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JAPAN
Jan 9, 1998

Committee agrees to begin work on new bullet train sections

A committee of representatives from the government and the three ruling parties agreed Friday to begin construction on three new bullet train sections in fiscal 1997.The committee had been discussing the proposed public work projects, under which runs would be built between:1) Hachinohe and Shin Aomori...
JAPAN
Jan 8, 1998

Agency rates 20 life insurers' ability to pay claims

Amid growing public concerns about financial institutions, the Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) on Thursday released a ranking of 20 major life insurance firms in terms of ability to provide payouts.The list included 10 life insurers whose ratings had been previously released in accordance with paid...
JAPAN
Jan 8, 1998

Heavy snow blankets Tokyo region

Tokyo and its surrounding areas were hit by heavy snow Thursday which disrupted traffic and prompted the Meteorological Agency to issue the capital a heavy snow warning -- its first in two years.The snowfall played havoc with Tokyo's highly organized transportation system, forcing train delays in several...
JAPAN
Jan 7, 1998

Kumon left estate of 1.91 billion yen

Takeshi Kumon, president of Kumon Education Institute, left an estate valued at about 1.91 billion yen when he died last year, Tokyo tax authorities disclosed Wednesday.The property, mainly made up of the late Kumon's house and land in Tokyo's Meguro Ward and shares of the institute, has been inherited...
JAPAN
Jan 7, 1998

Man arrested over Osaka murder

OSAKA -- The partial remains of a female Osaka restaurant owner missing since late December were unearthed Wednesday and the man who led police to the site has been arrested in connection with her slaying, police said.Osaka Prefectural Police arrested Yoshio Ishida, 51, of Osaka's Minato Ward, on suspicion...
JAPAN
Jan 6, 1998

Mitsuzuka proposes stock market stabilization measures

Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka announced Tuesday a set of measures -- including the introduction of more stringent restrictions regarding the short-selling of stocks -- aimed at reducing volatility in Tokyo's stock markets.Specifically, the definition of short-selling under the Securities and Exchange...
JAPAN
Jan 6, 1998

Big business calls for political leadership

Shoichiro Toyoda, chairman of the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren), said Tuesday that political leadership is needed to swiftly pass planned measures to cope with the economy."Toward the end of last year, various measures were drafted," Toyoda told a joint news conference with...
JAPAN
Jan 5, 1998

TSE, yen decline sharply on first trading day of '98

The Tokyo stock market and the yen fell sharply Monday, the year's first trading day, amid lingering fears about the ailing economy and the beleaguered banking industry.The 225-issue Nikkei average fell 301.90 points, or 1.98 percent, to end the half-day session at 14,956.84.The gloom in the financial...
JAPAN
Jan 5, 1998

Aoshima wants foreign panel's views, not politics

Staff writerThe foreign residents' council recently launched in Tokyo should not be political, but it will be a valuable source of foreigners' opinions for the governor, Yukio Aoshima said in a New Year's interview."I don't want the council to have a political meaning," the Tokyo governor said. "It...
JAPAN
Jan 5, 1998

Yokoyama looks to save Osaka from financial woes

Osaka Gov. "Knock" Yokoyama says that the prefecture's financial woes left him on the verge of despair but that talks with the national government over reform measures are continuing."I felt desperate, at times, because the situation was so bad," Yokoyama said. "But we must do what we can to turn the...
JAPAN
Jan 5, 1998

Authorities ready to intervene on yen's behalf, Komura says

Authorities are prepared to take appropriate action to stabilize currency markets, Vice Finance Minister Takeshi Komura said Monday, adding he is concerned about the yen's recent weakening.The ministry's top bureaucrat told a regular press conference that the yen's depreciation is "undesirable."Touching...
JAPAN
Jan 2, 1998

The Telecoms Race: TTNet takes lead in domestic price war

Second of two partsStaff writerDeregulation in the telecommunications sector began to be slowly implemented over a decade ago, but it is only now that the industry is entering cutthroat price competition, accelerated by the imminent breakup of NTT.On Jan. 7, Tokyo Telecommunication Network Co. (TTNet)...
JAPAN
Jan 2, 1998

