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JAPAN
Mar 27, 2001

Ex-minister Yoshikawa to retire

Former Labor Minister Yoshio Yoshikawa notified the ruling Liberal Democratic Party through a secretary on Monday that he will retire from politics at the end of his current six-year term, aides said.
JAPAN
Mar 26, 2001

Matsuo faces new arrest for bill-padding scam

Police are set to serve a fresh arrest warrant on Katsutoshi Matsuo, a former Foreign Ministry logistics chief, later this week on suspicion of a new case of fraud again involving padding hotel bills for overseas trips by prime ministers, police sources said Sunday.
JAPAN
Mar 25, 2001

Attitudes toward AIDS contradictory

More than 80 percent of Japanese responding to a poll believe AIDS patients and people infected with HIV should not be discriminated against -- but many are still reluctant to even share an office with them -- according to a Cabinet Office survey released Saturday.
JAPAN
Mar 23, 2001

Investment in science sought by panel

A government panel recommended to Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori on Thursday that the government invest 24 trillion yen in scientific research and development over the coming five years, panel members said.
JAPAN
Mar 22, 2001

Under pressure from U.S., tax breaks considered to rid banks of bad loans

The government began discussions Wednesday on specific measures to eliminate the bad loans held by Japanese banks, following a request from U.S. President George W. Bush to do so.
JAPAN
Mar 22, 2001

Bill designed to crack down on telephone clubs

The Cabinet endorsed a bill Wednesday to revise a law regulating adult entertainment in a bid to crack down on telephone dating services that facilitate sex with minors and child prostitution, government officials said.
JAPAN
Mar 22, 2001

LDP's Kato suspended for failing to vote

The Liberal Democratic Party decided Wednesday to suspend Koichi Kato, the LDP's former secretary general, from his current party post for three months as punishment for abstaining from a Diet vote on a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet of Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori.
JAPAN
Mar 22, 2001

Murakami indicted over 72 million yen in KSD bribes

Public prosecutors indicted former House of Councilors member Masakuni Murakami on Wednesday on charges of taking 72 million yen in bribes from KSD, a government-authorized foundation for small businesses.
BUSINESS
Mar 20, 2001

Miyazawa may tap budget to energize land market

Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa voiced readiness Monday to earmark budgetary spending for urban redevelopment projects to revitalize Japan's land market.
JAPAN
Mar 19, 2001

Coalition splits over timing of LDP poll

The ruling tripartite coalition on Sunday split over the timing of the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election, with the LDP's partners signaling that they want a successor for lame-duck Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori as soon as possible.
JAPAN
Mar 19, 2001

Poll shows public concerned about safety, education

A rising number of Japanese are concerned that public safety and education have worsened over the past few years, according to a government poll.
JAPAN
Mar 19, 2001

State funds lavished on Diet members

Japanese diplomatic establishments in foreign countries used discretionary government funds to wine and dine visiting Diet members, a Foreign Ministry internal document revealed.
EDITORIALS
Mar 17, 2001

Go, Mr. Mori, and soon

Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori has apparently acknowledged what the media have been saying of late: His days are numbered. But he has left everyone guessing exactly when he will step down. One thing is certain, however: The Liberal Democratic Party will select a new leader in a presidential election later...
JAPAN
Mar 17, 2001

Komura plans poll on spouse names

In a move that is likely to rekindle political debate, Justice Minister Masahiko Komura instructed his ministry Friday to conduct a public opinion poll on a possible revision of the Civil Code to enable a married couple to retain separate family names.
JAPAN
Mar 17, 2001

New law to enable deaf, blind to be doctor, nurse

The Cabinet endorsed bills Friday to amend 27 laws that ban blind and deaf people from becoming doctors, nurses, pharmacists or assuming many other professional positions, government officials said.
BUSINESS
Mar 17, 2001

Miyazawa will not draft extra budget

Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa reiterated Friday that he has no plans to draw up a supplementary budget for fiscal 2001, which starts April 1.
BUSINESS
Mar 17, 2001

NTT president slams new 'control' law

NTT Corp. President Junichiro Miyazu on Friday reiterated his opposition to legislation proposed by the telecommunications ministry to tighten control on the telecom giant, ministry officials said.
BUSINESS
Mar 16, 2001

Solutions sought to employment mismatch

The government and representatives of both employers and unions agreed Thursday to cooperate in solving the growing mismatch between job seekers and job offers, labor ministry officials said.
JAPAN
Mar 16, 2001

Stock market crisis may prolong Mori's tenure

Speculation is growing that Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori may remain in his post beyond April, partly because of the recent decline in share prices and the confusion over just who would succeed the unpopular leader.
CULTURE / Books
Mar 15, 2001

Thai women, twice victimized

OWED JUSTICE: Thai Women Trafficked into Debt Bondage in Japan. Human Rights Watch, 227 pp., unpriced. For many women, the journey begins in northern Thailand, where refugees and hill-tribesmen languish in poverty and statelessness. The favored prey of sex-trade recruiters, these undocumented Thai...
JAPAN
Mar 13, 2001

Opposition tells Mori to resign now, not later

The opposition camp on Monday called for Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori's immediate resignation, while Mori himself continued to deny that he offered to step down when he proposed moving up the Liberal Democratic Party election.
BUSINESS
Mar 13, 2001

Bill to revise JR law expected to pave way to privatization

Administrative vice ministers drafted a bill to revise the Japan Railway law at a meeting Monday, paving the way for full privatization of three JR group companies, government officials said.
EDITORIALS
Mar 10, 2001

An untimely defense move

The government and the ruling parties are making preliminary moves toward enacting legislation designed to meet future military crises directly involving Japan. The assumption is that in the event of an armed attack from abroad, the Self-Defense Forces will be mobilized to defend the country with the...
JAPAN
Mar 10, 2001

SOFA changes mulled to calm Okinawa

Despite persistent demands from Okinawa Prefecture for sweeping revisions to the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, the central government is hoping the most recent surge in anti-American sentiment can be appeased by improvements in the implementation of the pact.
JAPAN
Mar 10, 2001

New diplomatic envoys

At a Cabinet meeting Friday, the government appointed Jiro Kobayashi, former ambassador to Fiji, as ambassador to Bangladesh.
JAPAN
Mar 10, 2001

Today could have Mori giving notice

Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori is expected to express his intention to resign today, a senior official of the LDP's largest faction said Friday.
BUSINESS
Mar 9, 2001

Japan faces 'catastrophic' fiscal scenario

Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa said Thursday that Japan is on the brink of a fiscal "catastrophe" and called for dramatic measures to be implemented.
JAPAN
Mar 8, 2001

Mori ready to resign, LDP officials suggest

Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori has decided to step down in late March or early April, soon after the Diet passes the fiscal 2001 budget, a senior member of Mori's faction in the Liberal Democratic Party said Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Mar 6, 2001

State may redefine 'deflation'

The central government is considering relaxing its definition of deflation amid continuing falls in consumer prices, government sources said Monday.

Longform

A small shrine perched atop rocks braves the waves hitting the shoreline during a storm in Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture. The area is under threat of a possible 31-meter-high tsunami if an earthquake strikes the nearby Nankai Trough.
If the 'Big One' hits, this city could face a 31-meter-high tsunami