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JAPAN
Oct 29, 1997

Taxes not central to LDP's economic stimulus plan

Taxes not central to LDP's economic stimulus plan>The second set of economic stimulus measures planned by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party will probably focus on such issues as using more funds from the government fiscal investment and loan program rather than detailed tax deduction proposals, party...
JAPAN
Oct 27, 1997

Automaker looks to bring Mercedes touch to other segments

Automaker looks to bring Mercedes touch to other segments> Staff writer
JAPAN
Oct 27, 1997

Improved consumption key to recovery, BOJ says

Improved consumption key to recovery, BOJ says> Economic growth has been slowing since April and business sentiment has weakened, but there are no signs of a sharp decline in corporate profits, employment and income conditions, the Bank of Japan said Oct. 27.
JAPAN
Oct 24, 1997

More Mitsubishi firms tied to 'sokaiya' payoffs

At least three more firms affiliated with the Mitsubishi group are suspected of sending funds to a bank account linked to two "sokaiya" corporate extortionists arrested earlier this week over illegal payoffs from Mitsubishi Motors Corp., police sources said Oct. 24.The three firms are Mitsubishi Electric...
JAPAN
Oct 24, 1997

San Francisco mayor leads delegation to sister-city Osaka

San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown led a delegation of business and government officials to Osaka this week to strengthen business ties between the two cities and offer support for Osaka's bid for the 2008 Olympics.The sister-city relationship celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Last spring, Osaka...
JAPAN
Oct 22, 1997

U.S. environmentalist seeks true commitment to climate

Staff writerWith little more than a month to go before a major U.N. conference in Kyoto on climate change, a leading American environmentalist is urging Japan to come up with new proposals to solve existing conflicts among developed nations and guide the global community."Ultimately, it is essential...
JAPAN
Oct 22, 1997

Tokyo Forum to host globalization symposium

The Tokyo Forum is hosting a symposium on globalization on Nov. 14 at the International Conference Hall of the U.N. University in Shibuya Ward. The theme is globalization from the perspective of information and humanity.Takuma Yamamoto, chairman emeritus of Fujitsu Ltd. and president of the National...
JAPAN
Oct 21, 1997

Upper House resumes talks on nursing-care legislation

After a four-month recess, the Upper House Health and Welfare Committee resumed deliberations Oct. 21 on three bills for forming a public nursing-care insurance system.Although the bills passed the Lower House in late May, the Upper House did not have sufficient time to discuss them. The last Diet session...
JAPAN
Oct 20, 1997

Foreign students bring new life to traditional dances

Staff writerKimono-clad Ang Chooi Kean floats gracefully along, accompanied by 1,400 years of Japanese tradition. Performing the "kokiriko," a traditional Japanese dance, the Malaysia native, 5,300 km from home, seems an unlikely candidate to be preserving and spreading Japan's ancient arts.Ang is one...
JAPAN
Oct 20, 1997

Canada plans to enliven APEC with infrastructure center

Staff writerThe Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum will agree next month to establish a center to promote private-sector investment in public infrastructure projects of the group's developing economies, according to government officials.The agreement will be made at the ninth annual talks of the...
JAPAN
Oct 16, 1997

The Asahara Trial: Counsel takes aim at Okazaki testimony

Defense counsel for Aum Shinrikyo founder Shoko Asahara cross-examined a senior cult figure Oct. 16 about his part in the killings of an anti-Aum lawyer, trying to disprove his contention he was simply following Asahara's orders.Kazuaki Okazaki, 37, one of six cultists accused of slaying Tsutsumi Sakamoto,...
JAPAN
Oct 15, 1997

Mercosur and Japan to step up ties

Japan and Mercosur, the South American common market comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, will step up cooperation, according to Alvaro Ramos, the foreign minister of Uruguay and leader of the Mercosur delegation.After three days of meetings with public and private sector officials, Ramos...
JAPAN
Oct 14, 1997

Navy port calls raise eyebrows

Was there something going on under the surface when U.S. Navy ships recently made an unprecedented string of calls across the nation?There's no evidence of that, but plenty of speculation by military analysts and elements of the general public.The port calls -- the official line is that the navy was...
JAPAN
Oct 14, 1997

China to get $1 million to save relics from dam

Staff writerJapan will provide up to $1 million in financial aid to China to conserve and restore innumerous cultural relics that will be submerged by the controversial Three Gorges dam project, government sources said Oct. 14.The assistance will be funneled to Beijing through a special cultural assets-preservation...
JAPAN
Oct 14, 1997

Japan and Mercosur agree on economic cooperation

Delegates from Japan and Mercosur, the South American common market that includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, agreed Oct. 14 to promote further economic cooperation as they recognized the potential to further develop trade and investment between the two regions."The Mercosur side remarked...
JAPAN
Oct 13, 1997

JCP wants Yamasaki summoned before Diet

The Japanese Communist Party on Oct. 13 insisted that Taku Yamasaki, the LDP's policy chief, be summoned to the Diet, saying a recently completed investigation has deepened suspicion that he violated laws in receiving political donations from oil wholesaler Junichi Izui.Izui, now on trial on suspicion...
JAPAN
Oct 9, 1997

Myanmar activist sues to become refugee

A Myanmarese activist filed a lawsuit Oct. 9 against the Justice Ministry, demanding it reverse its earlier decision to reject his application for refugee status and deport him.The ministry's decision in the case of 42-year-old Mya Wai will probably set the tone for the 81 other Myanmarese applying...
JAPAN
Oct 9, 1997

Tokyo adds medical aid to North Korea food offer

Japan will resume food aid to famine-hit North Korea after a 15-month hiatus, the Cabinet said Oct. 9, announcing that 67,000 tons of rice as well as 94 million yen in medical equipment will be handed over.Chief Cabinet Secretary Kanezo Muraoka said Japan will donate $27 million to the United Nations...
JAPAN
Oct 8, 1997

LDP approves $27 million in food aid to North Korea

The Liberal Democratic Party gave the go-ahead Oct. 8 to a government plan to send $27 million in food aid to North Korea, a move widely regarded as a swap to enable Japanese women now living there to visit their homeland.The aid, to be formally approved by the Cabinet as early as Oct. 9, is to be provided...
JAPAN
Oct 7, 1997

Oil dealer may appear in Diet, Hashimoto hints

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto hinted to reporters Oct. 7 that he does not oppose the idea of summoning to the Diet an oil wholesaler who allegedly provided illicit political donations to several key members of the Liberal Democratic Party.Before the kick-off of the Lower House Budget Committee, which...
JAPAN
Oct 6, 1997

Compromise key to climate policies, German minister says

Staff writerTo achieve both economic growth and environmental protection, one must make compromises and seek "intermediate paths," according to German Economic Minister Gunter Rexrodt."Germany views the simultaneous achievement of economic growth and environmental protection as an important challenge,"...
JAPAN
Oct 6, 1997

Maverick assemblyman fights dress code, graft

MISAWA, Aomori Pref. -- The city assembly here has attracted nationwide attention, not for its legislating, but for a member who was punished for his casual attire.He claims his dressing down symbolizes his crusade against corruption. "I know it all looked like a kindergarten-level farce," said Yuki...
JAPAN
Oct 3, 1997

Hashimoto announces plans to stimulate economy

Describing the state of the economy as "extremely bad," Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said Oct. 3 the government will cut corporate tax rates and accelerate the decontrol of land transactions to give it new life.A comprehensive package of such measures will be worked out and announced by the end...
JAPAN
Oct 3, 1997

Nikko chairman, president resign over 'sokaiya' payoff scandal

The chairman and president of Nikko Securities Co. resigned along with six other executives Oct. 3 to take responsibility for the firm's involvement in a payoff scandal, completing a sweep of the Big Four brokerages humiliated by a "sokaiya" corporate racketeer.Chairman Takuya Iwasaki and President...
JAPAN
Oct 3, 1997

Emigrants to Dominican Republic slam 'misguided' plan

Sixteen representatives of Japanese emigrants to the Dominican Republic visited the Foreign Ministry on Oct. 3 to protest the nation's "misguided" emigration plan.The emigrants, accompanied by Lower House member Shozo Azuma, submitted a request demanding an official apology and compensation from the...
JAPAN
Oct 2, 1997

Actions under defense pact not deemed collective defense

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said actions taken under the revised guidelines for Japan-U.S. defense cooperation will not be interpreted as collective defense, which is banned by the Constitution.Identifying emergency situations that "have an important influence on Japan's peace and security" as...
JAPAN
Oct 1, 1997

Hashimoto dodges Sato issue in Diet

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto dodged questions Oct. 1 over his responsibility in the failed Cabinet appointment of an ex-convict and instead repeated his reform pledge.During a Lower House plenary session, Kansei Nakano, chairman of opposition party Shinshinto's Diet Affairs Committee, urged Hashimoto...
JAPAN
Sep 29, 1997

Hashimoto opens Diet with apology over Sato

In his policy speech before the Diet on Sept. 29, Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto reiterated apologies to the public for appointing a politician once convicted of bribery to the Cabinet he formed earlier this month.
JAPAN
Sep 29, 1997

Reform chief Ozato vows to have final report in November

Sadatoshi Ozato, newly appointed head of the Management and Coordination Agency believes firmly that the final report of the government's top panel on administrative reform must be completed without delay.
JAPAN
Sep 29, 1997

Nagasaki groups slam U.S. nuclear testing

After being denied requests to meet with U.S. Embassy officials in Tokyo, members of 50 Nagasaki-based antinuclear citizens' groups protested outside the embassy gates Sept. 29 over the U.S. subcritical nuclear test conducted earlier this month.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji