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JAPAN
Nov 12, 1998

FSA chief implores banks to request public funds

Financial Reconstruction Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa again urged banks to apply for a big capital injection Thursday, the day before the Financial Supervisory Agency was to explain application approval standards to 147 banks in Tokyo.
JAPAN
Nov 12, 1998

DPJ offers own package

The Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition party, on Thursday unveiled its own economic stimulus package. It's worth nearly 20 trillion yen and includes a system that would provide allowances for raising children but has little chance of being included in a supplementary budget to be debated...
JAPAN
Nov 11, 1998

Celebrities join call for Kobe airport plebiscite

On behalf of civic group members in Kobe, writer Yasuo Tanaka met reporters Wednesday in Tokyo to call for a plebiscite over the planned construction of an airport in Kobe.
JAPAN
Nov 9, 1998

Breakthrough unlikely at Obuchi-Yeltsin summit

Staff writer
JAPAN
Nov 9, 1998

HIV epidemic likely to worsen, U.S. researcher says

While a breakthrough in HIV treatment two years ago was greeted with euphoria, a leading scientist in AIDS research says the war against the epidemic is far from over.
JAPAN
Nov 6, 1998

Good news kids: End in sight for 'exam hell'

Japanese youngsters may no longer have to endure the ritual of "entrance exam hell" and specialize in cramming for either high school or university admissions tests if the Education Ministry's planned reforms are implemented.
JAPAN
Nov 5, 1998

Brazil farm chief urges Japan to expand soybean buys

Francisco Turra, Brazilian minister of agriculture and supply, urged Japan Thursday to further expand its import and distribution of soybeans from his country.
JAPAN
Nov 5, 1998

Government backpedals on early tax break pledge

Despite mounting expectations of consumers and businesses, it will be difficult for the government to carry out planned tax cuts in January, the top government spokesman said Thursday.
JAPAN
Nov 4, 1998

State management team moves into LTCB

The nationalized Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan started afresh Wednesday with a new board of directors appointed by Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi.
JAPAN
Nov 2, 1998

New minister pushes for future financial safety net

Staff writer
JAPAN
Nov 1, 1998

LDP, New Komeito strike deal on coupons

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito reached a final agreement Tuesday to distribute on a limited basis merchandise coupons worth about 700 billion yen.
JAPAN
Nov 1, 1998

No change seen for Alien cards, death penalty

Justice Minister Shozaburo Nakamura said Tuesday he does not intend to abolish the death penalty or amend the Alien Registration Law to end a requirement that foreign permanent residents carry their alien registration card at all times, despite recommendations by a United Nations panel.
JAPAN
Nov 1, 1998

Obuchi at odds with Keidanren over APEC stance

Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi instructed his Cabinet members Tuesday to maintain Japan's opposition to early market-opening of forestry and fishery products during upcoming meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Malaysia.
JAPAN
Oct 30, 1998

Mitsui Trust withdraws from overseas operations

Mitsui Trust & Banking Co. announced a sweeping corporate restructuring plan Friday that calls for it to retreat from overseas banking by the end of March and concentrate on domestic asset trust services in tandem with a U.S. firm.As part of the streamlining, executive bonuses will be cut 10 percent...
JAPAN
Oct 29, 1998

Buyers scarce for former JNR plots

Japan Railway Construction Public Corp. has taken over 1,273 hectares of land that remained unsold when JNR Settlements Corp. ended its 11-year history last week.The public corporation hopes to sell off the property by fiscal 2003 to help reduce 28.3 trillion yen in debts left behind by the defunct...
JAPAN
Oct 28, 1998

Local handling urged for proposed consumption coupons

If municipal governments, instead of the central government, issue 30,000 yen gift coupons, this could help to boost personal consumption, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka said Wednesday.Komei and Shinto Heiwa (New Peace Party) have been asking the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to issue coupons...
JAPAN
Oct 28, 1998

Major oil firms announce industry-leading merger

Nippon Oil Co., Japan's second-largest petroleum distributor, and Mitsubishi Oil Co., its sixth-largest, have reached a basic agreement to merge into what will be the nation's largest petroleum company on April 1.The move, announced Wednesday by the companies' presidents, is intended to fend off intensifying...
JAPAN
Oct 27, 1998

