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JAPAN
Oct 24, 1997

Ruling party allies wrangle over Article 6

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its two smaller allies on Oct. 24 failed to resolve differences over whether Article 6 of the Cabinet Law should be revised to allow the prime minister to issue direct orders to officials of various ministries.Direct orders would be made when swift action is needed...
JAPAN
Oct 24, 1997

Climate change focus of U.N. symposium

Speakers at a climate change symposium said Oct. 24 the Kyoto global warming conference in December will be a crucial test of whether the world will be able to protect the Earth in the next century.During the symposium, held at United Nations University in Tokyo to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of...
JAPAN
Oct 24, 1997

NEC, Toshiba blame tax for midterm sales results

The consumption tax increase in April has had a negative impact on half-year financial results announced Oct. 24 by NEC Corp. and Toshiba Corp., the nation's two major electronics manufacturers.Despite increased exports supported by the weak yen, poor sales of personal computers and home-use electric...
JAPAN
Oct 24, 1997

JAS and KLM sign cooperation agreement

Japan Air System Co. has signed an agreement for opening comprehensive business cooperation with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to strengthen the two carriers' competitiveness between Japan and Europe.The two airlines exchanged a memorandum of understanding at KLM's headquarters in Holland on Oct. 23, a JAS...
JAPAN
Oct 24, 1997

Aviation talks get another go at vice-ministerial level

The United States and Japan will hold another round of aviation talks at the vice-ministerial level next month since the two sides failed to reach an agreement Oct. 24 in Washington, Transport Minister Takao Fujii said Oct. 24."We had thought that we might be able to have a ministerial-level meeting....
JAPAN
Oct 24, 1997

San Francisco mayor leads delegation to sister-city Osaka

San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown led a delegation of business and government officials to Osaka this week to strengthen business ties between the two cities and offer support for Osaka's bid for the 2008 Olympics.The sister-city relationship celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Last spring, Osaka...
JAPAN
Oct 24, 1997

Obuchi and Kinkel agree on expanding UNSC

Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi and his German counterpart, Klaus Kinkel, agreed Oct. 24 to cooperate in their efforts to achieve an expansion of the number of permanent seats on the U.N. Security Council."As for the reform of the U.N. Security Council, the two governments will continue their cooperation...
JAPAN
Oct 24, 1997

Cabinet will now reward thrifty bureaucrats

A long-standing practice was challenged Oct. 24 when Cabinet members agreed that ministries must favorably evaluate bureaucrats who make efforts to reduce the government workload.The bureaucracy has given higher marks to officials who secure more budgetary allocations from the Finance Ministry for their...
JAPAN
Oct 23, 1997

Analyst calls them the 'Big Three'

Yamaichi Securities Co. is no longer worthy of being grouped with the Big Four securities firms, an analyst said Oct. 23, reacting to the firm's business results.Hiroshi Okumura, a professor of business management at Chuo University, was commenting on Yamaichi's 2.7 billion yen in pretax losses and 6...
JAPAN
Oct 23, 1997

Italy against UNSC expansion, discourages Japan effort

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi on Oct. 23 discouraged Japan from pursuing a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, saying Italy opposes expanding the number of permanent members.During a news conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo's Hibiya district, he also stressed that "there...
JAPAN
Oct 23, 1997

Fuji Heavy to face 'strict' fine over silent recall

Vice Transport Minister Masahiko Kurono on Oct. 23 expressed regret over the failure of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. to report a large auto recall to the ministry.The ministry's penalty could be strict in view of the 1.47 million units subject to the recall, Kurono suggested. "I believe that the recall...
JAPAN
Oct 23, 1997

Ford CEO wants greater access to Japanese market

Staff WriterCHIBA -- Ford Motor Co. hopes for greater foreign access to the Japanese market and a yen strong enough to change Japanese automakers' tendency to over-rely on exports, the company's head said Oct. 23.In an interview with The Japan Times, Alex Trotman, chairman and CEO of Ford, said that...
JAPAN
Oct 23, 1997

Large chain stores seek tax relief

Large retailers urged the government Oct. 23 to stimulate private consumption by reducing income taxes and allowing greater income tax breaks for part-time workers.The Japan Chain Stores Association made the request during a meeting with trade chief Mitsuo Horiuchi, according to a Ministry of International...
JAPAN
Oct 23, 1997

Japan disappointed with U.S. emissions plan

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto indicated Oct. 23 that the U.S. proposal for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions is too lenient.Environment Agency chief Hiroshi Oki, who is scheduled to chair the Kyoto global-warming conference in December, said it would be difficult to build an international consensus...
JAPAN
Oct 23, 1997

Six former Yamaichi execs served new warrants

Prosecutors served new arrest warrants Oct. 23 to an ex-president and five former executives of Yamaichi Securities Co. and arrested one of its past senior managing directors on suspicion of illegally reimbursing losses on investment incurred by a major leasing company.The action follows complaints filed...
JAPAN
Oct 23, 1997

Big Four register pretax profit declines

The nation's Big Four securities firms saw pretax profits fall for the first half of the current fiscal year as business slackened after the discovery of their alleged involvement in a financial scandal, results released Oct. 23 showed.Nomura Securities Co. secured pretax profits of 49.3 billion yen...
JAPAN
Oct 23, 1997

Mitsubishi Motors director arrested over 'sokaiya'

A Mitsubishi Motors Corp. director was arrested Oct. 23 in connection with payoffs allegedly made by Mitsubishi to two "sokaiya" corporate extortionists.Yasuo Shimizu, 59, is suspected of conspiring with other MMC officials to pay off the racketeers with more than 9 million yen in cash in exchange for...
JAPAN
Oct 23, 1997

Serious crimes by minors rising fast

The 1,590 minors arrested for heinous crimes like murder, robbery and arson in the first nine months of this year is more than the total for 1996, police said Oct. 23.The figure for all of last year was 1,496. Robbery cases, including those in the category "oyaji-gari" (which literally means "hunt for...
JAPAN
Oct 23, 1997

Kan seeks out Prodi for political advice

Naoto Kan, leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, called on visiting Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi on Oct. 23 to ask for advice on forming an alliance of center-left political parties.During their 30-minute meeting at a Tokyo hotel, Kan asked Prodi why his Olive Tree centrist-leftist ruling alliance...
JAPAN
Oct 22, 1997

DPJ leader wants SDP, Sakigake to join in electoral push

Naoto Kan, leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, on Oct. 22 called on the two non-Cabinet allies of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to break ranks and join an opposition electoral plan.Kan said he will consider cooperating with the two parties in the House of Councilors election next summer, meaning...
JAPAN
Oct 22, 1997

Asia-Pacific security to be debated

The Foreign Press Center will hold its annual "Asia-Pacific Journalists Meeting" on Oct. 28 and Oct. 30 at the Japan Foundation Conference Hall in Minato Ward, Tokyo.Eleven journalists from China, Japan, Russia, the United States and other countries or regions will discuss "Security in the Asia-Pacific...
JAPAN
Oct 22, 1997

Japan urged to diversify international contributions

Japan needs to gradually build on its peaceful postwar history and play a leading role by developing a basic posture toward and actively tackling global problems, Shusei Tanaka, former head of the Economic Planning Agency, said at a symposium on Oct. 22.The symposium, "Road to a Civilian Power," focused...
JAPAN
Oct 22, 1997

Auto show shifts into environmental gear

CHIBA -- The 32nd Tokyo Motor Show will showcase automotive technologies focusing on environmental protection and safety as automakers address growing concerns over air pollution and global warming.This year's show, previewed by reporters Oct. 22 at Makuhari Messe, comes amid a prolonged slump in auto...
JAPAN
Oct 22, 1997

Bolivia's Lima envoy knew of Tupac Amaru threat

Bolivian Ambassador to Peru Jorge Gumucio, one of the hostages in the 127-day Lima crisis, said he knew Bolivian officials in Peru could be kidnapped at any time by the leftist Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement.Gumucio first alerted his government to the danger in December 1995, when Bolivian authorities...
JAPAN
Oct 22, 1997

Transparency in defense pact urged by China, South Korea

High-ranking defense officials from China and South Korea urged their Japanese counterparts Oct. 22 to continue efforts to make the new Japan-U.S. defense arrangements transparent, Defense Agency officials said.During a two-day forum that ended Oct. 22, senior civilian and uniformed defense officials...
JAPAN
Oct 22, 1997

Future of translation virtually set, Microsoft says

By 2000, most translators will be working in partnership with computers, in a virtual team, in a virtual office and for customers they have never met face to face, David Brooks, senior director of Microsoft Corp., said Oct. 22 at the International Communication Forum in Tokyo.The two-day forum, hosted...
JAPAN
Oct 22, 1997

Suzuki mulls compact car for GM

Suzuki Motor Co. is considering giving General Motors Corp. a new compact car to be produced at Suzuki's plant in Hungary, a top Suzuki executive indicated Oct. 22.If the deal comes about, the new Suzuki would likely become a major model in the small car segment for GM, as it currently lacks a strong...
JAPAN
Oct 22, 1997

U.S. requests investigation of glass distribution system

The United States called on the Japanese trade watchdog on Oct. 22 to investigate the glass distribution system, which Washington claims is manipulated by three major Japanese firms and limits foreign access.Japan's Fair Trade Commission took note of the request but remained noncommittal on whether it...
JAPAN
Oct 22, 1997

Civil servants may get to keep status after reform

A government panel on administrative reform agreed Oct. 22 that government employees transferred to newly created quasigovernmental organizations should be allowed to keep their status as civil servants for the time being.About 15 members of the Administrative Reform Council, headed by Prime Minister...
JAPAN
Oct 22, 1997

U.S. environmentalist seeks true commitment to climate

Staff writerWith little more than a month to go before a major U.N. conference in Kyoto on climate change, a leading American environmentalist is urging Japan to come up with new proposals to solve existing conflicts among developed nations and guide the global community."Ultimately, it is essential...

Longform

Traditional folk rituals like Mizudome-no-mai (dance to stop the rain) provide a sense of agency to a population that feels largely powerless in the face of the climate crisis.
As climate extremes intensify, Japan embraces ancient weather rituals