Tokyo, Pyongyang bending to renew ties

Staff writerPositive developments have been emerging between Japan and North Korea in their efforts to resume negotiations aimed at establishing diplomatic ties, but a bumpy road still lies ahead, partly because of the deterioration of the South Korean economy.A resumption of full-scale normalization...
JAPAN
Jan 2, 1998

JAS stewardesses first to qualify as Red Cross aid instructors

Two Japan Air System flight attendants have passed qualification tests to become Red Cross first-aid instructors so they can teach colleagues such emergency techniques as heart massages.Yuko Hiiragi, 37, and Taeko Kunishige, 34, are the first Japanese cabin crew members to acquire the qualifications....
JAPAN
Jan 2, 1998

Mitsui set to rebuild its 'zaibatsu' empire

The prewar Mitsui "zaibatsu" conglomerate appears to be making a comeback after being outlawed for five decades as Sakura Bank and other financial institutions belonging to the Mitsui group of companies are contemplating forming a holding company.Financial industry sources said Friday that Mitsui Trust...
JAPAN
Dec 31, 1997

Into the Fast Lane: Freer forex laws offer multiple benefits

First in a series
JAPAN
Dec 31, 1997

Three new opposition parties moving toward unification

Leaders of three small opposition parties announced Wednesday they will form a joint parliamentary group during the Diet session that begins Jan. 12 and open negotiations on forming a new party.
JAPAN
Dec 31, 1997

Hashimoto to stay in charge by default, despite recession

Staff writer
JAPAN
Dec 31, 1997

Hashimoto vows to give strength to the economy

The government will take every possible measure to stabilize the nation's financial system and restore the economy to a healthy state, Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto vowed during a news conference marking New Year's Day.
JAPAN
Dec 31, 1997

Upstart airlines prepare to take to the skies

Staff writer
JAPAN
Dec 31, 1997

'Big Bang' will expose scrimpers' savings to big risks

Staff writer
JAPAN
Dec 31, 1997

Keep reform momentum going, Toyoda urges

BY SAYURI DAIMON
JAPAN
Dec 31, 1997

DKB suspected of wining, dining in loan coverup

Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank officials wined and dined Finance Ministry officials while the bank was under a ministry investigation in 1994, and they are suspected of prodding the ministry into issuing a favorable report on its bad loans, sources said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Dec 30, 1997

Automobile groups to begin CFC recovery, disposal

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association and six other auto industry groups will in January begin recovering and disposing of chlorofluorocarbons used in auto air conditioners in Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures.
JAPAN
Dec 30, 1997

Cigarette filters top hazard for tots

Filters from extinguished cigarettes were the leading object in cases of accidental swallowing among children in 1996 at eight hospitals, the Health and Ministry reported Tuesday.
JAPAN
Dec 30, 1997

Sixth party steps forth from Shinshinto wreckage

A sixth party arose Tuesday from the demise of 173-member Shinshinto.
JAPAN
Dec 30, 1997

Nikkei average ends year with 3.3% leap past 15,000

Providing the market with a bit of optimism after a turbulent year, Tokyo share prices rebounded strongly Tuesday, the final trading day of 1997, on a bout of futures-related buying.
JAPAN
Dec 29, 1997

Five parties emerging from Shinshinto's ashes

The free-for-all following the breakup of Shinshinto appeared to be giving way Monday to five new parties.
JAPAN
Dec 29, 1997

Prescriptions, bills rising for elderly outpatients

Elderly outpatients are prescribed four kinds of medicine each month, and their monthly payments for such treatment, including injections, comes to about 11,000 yen, according to a medication report published Monday by the Health and Welfare Ministry.
JAPAN
Dec 26, 1997

Ozawa plans to disband Shinshinto for new party

No. 1 opposition party Shinshinto announced Friday that its Diet members would gather later today to discuss disbanding into two new parties to be launched in early January.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji