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JAPAN
Mar 20, 1998

Hashimoto, LDP play different roles on economy

Staff writer
JAPAN
Mar 20, 1998

Upper House approves soccer lottery revisions

The Upper House, supported by members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and one of its allies, New Party Sakigake, approved a revised bill March 20 to start a soccer lottery system that would raise funds for the promotion of athletics.
JAPAN
Mar 20, 1998

Lower House approves 78 trillion yen budget

The 77.67 trillion yen fiscal 1998 state budget cleared the Lower House late March 20 and moved on to the Upper House with no amendments, allowing Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto to clear a major political hurdle.
JAPAN
Mar 20, 1998

'Layman' stands behind BOJ chief

Sakuya Fujiwara, the Bank of Japan's new senior deputy governor, said he wants to contribute to the central bank from his unique position as a "layman who does not know the theory and practice" of financial issues.
JAPAN
Mar 20, 1998

Hayami takes helm of Bank of Japan

Masaru Hayami took the helm as governor of the trouble-stricken Bank of Japan on March 20, emphasizing the need for the central bank to protect its independence and ensure transparency in policymaking as the revised BOJ Law takes effect April 1.
JAPAN
Mar 19, 1998

Diet passes bill to give corporate status to NPOs

The Diet passed a revised bill March 19 that will give corporate status to volunteer and other citizens' groups for the first time by recognizing them as official nonprofit organizations.
JAPAN
Mar 19, 1998

Deregulation steps to end power firms' monopoly

The government announced March 19 that it plans to end utilities' monopoly on electric power generation and lift a ban on cheaper air fares as part of its fiscal 1998-2000 deregulation program.
JAPAN
Mar 18, 1998

State to withdraw 400 million yen claim against Aum

The government intends to withdraw a claim for more than 400 million yen against Aum Shinrikyo, which has been declared bankrupt, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kanezo Muraoka indicated March 18.
JAPAN
Mar 18, 1998

Hashimoto requests help for Indonesia

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto has sent messages and urged countries, including the United States, Britain, South Korea and Singapore, to help Indonesia overcome its lingering economic problems, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kanezo Muraoka said March 18.
JAPAN
Mar 16, 1998

Hashimoto's LDP foes quiet down

The Liberal Democratic Party's own critics of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and his party leadership seem to be laying down their arms.
JAPAN
Mar 16, 1998

Beijing meeting to focus on friendliness to environment

Japanese and Chinese environment researchers and engineers will hold a meeting later this month in Beijing to discuss a joint plan to designate some cities in China to conduct intensive research on creating environment friendly cities, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kanezo Muraoka said March 16.
JAPAN
Mar 16, 1998

Hayami to head BOJ; ex-reporter named vice governor

Masaru Hayami, former head of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai), will assume the post of governor of the Bank of Japan, replacing Yasuo Matsushita, Chief Cabinet Kanezo Muraoka said March 16 evening.
JAPAN
Mar 12, 1998

Matsushita offers to quit for BOJ bribery scandal

Bank of Japan Gov. Yasuo Matsushita has offered to resign to take the blame for the arrest of a BOJ official who allegedly took bribes from commercial banks, Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said March 12.
JAPAN
Mar 10, 1998

Knifings prompt rethink of Juvenile Law

Justice Minister Kokichi Shimoinaba said March 10 that the issue of lowering the age at which minors who commit crimes can be punished should be included on the agenda of ongoing discussions among the Justice Ministry, the Supreme Court and the federation of bar associations.
JAPAN
Mar 9, 1998

10 trillion yen stimulus eyed

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will call for an additional economic stimulus package of more than 10 trillion yen after the Diet approves the fiscal 1998 state budget in April, top officials of the LDP have indicated.
JAPAN
Mar 6, 1998

PKO force commanders may get OK to order defensive fire

A 1991 Diet remark by then Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu may be standing in the way of a looser law that would allow military commanders to order defensive fire while engaged in U.N. peacekeeping operations.
JAPAN
Mar 6, 1998

Budget debate protests keep Diet on hold

All Diet business remained paralyzed Friday as three opposition blocs continued to boycott deliberations in the House of Representatives for a second day.
JAPAN
Mar 6, 1998

Hashimoto, Matsunaga to urge increased bank lending

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto will soon urge the executives of Japan's major banks to overcome any reluctance to offer loans, said Mitsuo Horiuchi, minister for international trade and industry.
JAPAN
Mar 3, 1998

Japan plays down Arab states' fears over UNSC warning to Iraq

Some Arab countries are reportedly alarmed by Japan's initiative on a U.N. resolution over weapons inspections in Iraq, but Foreign Ministry officials on Tuesday sought to soothe Iraq by saying the resolution is "well-balanced."
JAPAN
Mar 3, 1998

Bill approved to grant groups corporate status

The Upper House Committee on Labor and Social Policies unanimously approved a bill Tuesday that would, for the first time, give corporate status to volunteer groups and other citizens' groups by recognizing them as official nonprofit organizations.
JAPAN
Feb 27, 1998

Delays on administrative reform bill worry Hashimoto

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said he was concerned Friday that his pet bill on administrative consolidation may be abandoned due to a dearth of deliberation time and persistent opposition from lawmakers, bureaucrats and labor unions.
JAPAN
Feb 26, 1998

Plan to resume government aid to Myanmar criticized

Policy chiefs of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its two non-Cabinet allies expressed dissatisfaction with a Foreign Ministry plan to resume official development assistance to Myanmar, saying there has been little improvement in the country's democratization.
JAPAN
Feb 23, 1998

Tokyo backs last-minute deal with Iraq

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto implied Monday that the U.S. should accept the deal struck between Baghdad and the United Nations and not launch attacks against Iraq over its refusal to grant U.N. arms inspectors access to sites suspected of housing weapons of mass destruction.
JAPAN
Feb 20, 1998

LDP unveils latest plan to reinvigorate economy

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday unveiled its fourth stimulus package, hoping to boost confidence in the economy before the March 31 end of the fiscal year.
JAPAN
Feb 18, 1998

JR chiefs tell Hashimoto debt burden can't be carried

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto asked the presidents of seven JR group firms Wednesday for their understanding over the government's standpoint on the draft bill that outlines burden-sharing by the seven to cope with the 27.8 trillion yen debt amassed by the former Japanese National Railways.
JAPAN
Feb 18, 1998

Japan supports Annan's trip to Baghdad

Japan welcomes the planned visit by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to Baghdad on Friday to seek a diplomatic solution to the confrontation over Iraq's refusal to allow the U.N. to inspect its suspected weapons sites, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kanezo Muraoka said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Feb 16, 1998

Diet passes bills for publicly funded bank-bailing measures

The government of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto breathed a sigh of relief Monday after the House of Councilors approved two bills for stabilizing the financial system.
JAPAN
Feb 13, 1998

Banking bills clear Upper House committee

Bills critical to the stability of the nation's banking sector cleared the Upper House Committee on Financial Affairs on Friday. They are expected to be enacted by the chamber's plenary session Monday.
JAPAN
Feb 10, 1998

Ruling alliance approves Okinawa economy bill

The three-party ruling alliance on Tuesday approved a government-proposed bill to promote the Okinawan economy that will be submitted to the current Diet session.
JAPAN
Feb 5, 1998

LDP puts plans for helping Okinawa economy on hold

The Liberal Democratic Party has effectively put on hold a set of government measures to promote economic development in Okinawa Prefecture.

Longform

Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.