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JAPAN
Apr 11, 1997

Okinawa activists protest base lease bill

Following the Diet's passage Friday of a controversial bill designed to allow the central government to legally renew Okinawan land leases for U.S. military forces, several Okinawan lawmakers and grassroots activists protested what they claim is a "violation of Okinawans' human rights."
JAPAN
Apr 11, 1997

Fatal stabbing in Ashiya investigated

KOBE -- Police on Friday began investigating the fatal stabbing the previous night of a company president in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture. According to police, Akitoshi Hashimoto, 48, was stabbed in the back outside his home at around 8:10 p.m.
JAPAN
Apr 11, 1997

Osaka delegation to visit sister cities

OSAKA -- Osaka Mayor Takafumi Isomura will lead a 15-member delegation to San Francisco next week for an eight-day trip to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Osaka-San Francisco sister city relationship.
JAPAN
Apr 10, 1997

Killing suspect mum on motive

OSAKA -- A man arrested April 9 in connection with the fatal stabbing the same day of an 8-year-old girl refuses to elaborate on a motive for the attack, investigators said April 10.
JAPAN
Apr 10, 1997

Spill from tanker wreck hits shores of Tsushima

NAGASAKI -- Crude oil apparently spilled from a sunken South Korean tanker was seen washing ashore April 10 on the northwestern and eastern shores of Tsushima Island, Nagasaki Prefecture.
JAPAN
Apr 10, 1997

Banned candidate to run from adjacent constituency

AOMORI -- A candidate banned from running in his constituency after being found guilty of a guilt-by-association clause in a revised Public Office Election Law will run in the neighboring district in the next prefectural assembly poll, it was learned April 10. Isamu Moriuchi, 59, is the first candidate...
JAPAN
Apr 10, 1997

Ota 'respects' heliport study

NAHA, Okinawa Pref. -- Okinawa Gov. Masahide Ota said April 10 that he would respect a decision by the municipal government of Nago to approve a feasibility study for a new offshore heliport for the U.S. Marines in northeastern Okinawa.
JAPAN
Apr 10, 1997

Top officials back yen; currency's fall halted

Mindful of U.S. warnings against the recent rise in Japan's surpluses, high-ranking financial officials April 10 launched a sudden tirade of comments that the recent fall of the yen is excessive and hinted at corrective action. Their remarks effectively halted the yen's plunge against the dollar, pushing...
JAPAN
Apr 10, 1997

LDP, allies agree on Okinawa aid plan

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its two smaller non-Cabinet allies agreed April 10 on a program designed to promote the economic development of Okinawa Prefecture and help it achieve financial independence. The program suggests that a large part of the island prefecture be turned into a free-trade...
JAPAN
Apr 9, 1997

Biker embroidery gets sewer in jam

OSAKA -- Police have sent to prosecutors papers regarding a 60-year-old embroidery artist who is suspected of helping several biker groups violate the Road Traffic Law.
JAPAN
Apr 9, 1997

Japan Times opens window on past

OSAKA -- An exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of The Japan Times started April 9 at the Big Man square near Hankyu Umeda Station here in Kita Ward.
JAPAN
Apr 9, 1997

Cohen, Hashimoto seek to ease Okinawa burden

Visiting U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen and Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto agreed April 9 on the need for both governments to further collaborate to ease the military burden on Okinawa, where most of the U.S. troops in Japan are based, government officials said.
JAPAN
Apr 9, 1997

TNT for SDF comes from South Korea

Chugoku Kayaku Corp., Japan's sole TNT maker, which suspended production after two explosions last year, has been importing the powder from South Korea since February for use in shells and missiles for the Self-Defense Forces, it was learned April 9.
JAPAN
Apr 9, 1997

Half of workers unhappy, poll finds

Nearly half the corporate employees surveyed are dissatisfied with their companies, with many complaining about their pay and management evaluation of their work, according to a survey by a publishing company.
JAPAN
Apr 8, 1997

