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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.
JAPAN
Dec 25, 1997

77.67 trillion yen budget approved for fiscal '98

The Cabinet on Thursday approved the final version of an austere 77.67 trillion yen general account budget for fiscal 1998, up only 0.4 percent from the initial budget for the current fiscal year.
JAPAN
Dec 25, 1997

Aum gas-attack damages raised to 1.12 billion yen

The court-appointed trustee of the Aum Shinrikyo religious cult agreed Thursday to raise the amount of damages payable to victims of the 1995 Tokyo subway gas attack by 27 million yen.
JAPAN
Dec 25, 1997

First 1998 Diet session to open January 12

The Cabinet will decide today to convene the 1998 regular Diet session on Jan. 12, a week earlier than originally planned, so deliberations on a supplementary budget for 1997 can start quickly after the New Year's holidays, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kanezo Muraoka said Thursday.
JAPAN
Dec 24, 1997

Finance pushes back key banking reform

In a bid to end a cautious trend in bank lending, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday it will essentially push back by one year the planned introduction of stricter capital requirements for banks operating solely in Japan.
JAPAN
Dec 24, 1997

Honda plans to increase U.S. auto production

Honda Motor Co. announced on Wednesday that by the end of 2001, it will increase its annual production capacity in the United States and Canada to more than 1 million vehicles from the current level of 790,000 units.
JAPAN
Dec 24, 1997

Water-meter firms found guilty of bid-rigging

The Tokyo High Court on Wednesday found 25 water meter manufacturers and 34 of their employees guilty of rigging bids for Tokyo Metropolitan Government contracts in violation of the Anti-Monopoly Law.
JAPAN
Dec 24, 1997

LDP's Kato suggests regional banks close overseas units

In another attempt to ease the growing credit crunch, Koichi Kato, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has urged Japan's regional banks to close their international operations and focus on supplying more funds to local companies.
JAPAN
Dec 23, 1997

'Pocket Monsters' show on hold as investigation continues

TV Tokyo has announced it will suspend broadcasts of the popular "Pocket Monsters" cartoon series pending an investigation into last week's outbreak of convulsions and fainting that afflicted about 700 viewers.

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’