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JAPAN
May 22, 1998

Lower House passes fiscal reform bill

A bill for revision of the fiscal reform law was passed in the Lower House on Friday, bringing an economic stimulus package worth more than 16 trillion yen one step closer to implementation.
JAPAN
May 8, 1998

LDP council approves financial reform bills

The Liberal Democratic Party's Executive Council on Friday approved several economic bills, including one for revising the fiscal austerity law, that will be submitted to the Diet on Monday.
JAPAN
Apr 23, 1998

Stimulus package gets finishing touches

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party put the final touches April 23 to the 16 trillion yen worth of economic stimulus measures to be endorsed by the government today, which will include about 10-trillion yen in "real-water" measures that require direct government outlays.
JAPAN
Apr 13, 1998

Rise in banks' interest rates inevitable: Kato

Interest rates will become "inevitably higher" as Japanese banks compete with foreign financial institutions following the nation's "Big Bang" financial reforms, Koichi Kato, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, predicted April 13.
JAPAN
Apr 8, 1998

Diet passes 77.67 trillion yen budget

The 77.67 trillion yen fiscal 1998 national budget was passed by the Diet late April 8 in a House of Councilors plenary session vote.
JAPAN
Mar 26, 1998

16 trillion yen stimulus plan packed with public works

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party on March 26 proposed the nation's largest-ever economic stimulus package, worth at least 16 trillion yen.
JAPAN
Feb 20, 1998

Osaka Municipal Government files 1998 budget

OSAKA -- The Osaka Municipal Government is seeking 4.4 trillion yen for the 1998 fiscal budget, a 1.7 percent increase over the previous year, according to the proposed budget announced Friday.
JAPAN
Feb 17, 1998

Bill aims to put some backbone into administrative reform

The Cabinet adopted a bill Tuesday that will serve as the basic law to start consolidating a reformed administrative system in January 2001 at the earliest.
JAPAN
Feb 10, 1998

JNR sells off pricey Tokyo station plots

Japanese National Railway Settlements Corp. announced Tuesday that a 1.2-hectare plot of land in front of JR Tokyo Station will be sold to a team comprising Mitsubishi Estate Co. and Nippon Life Insurance Co.
JAPAN
Jan 27, 1998

Nissan to reduce auto platforms to five

Nissan Motor Co. plans to reduce the number of platforms for its automobiles to five by around 2005, Nissan President Yoshikazu Hanawa said Tuesday.In an effort to reduce costs and shorten development lead time for new models, the company has been planning to consolidate major platforms, Hanawa said....
JAPAN
Jan 23, 1998

OECD sets guidelines to stop harmful tax competition

Staff writerThe 29 member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development have agreed in principle on guidelines for eliminating "harmful" tax competition designed to attract more foreign capital, government sources said Friday.The guidelines call for the nations to roll back what...
JAPAN
Nov 28, 1997

COP3: Agreement on emissions is relatively easy

First in a series
JAPAN
Nov 12, 1997

Island states worried by climate change

Staff writer
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 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
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 22, 1997

Auto show shifts into environmental gear

CHIBA -- The 32nd Tokyo Motor Show will showcase automotive technologies focusing on environmental protection and safety as automakers address growing concerns over air pollution and global warming.This year's show, previewed by reporters Oct. 22 at Makuhari Messe, comes amid a prolonged slump in auto...
JAPAN
Oct 21, 1997

GM execs call for balance, brawnier yen

Top executives of General Motors Corp. voiced support Oct. 21 for a stronger yen, continued investment in Southeast Asia and a "global solution" to greenhouse warming.John Smith, GM's chairman, president and CEO; Richard Wagoner, president of GM's North American Operations; and other executives were...
JAPAN
Oct 13, 1997

New energy proposal dictates 'drastic' changes in lifestyle

As part of its initiative to tackle global warming, the government on Oct. 13 announced a series of energy-conservation measures it says will cause "drastic changes" to people's lifestyles.The proposed measures, however, would only stabilize carbon dioxide emissions at the 1990 levels by 2010 and fall...
JAPAN
Sep 19, 1997

Leading auto parts maker turns to Asia-Pacific market

Tony Gilroy, chief operating officer of Lucas Varity PLC, a leading international auto parts manufacturer, said Sept. 19 that the firm will emphasize the Asia-Pacific market, especially India and China, in its global strategy.
JAPAN
Aug 13, 1997

Win welcomed but some fear city's profile too weak

OSAKA -- While Osaka's business community wholeheartedly welcomes the city's victory in becoming Japan's candidate to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, concerns are growing over whether the city has enough international appeal to be chosen by world officials.
JAPAN
Jul 14, 1997

Tokyo to focus on seven sectors for APEC talks

Japan will propose market-liberalization talks in seven industrial sectors, including environment-related equipment and services, transport machinery and film, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, government officials said July 14.
JAPAN
Jul 2, 1997

Liberalized APEC trade in environmental goods sought

Japan plans to propose talks on liberalizing trade in environment-related equipment and services within the 18-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, government officials said July 2.
JAPAN
Jun 23, 1997

Tokyo's strength Japan's weakness, Kankeiren says

The nation's socioeconomic system is in need of reform because information and policymaking is too concentrated in Tokyo, according to the new chief of the federation that represents industries in the Kansai region.
JAPAN
May 16, 1997

LDP backs basic plan on expenditure limits

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party endorsed a basic outline May 16 for capping government spending to help the nation regain its fiscal health, but left many specific numerical targets up to the prime minister's Fiscal Structure Reform Council.
JAPAN
Feb 27, 1997

Budget ax may fall on defense layout

The government will review its plan to spend 25.1 trillion yen on defense-related programs between fiscal 1996 and 2000 in an effort to rebuild the nation's debt-stricken fiscal health, the government's top spokesman said Feb. 27.
JAPAN
Jan 29, 1997

Group forms to cut carbon dioxide emissions

An international group of local governments was launched Jan. 29 in Hayama, Kanagawa Prefecture, in a bid to cut carbon dioxide emissions 20 percent to help prevent global warming.The group, named "20 Percent Club for Sustainable Cities," was founded by 27 local governments here and 22 overseas. Members...
JAPAN
Jan 21, 1997

Population's peak expected in 2007

Japanese society is aging faster than projected five years ago and will reach a significant turning point this year with people age 65 and older outnumbering those under 14, the Health and Welfare Ministry said Jan. 21.The nation's population will peak at 127.78 million in 2007 and by 2050, there will...
JAPAN
Jan 14, 1997

1.82 million people come of age

A total of 1.82 million people turned 20 during the one-year period ending Jan. 15, the Management and Coordination Agency said Jan. 14, the eve of the national holiday Coming of Age Day.The number of new adults decreased 60,000 from last year, accounting for 1.4 percent in the total population, the...
JAPAN
Jan 9, 1997

U.K. official urges earlier decontrol

Kenneth Clarke, Britain's chancellor of the exchequer, urged Jan. 9 that sweeping deregulation of Japan's financial system be undertaken sooner than the current timetable of 2001, according to government officials.During a meeting with Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka, Clarke said he hopes the reforms,...

Longform

Tetsuzo Shiraishi, speaking at The Center of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage, uses a thermos to explain how he experienced the U.S. firebombing of March 1945, when he was just 7 years old.
From ashes to high-rises: A survivor’s account of Tokyo’s postwar past