First European job fair slated

Seven European chambers of commerce and a trade commission in Japan, backed by the European Commission, will jointly hold the first European Job Fair in Tokyo this month.
JAPAN
Apr 8, 1997

JR cracks down on mobile phone users

To cope with mounting complaints from passengers, East Japan Railway Co. will limit the use of mobile phones on trains starting April 14, the company said April 8.
JAPAN
Apr 8, 1997

Mental hospital faces abuse probe

OSAKA -- A council that screens Osaka prefectural mental hospitals inspected Yamatogawa Hospital in Kashiwara, Osaka Prefecture, April 8 over alleged mistreatment of patients.
JAPAN
Apr 7, 1997

Dollar rises to 125 yen to hit four-year high

The dollar soared against the yen in Tokyo on April 7, briefly hitting 125 yen for the first time since February 1993 amid growing expectations of higher interest returns on U.S. securities.
JAPAN
Apr 7, 1997

Overseas aid tumbles 35% in 1996 to $9.58 billion

Japan's official development assistance in 1996 plunged by 35 percent from the previous year to $9.58 billion, marking the first decline in dollar terms in seven years, the Foreign Ministry said in a preliminary report released April 7.
JAPAN
Apr 7, 1997

Move of capital has municipalities turning big believers

TOKI, Gifu Pref -- One of the small rural towns at the foot of rich, green mountains here in the Tono region could become Japan's new capital in 2010.
JAPAN
Apr 4, 1997

Upper House asks Tomobe to resign

The House of Councilors adopted a resolution Apr. 4 calling on chamber member Tatsuo Tomobe to resign in connection with his indictment for fraud.
JAPAN
Apr 4, 1997

Sato to take up supercomputers

Trade chief Shinji Sato said Apr. 4 that he will take up the issue of the U.S. government procurement of supercomputers when he visits the United States later this month.
JAPAN
Apr 3, 1997

Japan has signaled change but must follow through fully

The government's deregulation package, though far from satisfactory in scale and content, enshrines some important steps signaling greater reform in the future, according to Ushio Chujo, a professor of public economics at Keio University.
JAPAN
Apr 3, 1997

Politicians' 11 million yen junket attracts criticism

Nine Osaka Prefectural Assembly members, including chairman Yoshio Matsui, are on an overseas junket to promote Osaka's 2008 Olympic bid and to study administrative reform, despite opposition from fellow assembly members and a local citizens' group.
JAPAN
Apr 2, 1997

Japan asked to help feed N. Korea

The head of the U.N. World Food Program on Apr. 1 called on Japan to provide food assistance to North Korea, Foreign Ministry officials said.
JAPAN
Apr 2, 1997

Orix chief urges government to 'climb the next mountain'

The nation's move toward deregulation is at a turning point and the government must continue easing regulations to "climb the next mountain," says the deputy chairman of an Administrative Reform Committee branch.
JAPAN
Apr 2, 1997

3,000 rally against revision of Okinawa land lease law

About 3,000 unionists rallied late Apr. 2 in Tokyo to protest a planned legal revision that would enable the government to continue the forced use of land in Okinawa Prefecture for U.S. military installations after the land lease contracts expire in May.
JAPAN
Apr 2, 1997

WTO panel to hear Japan-U.S. photo trade row

A dispute-settlement panel of the World Trade Organization will begin discussions this month on the trade row between Tokyo and Washington over Japan's photographic film and paper market, Japanese government officials said Apr. 2.
JAPAN
Apr 2, 1997

Kajiyama speech hints at stiffer base land law

Tough new legislation could be introduced in the future to help the central government override opposition from landowners and local governments when leases for property within U.S. bases expire, the government's top spokesman hinted Apr. 2.
JAPAN
Apr 1, 1997

Lloyd's Japan plans to ride 'Big Bang' into new market

Lloyd's of London will use the current wave of financial deregulation as a tail wind to expand business in Japan through its new Japanese unit, according to Lloyd's Japan Inc. President Kunihiko Sasamoto.

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