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JAPAN
Mar 31, 1997

Bill asserts organ-doning rights of brain-dead people

In an effort to prevent brain death from being legally recognized as death, a nonpartisan group of 28 lawmakers on Mar. 31 submitted to the Diet a bill stating that brain-dead people could be voluntary donors for organ transplants even though their condition does not constitute legal death.
JAPAN
Mar 31, 1997

More 5 yen coins readied for consumption tax hike

Predicting growing demand for 5 yen coins, the Bank of Japan has minted some 400 million of the ring-shaped coins and stockpiled them at its branches. The amount is three to four times the conventional reserves.
JAPAN
Mar 28, 1997

Support for NCB crucial, Mitsuzuka says

Support for ailing Nippon Credit Bank, which is expected to unveil a sweeping restructuring program soon, is imperative for maintaining financial stability both at home and abroad, Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka said Mar. 28.
JAPAN
Mar 28, 1997

Minato group plans language class

The Minato International Association, based in Tokyo's Minato Ward, is seeking students for its beginner-level Japanese course, which starts in April.
JAPAN
Mar 28, 1997

Fuji TV producer held in sexual assault case

A Fuji TV producer was arrested Mar. 28 on suspicion of sexually assaulting a high school girl in a hotel room after telling her that he would use her in a television drama, police said.
JAPAN
Mar 28, 1997

Ikeda to inform China of resumed grant-in-aid

Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda leaves Mar. 29 for China for a two-day visit, during which he will tell Chinese President Jiang Zemin and other leaders of the decision to resume grant-in-aid to China.
JAPAN
Mar 28, 1997

MITI continues meddling with other ministries

The Ministry of International Trade and Industry has a long-standing reputation in government circles of meddling in the turf of other ministries, and on Mar. 28 it was the posts ministry that felt its toes stepped on.
JAPAN
Mar 28, 1997

Cabinet approves environmental impact bill

The government of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto approved at a Cabinet meeting Mar. 28 a bill proposing the creation of Japan's first law for assessing the impact of construction projects on the environment.
JAPAN
Mar 28, 1997

Industrial production down 3.4%

Industrial output dropped 3.4 percent in February from the previous month, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry said in a preliminary report released Mar. 28.
JAPAN
Mar 28, 1997

Easier entry for foreign students adopted by ministry

An Education Ministry panel on Mar. 28 adopted a report that calls for improving the complicated approval system for foreign students who wish to study in Japan, officials said.
JAPAN
Mar 28, 1997

Japan, U.S. set new harbor talks

In a final effort to avoid threatened U.S. sanctions against Japanese ships, Japan and the U.S. will hold talks on Japanese port practices on Mar. 26 in Washington, the Transport Ministry said Mar. 28.
JAPAN
Mar 28, 1997

Ogasawara re-elected as Japan Times Chairman

The annual shareholders' meeting of The Japan Times Ltd., held Mar. 28, re-elected Toshiaki Ogasawara as chairman and president. The meeting also reappointed four other directors, including Minoru Shimizu, who serves as executive managing director. Toshiro Tatsuma was appointed as a new director of...
JAPAN
Mar 26, 1997

DPJ opposes revision of Okinawa lease law

The Democratic Party of Japan urged the government Mar. 26 not to go ahead with its decision to seek a revision to a law that would allow the government to continue legally providing land for the U.S. military in Okinawa Prefecture after lease contracts expire May 14, DPJ officials said.
JAPAN
Mar 26, 1997

Osaka to open posts to foreigners

OSAKA -- The city of Osaka will permit foreign residents with permanent residency to take municipal employment examinations for many city jobs slated for this summer, Osaka Mayor Takafumi Isomura said Mar. 26.
JAPAN
Mar 26, 1997

Asian editors to meet in Tokyo

As part of its 100th anniversary, The Japan Times, together with the Japan Foundation, will present an Asian English-Language Newspaper Editors' Conference in Tokyo on April 23. The focus will be on the newspapers' roles to report about Asia from Asian viewpoints and to promote understanding of Asia...
JAPAN
Mar 26, 1997

JR halts some Orange Card sales

Six Japan Railway group companies will discontinue sales of its prepaid Orange Card priced at 5,000 yen and 10,000 yen Mar. 27, the companies announced Mar. 26.
JAPAN
Mar 26, 1997

State interrogates ex-Aum policeman

Prosecutors have begun interrogating a 31-year-old former police officer who confessed last spring to the March 1995 shooting of National Police Agency chief Takaji Kunimatsu, according to investigation sources.
JAPAN
Mar 26, 1997

Okamitsu admits taking bribes in nursing home scandal

A former top bureaucrat at the health ministry and two others pleaded guilty Mar. 26 in their first trial hearing to bribery charges in connection with the construction of special subsidized nursing homes.
JAPAN
Mar 26, 1997

Fed's fund rate hike won't affect BOJ policy

The U.S. Federal Reserve Board's decision to raise its Federal Fund rate by 0.25 percentage point will not directly affect Japan's current easy monetary policy, the head of the Bank of Japan said Mar. 26.
JAPAN
Mar 26, 1997

Realtor tight-lipped on Tomobe scandal

A Tokyo realtor who allegedly helped Tatsuo Tomobe win his Upper House seat in 1995 refused Mar. 26 to comment on the allegations, saying he did not want to incriminate himself.
JAPAN
Mar 26, 1997

Shop owner opens 'kimchi museum'

In the hope of fostering a better understanding of Korean food culture in Japan, the owner of a Korean restaurant in Tokyo has set up a makeshift museum in his kitchen's first-floor food shop, with the popular ethnic dish kimchi, assorted pickled vegetables with hot chili sauce, as the main theme of...
JAPAN
Mar 26, 1997

Outdoor 'camp' helps workers fight postbubble frustration

When asked to draw a symbol of their company, participants in Anthony Willoughby's courses often draw pictures of sinking ships and burning buildings. "We've even gotten some fire-breathing dragons," Willoughby added.
JAPAN
Mar 25, 1997

Bankers' report calls for end to postal savings system

The nation's banking community drew up a report Mar. 25 calling for the privatization and subsequent breakup of the government's postal savings system, saying it was a barrier to full implementation of financial deregulation.
JAPAN
Mar 25, 1997

Talking about paper industry useless, Sato says

It is no use discussing with the United States new measures for paper trade, Japan's trade chief, Shinji Sato, said Mar. 25.
JAPAN
Mar 25, 1997

Sato maintains current recovery not export-based

Shinji Sato, international trade and industry minister, on Mar. 25 brushed aside U.S. concerns that Japan is trying to achieve economic recovery by boosting its exports.
JAPAN
Mar 25, 1997

Foreign-made output makes up 58% of Toyota's overseas sales

Toyota Motor Corp.'s sales of vehicles produced overseas accounted for 58 percent of total overseas sales in 1996, narrowly missing its target of 60 percent, according to the firm's progress report.
JAPAN
Mar 25, 1997

District Court orders Osaka to name those wined, dined

OSAKA -- The Osaka District Court ruled Mar. 25 in favor of a citizens' group seeking greater transparency in administrative spending, ordering the Osaka Municipal Government to disclose the names of those who were wined and dined by the city with taxpayers' money.
JAPAN
Mar 25, 1997

AOL to launch service in Japanese

America Online Inc., the world's largest on-line service provider with 8 million members, announced Mar. 25 that it will launch a Japanese-language Internet service on April 15.
JAPAN
Mar 25, 1997

Rwanda family returns to homeland

FUKUSHIMA -- After staying here for more than two years since fleeing from their war-stricken country, a Rwandan mother and her children boarded a plane Mar. 25 for their home country.
JAPAN
Mar 25, 1997

Land liquidity plan may use special firms, tax breaks

A comprehensive package to spur land liquidity to be drawn up Mar. 24 would include such measures as allowing thecreation of special purpose companies within Japan by fiscal 1998 to help securitize land held as loan collateral, the finance minister said Mar. 25.

Longform

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