual governors' meeting in Fukuoka beginning May 4 to discuss such issues as drawing on private-sector funds to develop infrastructure in the region.
JAPAN
May 6, 1997

Japanese firms catching on to stock options

An increasing number of Japanese corporations are introducing de facto "stock option" arrangements so their executives and employees can take advantage of a highly lucrative system available to many U.S. corporate executives.
JAPAN
May 6, 1997

Lower House approves environmental impact bill

The Lower House approved a bill May 6 to create Japan's first law to assess the environmental impact of construction projects.
JAPAN
May 6, 1997

Key LDP members wary of cost of 2008 Olympics

Several senior lawmakers in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party said May 6 they are concerned over the financial burden of hosting the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
JAPAN
May 6, 1997

Coalition allies reach agreement on health insurance reform

The Liberal Democratic Party scored a political victory May 6 when it reached an agreement with its two non-Cabinet allies on a bill that would at least double medical bills, starting Sept. 1.
JAPAN
May 6, 1997

Politician joins activists in landing on Senkaku Islands

An opposition lawmaker and three other activists landed early May 6 on one of the Senkaku Islands, which are claimed by Japan, China and Taiwan, Maritime Safety Agency officials said.
JAPAN
May 2, 1997

Osaka unveils guideline for hiring non-Japanese

OSAKA -- The Osaka Municipal Government introduced a new guideline May 2 allowing foreigners with permanent residency to engage in virtually all municipal jobs except posts involving policymaking or unilateral decision-making in matters concerning local residents' rights.
JAPAN
May 2, 1997

U.S.-Japan defense review sparks debate on Constitution

The areas of defense and security are the key modern-day controversies revolving around the Constitution, which took effect 50 years ago May 3.
JAPAN
May 2, 1997

Top court upholds sentence on LDP man for vote-buying

The Supreme Court dismissed on May 2 an appeal by a former Liberal Democratic Party candidate who had been sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison and fined 2 million yen for vote-buying in 1993.
JAPAN
May 2, 1997

Hashimoto to visit Lima May 9 to voice thanks

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto plans to visit Peru between May 9 and 12 to personally express his gratitude to President Alberto Fujimori for the rescue of all 24 Japanese held in captivity by leftist rebels, government and Liberal Democratic Party sources said May 2.
JAPAN
May 1, 1997

Detainee who lost fetus plans maltreatment suit

A 34-year-old Chinese woman indicted on charges of violating the immigration law suffered a miscarriage at the detention facility, it was learned May 1.
JAPAN
May 1, 1997

Authorities to act on forex fluctuation

Authorities will closely monitor foreign exchange markets and take appropriate action in line with the latest statement by the Group of Seven industrialized nations calling for exchange rates that will not lead to huge external surpluses, a top Finance Ministry official said May 1.
JAPAN
May 1, 1997

Shinjuku homeless march on city hall

More than 250 homeless people living at JR Shinjuku Station and their supporters held a demonstration parade late May 1, claiming they are laborers living outside their homes.
JAPAN
May 1, 1997

Kansai airport adds late-night flight

OSAKA -- Kansai International Airport was expected to launch the nation's first after-midnight passenger flight early May 2, taking a step toward its goal of becoming a 24-hour regional hub.
JAPAN
May 1, 1997

Dollar rises above 127 yen

The dollar surged above 127 yen May 1 in Tokyo to hit its highest level in nearly five years, in response to a report on a strong U.S. economy.
JAPAN
May 1, 1997

May Day events sidestep thorny politics

An estimated 2 million people gathered for May Day celebrations May 1 at about 1,000 locations throughout the country, according to sponsors of the events.
JAPAN
Apr 30, 1997

Two die in company dormitory fire

OSAKA -- Two people were killed early April 30 in a fire that destroyed a wooden dormitory for employees of a construction company in Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture.
JAPAN
Apr 30, 1997

Fukui disbands oil-spill task force

FUKUI -- The Fukui Prefectural Government disbanded its special oil-spill task force on April 30 as the clean-up of crude oil spilled from a Russian oil tanker in the Sea of Japan is nearly complete and the bow of the ship removed.
JAPAN
Apr 30, 1997

University to hold entrance exams in Beijing

In an attempt to attract more overseas students to Japan, a national university will hold the first selection exam on May 3 in Beijing for Chinese students seeking to enter the institution, according to university officials.
JAPAN
Apr 30, 1997

Hokkaido officials return taxpayers' money

Officials at the Hokkaido Prefectural Government on April 30 refunded a total of 180 million yen, including interest, to the government's finance office.
JAPAN
Apr 30, 1997

G-7 statement hard one to digest, Mitsuzuka says

It will take some time for the foreign exchange market to fully understand the significance of the statement issued May 4 by the finance ministers and central bankers of the Group of Seven, Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka said April 30.
JAPAN
Apr 29, 1997

Nurse recounts sex slave system of Imperial Navy

Chiyo Nakazato, 71, a former nurse for the Imperial Japanese Navy, remembers that during the war, her male colleagues at the navy hospital on Hainan Island in the South China Sea were so anxious to go out at night they queued up by the door even before 6 p.m., when they were officially off duty.
JAPAN
Apr 29, 1997

Chief determined to build JR West into truly private enterprise

While Masataka Ide, the former president of West Japan Railway Co., was seen as a man of action, Shojiro Nanya, 55, who took over the JR West helm on April 1, is seen as a man of quiet resolve.
JAPAN
Apr 29, 1997

Umeda Sky Building venue for German Import Fair

OSAKA -- The German Import Fair, the first ever of its type in Osaka, will be held at the Umeda Sky Building complex here from May 16 to 18.
JAPAN
Apr 29, 1997

Supporters of homeless held after clash with police

Two supporters of homeless people living at Shinjuku Station were arrested early April 29 on suspicion of battery and obstructing justice.
JAPAN
Apr 29, 1997

ODA for Cambodian industrial park in works

Japan plans to conduct a feasibility study on the development of a major industrial park at a site close to Sihanoukville Port, Cambodia's only seaport for international commerce, through official development assistance, government officials said April 29.

Longform

Construction equipment sits idle in a park near Shiba Toshogu shrine in Tokyo's Minato Ward. While Japan has a history of treating its trees with reverence, green coverage is said to be lacking in most of the major cities.
Do Japan's trees no longer occupy the sacred space they used to?