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JAPAN
Jul 29, 1998

Polluted skies to clear over Nishi-Yodogawa

OSAKA -- One of Japan's largest air pollution lawsuits ended Wednesday when about 100 plaintiffs settled four court cases with the state and Hanshin Express Public Corp.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 1998

Sumitomo Bank, Daiwa to set up joint ventures

Sumitomo Bank and Daiwa Securities Co. have agreed to start three joint ventures next April in a move to secure an edge over competitors under the ongoing ""Big Bang" financial deregulations, the two companies announced Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 1998

Skymark becomes nation's first new airline in 35 years

Skymark Airlines on Tuesday obtained a license to offer flight services between Tokyo and Fukuoka, becoming the first new airline in 35 years to enter Japan's domestic market.
JAPAN
Jul 28, 1998

Indonesia still in crisis, politician says

Indonesia remains in a state of crisis despite the May resignation of former President Suharto, Indonesian opposition leader Amien Rais said during a news conference Tuesday in Tokyo.
JAPAN
Jul 27, 1998

F-2 fighter faces nine-month delay

The Defense Agency decided Monday to delay the planned completion of its F-2 next-generation support fighter by about nine months, due to various shortcomings found in the prototype aircraft, Vice Defense Minister Masahiro Akiyama said.
JAPAN
Jul 27, 1998

Brokerage houses Tokai Maruman, Nagai to merge

Nagoya-based Tokai Maruman Securities Co. has sealed a merger deal with medium-size Naigai Securities Co. in an effort to build up its retail presence in the Kansai, Chubu and Kanto regions, the two companies announced Monday.
JAPAN
Jul 24, 1998

New chief vows every effort to revive economy

Keizo Obuchi, new president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, pledged Friday to make every effort to revive the economy and regain the public's trust in politics.
JAPAN
Jul 24, 1998

'Bridge bank' bills set for Diet

Bills for the government "bridge bank" plan, aimed at resolving the bad-loan problem, are ready to be submitted at the outset of an extraordinary Diet session to convene later this month, Finance Minister Hikaru Matsunaga said Friday.
JAPAN
Jul 23, 1998

Banks a hurdle to wider yen usage: panel

Regaining confidence in the nation's banking sector is a prerequisite for promoting wider use of the yen in international markets, a Finance Ministry advisory group agreed Thursday.
JAPAN
Jul 23, 1998

Candidates make last pitches; junior group may quit LDP

The three candidates for the Liberal Democratic Party presidency all promised aggressive economic measures Thursday afternoon as they delivered joint campaign speeches at LDP headquarters in last-minute pitches before today's election.
JAPAN
Jul 22, 1998

Koizumi, Kajiyama hope to force runoff against Obuchi

Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi is far ahead of the other two rival candidates in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential race, but the possibility of an upset lingers since many party members remain uncommitted, Kyodo News reported Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jul 22, 1998

'Internet cash' trial set for launch in September

In the latest development in Internet commerce, a cyberbusiness consortium will soon make available virtual cash that is transferable between individual consumers.
JAPAN
Jul 21, 1998

Freeze austerity law only as last resort: Matsunaga

Freezing the fiscal austerity law should be the last resort when the new Cabinet tries to revive the moribund economy, Finance Minister Hikaru Matsunaga said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jul 21, 1998

Stimulus impact to be 'limited,' BOJ says

The government's comprehensive economic stimulus package featuring additional public works projects and special tax reductions will probably have only a limited impact on contracted private demand, the Bank of Japan said in a report Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jul 17, 1998

Three-way LDP race expected

Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiroku Kajiyama declared their candidacies Friday for the presidency of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to succeed Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto.
JAPAN
Jul 17, 1998

Shimizu admits charges in welfare pension scam, apologizes

OSAKA -- Former Higashi-Osaka Mayor Yukio Shimizu admitted to all charges brought against him in a welfare pension scam and apologized to the city's residents during the first hearing of his trial Friday at the Osaka District Court.
JAPAN
Jul 15, 1998

The 'Rock' goes for a piece of the 1.2 quadrillion yen

Prudential Insurance Co. of America, the largest life insurance house in the United States, will enter the Japanese financial market by jointly establishing an investment trust management firm with Mitsui Trust & Banking Co., the two companies announced Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jul 15, 1998

Submarine keeps low, but potent, profile

Staff writerYOKOSUKA, Kanagawa Pref. -- Seen from dockside, the silhouette of the USS Topeka strikes an unusually humble pose.
JAPAN
Jul 15, 1998

Prudential-Mitsui venture to focus on customer needs

Staff writer
JAPAN
Jul 14, 1998

Obuchi prepares to run for LDP leadership

Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi has decided to pursue the post being vacated by outgoing Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and has begun preparing his policy agenda, Liberal Democratic Party sources said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jul 13, 1998

Strike while the iron is hot, BIS members tell Japan

Japan's economic fundamentals are strong enough to put it on a recovery track, but timing is a vital element in securing an upswing, central bank governors from the world's key economies agreed Monday.
JAPAN
Jul 13, 1998

Hashimoto announces resignation

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto announced Monday that he will resign to take responsibility for the massive defeat of the Liberal Democratic Party in Sunday's Upper House election.
JAPAN
Jul 13, 1998

LDP suffers stunning defeat as disgruntled voters speak up

The Liberal Democratic Party suffered a stunning defeat in Sunday's Upper House election as voters issued an apparent no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto's economic policies.
JAPAN
Jul 10, 1998

Panel to contemplate measures for boosting births

In response to the nation's declining birthrate, the government will hold the first meeting of an advisory panel July 17 to come up with measures to encourage couples to have more children, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kanezo Muraoka said Friday.
JAPAN
Jul 9, 1998

Japan lauds U.K. plan to halve nuclear arsenal

Britain's plan to halve its nuclear arsenal drew praise Thursday from Chief Cabinet Secretary Kanezo Muraoka, who said Japan earnestly welcomes the "courageous" decision.
JAPAN
Jul 7, 1998

Tax panel chief hopes cuts in '99 equal, top 4 trillion yen

Next year's individual income tax cuts will hopefully equal 4 trillion yen or more, Hiroshi Kato, chairman of the government's Tax Commission, said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jul 7, 1998

October deadline set for fisheries accord

Chief Cabinet Secretary Kanezo Muraoka and South Korean Ambassador Kim Suk-Kyu agreed Tuesday to work toward resolving a bilateral fisheries dispute by October, when South Korean President Kim Dae Jung is scheduled to visit Japan, Muraoka said.
JAPAN
Jul 6, 1998

New 'bridge bank' scheme not restricted to small banks

The government "bridge bank" scheme will be applied to failed banks regardless of their size, Vice Finance Minister Koji Tanami said Monday, denying speculation that the plan will only cover small banks.
JAPAN
Jul 6, 1998

Hayami voices concern over economy's malaise

Bank of Japan Gov. Masaru Hayami reiterated Monday the need to overhaul the economy, with improvement of the now-stagnant business conditions and reform in the financial system as the two keys to revival.
JAPAN
Jul 3, 1998

Hashimoto suggests permanent income tax cut is near

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto gave indications Friday that a permanent income tax cut may be included in the tax system reforms the government is soon expected to begin working.

Longform

A small shrine perched atop rocks braves the waves hitting the shoreline during a storm in Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture. The area is under threat of a possible 31-meter-high tsunami if an earthquake strikes the nearby Nankai Trough.
If the 'Big One' hits, this city could face a 31-meter-high tsunami