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JAPAN
Aug 26, 1997

Panel to deal with weapons left in China

The Cabinet on August 26 approved the formation of a panel to handle the disposal of chemical weapons left in China by the Imperial Japanese Army.
JAPAN
Aug 26, 1997

Public corporations under reform microscope

The number of executives and employees at 95 government-affiliated corporations should be cut by 10 percent, and another 10 percent cut should be applied to expenditures on public works projects under their umbrella, according to a proposal made August 26 by a panel of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party....
JAPAN
Aug 26, 1997

Aum regaining strength, surveillance operation reveals

Aum Shinrikyo has regained its organizational strength and expanded its activities since it was spared disbandment in January under the Antisubversive Activities Law, the Public Security Investigation Agency said August 26.
JAPAN
Aug 26, 1997

MITI requesting 923 billion yen for '98 budget

The Ministry of International Trade and Industry will request 922.8 billion yen for its fiscal 1998 general accounts budget, ministry officials said August 26.
JAPAN
Aug 25, 1997

Wife admits hiding spouse's limbs

OSAKA -- Sakae Maruyama, now under arrest for allegedly mutilating the body of her husband in Katano, Osaka Prefecture, last year, confessed that she tried to hide parts of his body after dismembering it, police sources said August 25.
JAPAN
Aug 25, 1997

Netanyahu woos Japan's high-tech sector

Stressing Israel's status in high-technology manufacturing, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on August 25 called on Japanese firms to take part in joint-venture projects.
JAPAN
Aug 25, 1997

87 Diet members launch opposition study group

In a move seen by many as a stepping stone toward the formation of a new opposition party, the Reform Council was launched on August 25 by 87 Diet members from four opposition parties.
JAPAN
Aug 25, 1997

Homeless turn down public assistance

Homeless people living at JR Shinjuku Station and Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials clashed again August 25 as a group protested efforts by officials to provide them job counseling and accommodations at nearby facilities.
JAPAN
Aug 25, 1997

Ruling parties fail to reach accord on defense

The ruling alliance failed August 25 to reach an agreement on reviewing guidelines for Japanese-U.S. defense cooperation and will resume final discussions August 26.
JAPAN
Aug 25, 1997

Tokyo to put waterfront land leases up for bid

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government on August 25 will begin accepting registration forms from businesses interested in bidding on 30-year leases for land along the Tokyo Bay waterfront development area.
JAPAN
Aug 25, 1997

30 hurt on Aomori line as trains crash head-on

AOMORI -- Two trains collided head-on in the town of Hiraga, Aomori Prefecture, August 25, leaving 30 people injured, seven of whom were put in the hospital.
JAPAN
Aug 25, 1997

Government to make move against dioxin emissions

The Cabinet August 26 will take the nation's first step to deal with highly toxic dioxin emissions, which are 10 times higher here than in the U.S. or Europe.
JAPAN
Aug 25, 1997

The Asahara Trial: Attorney fights for fairness

Last of three parts
JAPAN
Aug 25, 1997

Japan-Israel talks focus on Palestinian hardship

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto on August 25 called on his Israeli counterpart to reopen the West Bank and Gaza Strip to Palestinians, arguing that improving Palestinians' economic status is essential if peace is ever to be established in the Middle East.
JAPAN
Aug 22, 1997

Division of posts ministry proposed by reform council

The Administrative Reform Council has proposed privatizing the life insurance business operated by the Posts and Telecommunications Ministry and placing two of its other major operations -- postal savings and delivery -- under a new governmental agency.
JAPAN
Aug 22, 1997

Study group huddle likely sign of LDP strife

A group of 31 Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers met late August 22 in Tokyo to prepare for the launch of a "study group" -- an apparent sign that intraparty strife is escalating prior to an expected reshuffle of the party's executives.
JAPAN
Aug 22, 1997

LDP straddles wall between China, U.S. policies on Taiwan

Amid heated criticism from Chinese Premier Li Peng over Japan's support of the U.S. in a hypothetical China-Taiwan conflict, the Liberal Democratic Party said August 22 that it will not specifically define the "areas surrounding Japan" phrase of the Japan-U.S. defense cooperation pact, but that Japan...
JAPAN
Aug 22, 1997

In vitro fertilization more in vogue

Nearly 7,000 couples with infertility problems underwent in vitro fertilization treatment in 1995, double the number of couples from the previous year, according to a study conducted by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
JAPAN
Aug 22, 1997

Toyota debuts power-hybrid bus

Toyota Motor Corp. introduced August 22 the nation's first microbus to simultaneously use a gasoline engine and an electric motor, the automaker said.
JAPAN
Aug 22, 1997

NPA targets convenience stores in pornography crackdown

The National Police Agency is considering making it harder for teenagers to buy magazines and videos deemed "harmful" due to their pornographic or violent contents from convenience stores, agency officials said August 22.
JAPAN
Aug 22, 1997

The Asahara Trial: Most charged found guilty

Staff writer
JAPAN
Aug 22, 1997

Ruling allies agree to make insurance system for elderly

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its two non-Cabinet allies -- the Social Democratic Party and New Party Sakigake -- agreed in principle August 22 to create a new health insurance system solely for people 70 or older.
JAPAN
Aug 21, 1997

PCBs at park site not Universal Studios theme

Staff writer
JAPAN
Aug 21, 1997

Foreigners shoulder blame for more crime

The number of crimes blamed on foreigners almost doubled in the first half of this year, but 10 percent fewer foreigners were investigated for crimes than in the same period last year, the National Police Agency announced Aug. 21.
JAPAN
Aug 21, 1997

Asahara trial like an ongoing soap

Staff writer
JAPAN
Aug 21, 1997

Panel gives glimpse of next government

The government's blue-ribbon panel on administrative reform concluded Aug. 21 that the government should be revamped into a Cabinet Office, 10 ministries and two agencies by January 2001.
JAPAN
Aug 21, 1997

Administrative orders up for review

The Finance Ministry expressed willingness Aug. 21 to review various administrative orders at present given to the financial industry with an eye to eventually scrapping them.
JAPAN
Aug 21, 1997

Nets removed from Minamata Bay

KUMAMOTO -- The Kumamoto Prefectural Government began work Aug. 21 to remove nets from the mouth of Minamata Bay, put in place more than two decades ago to prevent mercury-contaminated fish from leaving the bay and spreading disease.
JAPAN
Aug 21, 1997

Locals urged to restore communities

Local communities must take the initiative in efforts to revitalize downtown districts and those that do should receive assistance from the central government, according to a report by a joint government panel.
JAPAN
Aug 21, 1997

Tokyo Bay spill to be investigated

The Yokohama Local Marine Accidents Inquiry Commissioners' Office asked authorities Aug. 21 to investigate the July 2 accident in which a Panamanian-registered supertanker ran aground in Tokyo Bay, resulting in a massive spill of crude oil.

Longform

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