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JAPAN
Nov 7, 1997

Ota hints heliport plan may get backing

Okinawa Gov. Masahide Ota hinted Friday that he may approve a national government plan to construct a sea-based heliport off Nago.
JAPAN
Nov 7, 1997

TSE plunges below 16,000 after losing 4%

>Share prices fell along a broad front Friday on the Tokyo Stock Exchange as concerns continue to dog the health of the nation's financial institutions.
JAPAN
Nov 6, 1997

Hun Sen will meet Sihanouk to discuss Ranariddh's return

Visiting Cambodian leader Hun Sen indicated Thursday that he will discuss with King Norodom Sihanouk the possible return of ousted First Prime Minister Norodom Ranariddh and his participation in the country's general election next May.
JAPAN
Nov 6, 1997

Government receptive to Okinawa trade zone plan

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Teijiro Furukawa told Okinawa Vice Gov. Mitsuko Tomon in a meeting Wednesday that the central government will give positive consideration to the Okinawa Prefectural Government's proposal to make the prefecture a free trade zone by around 2005.
JAPAN
Nov 5, 1997

Beirut urged to extradite five Red Army terrorists

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto asked Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri on Wednesday to extradite five members of the Japanese Red Army being held in a Lebanese prison.
JAPAN
Nov 5, 1997

Ministry wants tax breaks cut, tax rates lowered

The Finance Ministry recommended Wednesday that tax breaks firms receive on five reserve funds be abolished or reduced so their taxable income base can be expanded and overall corporate tax rates reduced beginning in fiscal 1998.
JAPAN
Nov 5, 1997

MMC chief denies links to 'sokaiya' but intends to resign

The chairman of Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said on Wednesday that he knew nothing of the company's involvement with two "sokaiya" corporate extortionists or alleged illegal payoffs, but will step down from the chairmanship to take responsibility.
JAPAN
Nov 4, 1997

Big Four to contribute 20 billion yen to Sanyo safety fund

The nation's four largest brokerage houses are expected to contribute 20 billion yen to a securities safety fund so clients of bankrupt Sanyo Securities Co. can withdraw assets from the failed firm, sources said Tuesday.
JAPAN
Oct 31, 1997

VP Kishi takes helm at Tokyo-Mitsubishi bank

The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, a leading commercial bank, will promote Vice President Satoru Kishi to the post of president to replace current President Tasuku Takagaki, the bank announced Friday.
JAPAN
Oct 31, 1997

Rival to challenge Ozawa for helm of Shinshinto

Ichiro Ozawa, the embattled leader of Shinshinto, will face new challenges in December when the largest opposition party is expected to elect its next chief.
JAPAN
Oct 30, 1997

Doi, SDP threaten libel suit over wives' visit rumor

The Social Democratic Party and its leader, Takako Doi, decided Thursday to file a libel suit with the Tokyo District Court over a magazine article that claims Doi's niece is among the Japanese women being allowed to visit next month from North Korea and that Doi is vulnerable to Pyongyang.
JAPAN
Oct 29, 1997

Massive Dow Jones rally sparks Nikkei rebound

The Tokyo Stock Exchange staged a strong rebound Wednesday amid ringing reports of a massive rally on Wall Street overnight.
JAPAN
Oct 29, 1997

Bomb blast in Shinjuku may have targeted Komei

Bomb blast in Shinjuku may have targeted Komei>A bomb that exploded early Wednesday morning in Tokyo, destroying an iron gate to a house, may have been aimed at a Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly member of the Komei party, police said.
JAPAN
Oct 28, 1997

Government continues push to eliminate racketeers

The government will continue calling on the private sector to cut all ties with "sokaiya" corporate extortionists, the Cabinet agreed Tuesday.
JAPAN
Oct 28, 1997

TSE plunges to 16,312

The Tokyo Stock Exchange was shaken Tuesday by successive plunges in share prices around the globe; trading closed with the benchmark Nikkei average falling to 16,312.69, the lowest since July 1995.
JAPAN
Oct 28, 1997

