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JAPAN
Dec 18, 1997

Aqualine opens to traffic under, above Tokyo Bay

KAWASAKI -- More than three decades after the idea was first put forward, an expressway beneath Tokyo Bay opened Thursday with simultaneous ceremonies in Kanagawa and Chiba prefectures.
JAPAN
Dec 18, 1997

Youth crimes jump 53% over 1996

A total of 2,085 youths aged between 14 and 20 were subject to police investigation in connection with serious crimes, such as murder and robbery, during the first 11 months of the year, marking a 53.8 percent jump over the same period last year, according to a report published Thursday by the National...
JAPAN
Dec 17, 1997

Daiei establishes holding firm

Daiei Inc., the nation's largest retail chain, announced Wednesday that it has established a holding company to strengthen its financial condition, becoming the first company to take advantage of a change in the Antimonopoly Law.
JAPAN
Dec 15, 1997

Korean students seek right to enter national universities

A group of Korean students in Japan and their supporters Monday asked the Education Ministry for fair treatment and the right to take national university entrance examinations.
JAPAN
Dec 15, 1997

Foley urges Mitsuzuka to take action on financial system

Japan should take measures to stabilize its financial system and stimulate the economy, U.S. Ambassador Thomas Foley urged Monday, stressing that the nation's economic performance greatly affects Asia and the rest of the world.
JAPAN
Dec 15, 1997

Japan to accelerate closure of liquor tax gap

Japan intends to speed up its timetable for reducing the disparity between taxes on whiskey and "Grade B" domestic "shochu" spirits by one year so that the rates will be almost the same beginning in October 2000, government officials said Monday.
JAPAN
Dec 12, 1997

Turmoil-filled Diet session concludes

Staff writer
JAPAN
Dec 12, 1997

Renewed Japanese leadership needed for Seoul's economy

Staff writer
JAPAN
Dec 12, 1997

Japan loans Vietnam 97.5 billion yen

Japan pledged 97.5 billion yen in aid to Vietnam on Friday to support Hanoi's economic reforms, Foreign Ministry officials said.
JAPAN
Dec 12, 1997

Prius environmental car chalks up 2,000 orders in one day

Toyota Motor Corp. has received as of Wednesday about 2,000 orders for its newly developed Prius, the world's first mass produced hybrid car, the company announced Friday.
JAPAN
Dec 10, 1997

Chinese laborers lose suit over forced wartime labor

The Tokyo District Court dismissed on Wednesday a lawsuit filed by Chinese forced to work at a copper mine in Akita Prefecture during the last years of World War II.
JAPAN
Dec 5, 1997

Ban lifted on financial holding companies

The Diet on Friday passed two bills that remove a five-decade ban on the use of financial holding companies.
JAPAN
Dec 5, 1997

Defense Agency seeks more worthy English title

Even though the Defense Agency failed to win ministerial status under Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto's new administrative reform plan, agency chief Fumio Kyuma says his agency at least deserves a more worthy English title to allow him to save face when meeting foreign counterparts.
JAPAN
Dec 4, 1997

IMF chief says action will help regain market trust

Decisive measures, including the use of public funds to protect depositors, are necessary if Japan wants to restore confidence in its financial sector at home and abroad, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund said Thursday.
JAPAN
Dec 3, 1997

Hashimoto to propose ASEAN round table

Staff writer
JAPAN
Dec 3, 1997

Obuchi will go to Canada to sign mine-ban pact

Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi is to leave today for Ottawa to sign a global treaty banning antipersonnel land mines.
JAPAN
Nov 26, 1997

Russia congratulated on APEC entry

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto sent a congratulatory message Wednesday to Russian President Boris Yeltsin on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum's decision to allow Russia to join the organization.
JAPAN
Nov 26, 1997

Japan to host meeting of aid donors to Vietnam

Japan will host its first meeting of aid donor countries and organizations to Vietnam on Dec. 11 and 12, Foreign Ministry officials said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Nov 19, 1997

Cooperation the cure to currency crisis, Ramos told

Nations must cooperate to counteract the currency crisis gripping Asia, Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto told Philippine President Fidel Ramos on Wednesday, according to Foreign Ministry officials.
JAPAN
Nov 18, 1997

Allies draw line in sand over postal services

Apparently backpedaling on administrative reform efforts, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its two smaller allies on Tuesday confirmed they will demand that the three services of the posts ministry be maintained as state-run.
JAPAN
Nov 18, 1997

Corporate heads praise measures, point to financial system

The nation's business leaders on Tuesday welcomed the government's package of pump-priming measures as effective, but called for measures to solve problems in the financial sector and for the government to reform the nation's taxation and administrative systems to stimulate the economy.
JAPAN
Nov 18, 1997

New economic package aims at accelerating deregulation

The government unveiled a package of pump-priming measures Tuesday that focuses on accelerating deregulation to help boost confidence in the economy, if not real demand, in the short term.
JAPAN
Nov 17, 1997

Japanese curriculum planning takes worldly shift

In preparation for adopting a five-day school week in 2003, an advisory council to the education minister submitted a midterm report Monday urging fewer mandatory classes in the fundamental subjects to create additional room for general studies that foster humanity, creativity, originality and international...
JAPAN
Nov 14, 1997

Patent chiefs collaborate on global certificates

KYOTO -- Officials in charge of the patent system in Japan, the United States and Europe agreed Friday to cooperate to reduce the costs and time needed to grant patents.
JAPAN
Nov 14, 1997

Japan shifts stance on Asia crisis fund

Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka said Friday that a proposed fund to assist Asian economies in financial or currency crises should supplement the International Monetary Fund, indicating a shift in Japan's position regarding the mechanism.
JAPAN
Nov 11, 1997

Engineering group awarded Kyoto Prize

KYOTO -- An international group of engineers who developed the world's first microprocessor in 1971 were among the laureates of this year's Kyoto Prize, presented Monday by the Inamori Foundation.
JAPAN
Nov 11, 1997

Japan, China cite 'major progress' in WTO talks

Japan and China acknowledged Tuesday that they have made "major progress" in ongoing negotiations over the Asian giant's accession to the World Trade Organization.
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
Nov 4, 1997

Russia seen on verge of joining APEC

Staff writer
JAPAN
Oct 31, 1997

Nikkei ends higher after nearing 16,000

Share prices on the Tokyo Stock Exchange were erratic Friday, with the Nikkei average at one point swooping to within a hair of the key 16,000 barrier but eventually logging a slight rise over the previous day. The index closed at 16,458.94, up 94.00 points.

Longform

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