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JAPAN
Jun 12, 1997

LDP council to evaluate judiciary system

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party on June 12 set up a special research council on the nation's judicial system, hoping to greatly increase the number of jurists and to improve their quality, according to Okiharu Yasuoka, a LDP Lower House member and deputy head of the council.
JAPAN
Jun 11, 1997

University designs green mice that glow in the dark

Biologists at Osaka University have created genetically-altered mice that glow green in the dark and claimed June 11 that they have bred "the world's first light-emitting mammals."
JAPAN
Jun 10, 1997

Shinshinto pushes for security laws for 21st century

Shinshinto, the largest opposition party, called for new legislation to deal with security-related emergencies in a set of plans announced June 10 to prepare the country for the 21st century.
JAPAN
Jun 10, 1997

JOC inspectors check out Osaka's prospects

Nine members of the Japan Olympic Committee arrived in Osaka on June 10 for a two-day inspection tour of athletic venues and other sites at which the city hopes to hold the 2008 Summer Olympics.
JAPAN
Jun 6, 1997

Okamitsu tells Diet 60 million yen he got was a loan

Nobuharu Okamitsu, a former vice health minister now on trial on charges of taking 60 million yen in bribes from the head of a welfare business group, said in unsworn testimony June 6 at the Diet that he received the money as a temporary loan.
JAPAN
Jun 5, 1997

Japan to go to bat for environment at G-7 summit

Japan is ready to step to the plate at the upcoming G-7 meeting in Denver as the environment's cleanup hitter. Then again, it might not even take its bat off its shoulder.
JAPAN
Jun 5, 1997

DKB chief admits 'sokaiya' had influence

Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank President Katsuhiko Kondo admitted June 5 that DKB executives had maintained cozy relations with a late powerful "sokaiya" leader, and that the man even influenced personnel matters at the major commercial bank.
JAPAN
Jun 3, 1997

Lower House approves live airing of testimony

A bill to allow live broadcasts of testimony in the Diet cleared the Lower House on June 3 with the support of all political parties.
JAPAN
May 20, 1997

Kajiyama names Nomura account holders in Cabinet

In a reversal of his earlier stance, Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiroku Kajiyama released late May 20 the names of four Cabinet members who have dealt with and may still hold accounts with Nomura Securities Co.
JAPAN
May 19, 1997

Japan to propose environmental conference at G-7

In a fresh initiative aimed at demonstrating Japan's resolve to help preserve the environment, Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto will propose to host an international conference addressing water problems in developing countries possibly by autumn, government sources said May 19.
JAPAN
May 16, 1997

LDP backs basic plan on expenditure limits

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party endorsed a basic outline May 16 for capping government spending to help the nation regain its fiscal health, but left many specific numerical targets up to the prime minister's Fiscal Structure Reform Council.
JAPAN
May 16, 1997

Forex decontrols kick off 'Big Bang'

The Diet enacted a law May 16 that ends the monopoly of banks in the foreign exchange business, allowing other companies and individuals to freely sell and buy foreign currencies and initiating the first of the "Big Bang" reforms.
JAPAN
May 13, 1997

Majority of Okinawa landlords content living with bases

IE-JIMA, Okinawa Pref. -- In the northwest corner of this 22-sq.-km coral island lies the U.S. Ie-Jima Auxiliary Airfield, where Marine Corps units from mainland Okinawa hold drills using Harrier vertical takeoff and landing jets around the clock.
JAPAN
May 12, 1997

SDF may be used for war on terrorism

Relaxing legal restraints on the Self-Defense Forces may be necessary to enable the government to better combat terrorism overseas, Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiroku Kajiyama said May 12.
JAPAN
May 12, 1997

Cultist Niimi breaks silence, praises Asahara

Breaking more than six months of silence, senior Aum Shinrikyo leader Tomomitsu Niimi expressed his continuous gratitude May 12 to cult founder Shoko Asahara for leading him along "the great path."
JAPAN
May 7, 1997

Attending the Nagano Games will be no easy feat

As opening day of the 18th Winter Olympics in Nagano Prefecture draws closer, many sports enthusiasts are beginning to wonder how they will be able to experience the Games.
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
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 23, 1997

Peruvian troops force end to hostage crisis

LIMA -- Peruvian forces put a violent end to the 127-day-old hostage crisis late April 22 as they stormed the besieged Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima. All but one of the 72 hostages were rescued, and the 14 rebels who had been holding them were killed in an operation that ended in 37 minutes....
JAPAN
Apr 21, 1997

Panel backs longer time for public works plan

The government needs to extend its 10-year plan for 630 trillion yen in spending on public works projects instead of trimming the amount, members of the Conference on Fiscal Structural Reform agreed April 21, according to government officials.
JAPAN
Apr 17, 1997

Havana willing to grant asylum to Peruvian rebels

Cuba is willing to grant asylum to Peruvian rebels holding 72 hostages at the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima, Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina Gonzalez reaffirmed April 17 in Tokyo.
JAPAN
Apr 16, 1997

G-7 may use Internet to publicize green efforts

The top leaders from the Group of Seven major industrialized economies and Russia are considering using the Internet at their June summit in Denver to appeal for more efforts at all levels to preserve the environment, Japanese government sources said April 16.
JAPAN
Apr 16, 1997

Oracle head sees future in networks

Personal computers will soon be replaced by network computers, which are simple and less costly, the head of Oracle Corp. said April 16 in Tokyo.
JAPAN
Apr 16, 1997

Criminal charges sought against PNC, officials

The Science and Technology Agency has asked police to take criminal action against Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corp. and some PNC officers over a series of accidents and ensuing coverup attempts at its atomic facilities, agency chief Riichiro Chikaoka said April 16.
JAPAN
Apr 15, 1997

1997 likely to be critical for banks

The upcoming year will be a critical one for domestic banking as the industry decides on a new grand design for Japanese financial institutions operating in the global markets, the head of the nation's banking community said April 15.
JAPAN
Apr 10, 1997

LDP, allies agree on Okinawa aid plan

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its two smaller non-Cabinet allies agreed April 10 on a program designed to promote the economic development of Okinawa Prefecture and help it achieve financial independence. The program suggests that a large part of the island prefecture be turned into a free-trade...
JAPAN
Apr 7, 1997

State plans to win final rights to base land

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto indicated April 7 that his government will try in the future to grant itself legal and ultimate authority to forcibly rent land for use by U.S. military bases.
JAPAN
Apr 2, 1997

Kajiyama speech hints at stiffer base land law

Tough new legislation could be introduced in the future to help the central government override opposition from landowners and local governments when leases for property within U.S. bases expire, the government's top spokesman hinted Apr. 2.
JAPAN
Mar 31, 1997

Red Cross looking for language helpers

The Japanese Red Cross Language Service Volunteers are seeking volunteers to help with management, planning, translation and other activities.
JAPAN
Mar 26, 1997

Okamitsu admits taking bribes in nursing home scandal

A former top bureaucrat at the health ministry and two others pleaded guilty Mar. 26 in their first trial hearing to bribery charges in connection with the construction of special subsidized nursing homes.

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