10 trillion yen emergency stimulus due Nov. 16

The government will draw up an emergency economic stimulus package worth more than 10 trillion yen by Nov. 16 as the major pillar of the third supplementary budget for fiscal 1998, the Cabinet agreed Tuesday.The third extra budget for the current business year will be submitted to an extraordinary Diet...
JAPAN
Oct 27, 1998

FSA to spell out bank funding law to bankers

The Financial Supervisory Agency will meet with representatives from 18 major banks today to explain the newly enacted bank recapitalization law, a senior agency official said Tuesday.The briefing is intended to encourage banks to voluntarily apply for capital injection of public funds under the new...
JAPAN
Oct 23, 1998

Miyazawa sanguine on Long-Term credit debacle

Following the government's decision to temporarily place the Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan under state control, Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa said Friday that the bank's depositors and clients do not have to worry about its imminent takeover.Speaking at a news conference, he said all depositors'...
JAPAN
Oct 23, 1998

Okazaki calls demand for death unfair

Kazuaki Okazaki, a former Aum Shinrikyo figure sentenced to death Friday, showed little emotion in court during the near hour it took the judge to read out his ruling. Sitting motionless with his hands on his knees and tilting his head down, he looked as if he was in deep meditation.But letters Okazaki...
JAPAN
Oct 22, 1998

Pasona to acquire LTCB Research for 1 billion yen

The LTCB Research Institute, an affiliate of the Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan, will become a subsidiary of Pasona Inc. on Dec. 1, it was announced Thursday.Pasona, a major employment agency, will pay 1 billion yen to purchase the think tank, which is capitalized at the same amount, Yasuyuki Nanbu,...
JAPAN
Oct 22, 1998

ANA changes course for Star Alliance

In an effort to pull in business class customers for its international routes, All Nippon Airways Co. will join the Star Alliance, a multilateral strategic linkup of international carriers, next October, ANA officials said Thursday.The alliance is made up of Air Canada, Lufthansa German Airlines, Scandinavian...
JAPAN
Oct 20, 1998

FSA to pressure banks to apply for money

The Financial Supervisory Agency will strongly urge banks to apply for capital injection under the new bank recapitalization law, FSA Commissioner Masaharu Hino said Tuesday.The FSA will use various measures, including meeting unofficially with a group of banks, to talk them into accepting public funds,...
JAPAN
Oct 20, 1998

Pension premium hike in April may be shelved

The government is considering scrapping a scheduled April premium hike in the national pension plan for self-employed people, to keep from further dampening consumer spending, Health and Welfare Minister Sohei Miyashita said Tuesday.At a news conference following a Cabinet meeting, Miyashita revealed...
JAPAN
Oct 20, 1998

Sakakibara backs Mahathir on currency controls

Sharing Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's concerns over capitalism, Japan's vice finance minister for international affairs supported Malaysia's foreign exchange controls Tuesday.At a Tokyo symposium, Eisuke Sakakibara said global capitalism backed by "market fundamentalism," or the belief...
JAPAN
Oct 16, 1998

Obuchi says state intends to stabilize financial system

The government is determined to shore up the faltering economy within two years and stabilize the financial system by fully utilizing the bank recapitalization law and the financial stabilization laws recently approved by the Diet, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi said Friday.At a news conference held after...
JAPAN
Oct 16, 1998

Resolution expected to be Nukaga's ouster

Defense Agency director general Fukushiro Nukaga is widely expected to be forced to step down to take responsibility for an ongoing procurement scandal after Upper House passage Friday of a nonbinding resolution calling for his immediate resignation.Although the defense chief reiterated Friday evening...
JAPAN
Oct 15, 1998

Immigration to ease rules on re-entry permits, Australians

Justice Minister Shozaburo Nakamura on Thursday announced a set of changes to immigration policies, including extending the period for re-entry permits and eliminating a visa requirement for short-term visitors from Australia.Nakamura told a news conference that the changes are part of the nation's...
JAPAN
Oct 15, 1998

Bank infusions should be simultaneous, Hayami says

The nation's 19 major banks should receive capital injections not one at a time but all at once to maximize the move after a bank recapitalization bill designed to reinforce their capital bases is enacted, Bank of Japan Gov. Masaru Hayami said Thursday.With the injection of public funds, clear-cut disclosure...

Longform

An illustration features the Japanese signs for "ganbare" (good luck) and the Deaflympics, which will be held between Nov. 15 and 26.
A century of Deaf sport finds its moment in Tokyo