Kobe mayor Sasayama back at work

KOBE -- Kazutoshi Sasayama returned to his office Tuesday to begin a third four-year term as Kobe mayor after beating two challengers in Sunday's mayoral election.
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

Hashimoto concerned over stock plunge

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said Oct. 24 that he is concerned about the worldwide plunge in stock prices triggered by the free fall on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange the previous day, adding that Japan will continue to monitor the markets closely.Responding to questions from reporters, Hashimoto...
JAPAN
Oct 24, 1997

Aviation talks get another go at vice-ministerial level

The United States and Japan will hold another round of aviation talks at the vice-ministerial level next month since the two sides failed to reach an agreement Oct. 24 in Washington, Transport Minister Takao Fujii said Oct. 24."We had thought that we might be able to have a ministerial-level meeting....
JAPAN
Oct 23, 1997

Italy against UNSC expansion, discourages Japan effort

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi on Oct. 23 discouraged Japan from pursuing a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, saying Italy opposes expanding the number of permanent members.During a news conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo's Hibiya district, he also stressed that "there...
JAPAN
Oct 23, 1997

Japan disappointed with U.S. emissions plan

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto indicated Oct. 23 that the U.S. proposal for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions is too lenient.Environment Agency chief Hiroshi Oki, who is scheduled to chair the Kyoto global-warming conference in December, said it would be difficult to build an international consensus...
JAPAN
Oct 21, 1997

Hashimoto pledges to sign international ban on land mines

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto pledged Oct. 21 to sign in December an international treaty banning antipersonnel land mines, pushing the government to form a consensus behind him.Hashimoto outlined his position in a meeting with Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi, Defense Agency chief Fumio Kyuma and Chief...
JAPAN
Oct 20, 1997

Shippers set condition for paying U.S. fines

Japanese shipping companies told a U.S. government agency that they would consider paying fines accrued during September if the agency entirely removes port sanctions it imposed Sept. 14, industry sources said Oct. 20.The fines were due Oct. 15, but the shipping companies refused to pay, sparking the...
JAPAN
Oct 17, 1997

U.S. congressman urges more help for Pyongyang

Food aid by the international community is helping avert a disaster in North Korea, but the famine-threatened communist country needs more food and medicine, U.S. Congressman Tony Hall said Oct. 17 in Tokyo.
JAPAN
Oct 17, 1997

Pitfalls seen in plan to reduce JNR debts

Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka announced Oct. 17 his opposition to the idea of issuing special bonds with tax benefits to help dispose of the huge debts left behind by the Japanese National Railways.Mitsuzuka said a bond-issue would run counter to the principle of fairness in taxation. Taxes needed...
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 16, 1997

Oki to chair Kyoto climate conference

The government plans to recommend Hiroshi Oki, director general of the Environment Agency, as chairman of the forthcoming international conference on global warming, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kanezo Muraoka said Oct. 16.The recommendation is expected to be accepted by participants of the Third Conference...
JAPAN
Oct 15, 1997

LDP, SDP request funds for public work projects

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party urged the government Oct. 15 to put public works projects for upgrading agricultural areas into the supplementary budget.It was basically agreed during a meeting of a group of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto's Conference on Fiscal...
JAPAN
Oct 15, 1997

Newspaper association calls for improved ethics

SENDAI -- The Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association kicked off its 50th annual convention Oct. 15 in Sendai with the adoption of a resolution calling for further improvements in ethics in the industry.The resolution also says the current resale price system for newspaper subscriptions should...
JAPAN
Oct 15, 1997

Shinshinto leader Ozawa lashes out at defense guidelines

Shinshinto leader Ichiro Ozawa said Oct. 15 the revised guidelines for Japan-U.S. defense cooperation could lead Japan into a neighbors' war and a violation of the Constitution, which bans the right of collective defense.During his first news conference since June, Ozawa criticized the government for...

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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