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JAPAN
Jul 28, 1999

Honor your notes: Taiwan lawmaker

A Taiwanese politician criticized the Japanese government Wednesday for refusing to honor wartime military bank notes and former German marks that Japan distributed in Taiwan when it colonized the area during World Wars I and II.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 1999

Cohen wants cooperation

The United States, Japan and South Korea want cooperation -- not confrontation -- with North Korea, visiting U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen said Wednesday, urging Pyongyang to show restraint in attempting to launch another missile.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 1999

Arms talks participants slam Tokyo Forum report

Staff writer
JAPAN
Jul 28, 1999

Second extra budget may be needed: Miyazawa

The government may have to prepare a second supplementary budget even if the 0.5 percent growth target for this fiscal year looks certain to be achieved in September, Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa indicated Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 1999

U.S. to share tracking data if Pyongyang fires missile

U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen and Defense Agency Director General Hosei Norota agreed Wednesday to share information if North Korea test-fires a ballistic missile.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 1999

LDP to vote on new chief Sept. 21

The Liberal Democratic Party will hold its presidential election Sept. 21, with candidacy applications to be submitted Sept. 9, a party panel decided Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 1999

Prosecutors grill ex-NCB chairman

Prosecutors have questioned Seishi Matsuoka, former chairman of the failed Nippon Credit Bank, over allegations the bank window-dressed past earnings reports, it was learned Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 1999

No bottom to economy yet: EPA

Economic Planning Agency chief Taichi Sakaiya told executives Wednesday that he remains cautious about the nation's economic prospects, saying the current slump has yet to "clearly hit bottom."
EDITORIALS
Jul 27, 1999

Morocco's visionary passes away

An extraordinary group of world leaders assembled in Morocco last weekend for the funeral of King Hassan II, who died last week of a heart attack at the age of 70. The turnout, ranging from U.S. President Bill Clinton and his predecessor, Mr. George Bush, French President Jacques Chirac and South African...
JAPAN
Jul 27, 1999

The right not to be fingerprinted

Staff writer
JAPAN
Jul 27, 1999

Pyongyang missile posturing an extreme concern: report

North Korea's ability to produce missiles that can reach any part of Japan is a cause for extreme concern and an issue that directly affects Japan's security, the Defense Agency said in its 1999 white paper released Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jul 27, 1999

Asia tensions undermining global security: Akashi

Staff writer
JAPAN
Jul 27, 1999

Nissan parts makers merge

Two major auto parts makers in the Nissan Motor group formally signed an agreement Tuesday to merge on April 1, company officials said.
JAPAN
Jul 27, 1999

Panel deliberating bill to cut 50 Diet seats

The Lower House Special Committee on Political Ethics and the Election Law on Tuesday began deliberating a bill aimed at eliminating 50 Lower House seats elected by proportional representation.
JAPAN
Jul 27, 1999

Food aid to North comes at a price

North Korea should first try to resolve pending issues with Japan before requesting food aid, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jul 27, 1999

Cabinet panel begins judicial system review

An advisory panel to the Cabinet launched discussions Tuesday aimed at giving Japan's judicial system its first overhaul of the postwar era.
JAPAN
Jul 27, 1999

Scheme hatched for Jordan debt relief

Japan will provide Jordan with several billion yen in official development assistance to help the country alleviate its external debt-repayment burden and enhance domestic political stability amid a critical period for the regional peace process, government sources said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jul 27, 1999

Keidanren urges Japan to get online

The Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren) called on the government Tuesday to spend 5.44 trillion yen over five years on information technology and to increase the number of Internet users in Japan to 70 million by 2003.
JAPAN
Jul 27, 1999

Airlines to review hijack manuals

The Transport Ministry will instruct domestic airlines to thoroughly review their manuals on hijacking, Transport Minister Jiro Kawasaki said Tuesday, noting that All Nippon Airways "failed to prevent a knife-carrying passenger from boarding a plane and hijacking it."
EDITORIALS
Jul 26, 1999

Drawing a line in Colombia

The abrupt suspension of the latest round of peace talks between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia has dealt a serious blow to efforts to reach a peaceful settlement to Latin America's long-running civil war and casts doubt on the viability of Colombian President...
JAPAN
Jul 26, 1999

Obuchi doesn't think Liberals will exit bloc

Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi does not believe the Liberal Party will withdraw from the coalition government, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka said Monday.
JAPAN
Jul 26, 1999

Labor lawyers hit resuscitation bill

A major group of labor lawyers expressed opposition Monday to an industrial resuscitation bill submitted to the Diet by the government last week, calling the legislation "layoff promotion measures."
JAPAN
Jul 26, 1999

Sakura, Fujitsu to set up electronic bank

Sakura Bank and Fujitsu Ltd. announced Monday they have agreed to jointly form the nation's first bank specializing in online operations.
JAPAN
Jul 26, 1999

Ministry declares emergency to fight tuberculosis

Alarmed by the recent resurgence of tuberculosis, the Health and Welfare Ministry on Monday declared a state of emergency to combat the disease and raise public awareness about the nation's former No. 1 killer.
JAPAN
Jul 26, 1999

Transport admits not heeding hijacker's warning letter

Vice Transport Minister Hisashi Umezaki admitted Monday that his ministry did not secure an airport security "blind spot" pointed out by the man arrested Friday for hijacking an All Nippon Airways jumbo jet and killing its pilot.
JAPAN
Jul 26, 1999

New Komeito on track to join ruling alliance

New Komeito leader Takenori Kanzaki on Monday formally told Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi of his party's willingness to join the coalition government.
COMMENTARY
Jul 26, 1999

Bureaucrats block education

The first of two parts. The second part will appear on Wednesday's Opinion Page.
JAPAN
Jul 26, 1999

Robot jester proves adept at drawing donations

OSAKA -- He can be funny and eloquent. But if someone dares to offer him only 1 yen he becomes abusive and calls them "stingy."
EDITORIALS
Jul 25, 1999

The growing threat of suicide

Over the last three years Japan has witnessed a steady, seemingly inexorable, rise in the national suicide rate. Many of these deaths are attributable to financial worries caused by the prolonged economic slowdown. It is well known that Japanese culture has never condemned the taking of one's own life,...
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 25, 1999

Fear and loathing for Russian journalists

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia -- Yury Stepanov, an editor at an independent program called Radio Lemma, was walking home at about 10:30 p.m. June 29 when he noticed a Toyota minivan blocking an alley near his home.

Longform

A sinkhole in Yashio, which emerged in January, was triggered by a ruptured, aging sewer pipe. Authorities worry that similar sections of infrastructure across the country are also at risk of corrosion.
That sinking feeling: Japan’s aging sewers are an infrastructure time bomb