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JAPAN
Jan 15, 1999

Helicopters scrubbed during Kobe quake fires

The Ground Self-Defense Forces mobilized seven helicopters within 24 hours of the Great Hanshin Earthquake to fight fires caused by the temblor, which hit on Jan. 17, 1995, sources said Friday.
JAPAN
Jan 14, 1999

SDF sex harassment affects 18% of its women

More than 18 percent of women working for the Self-Defense Forces or other Defense Agency organizations have been forced to engage in sexual relationships with male bosses or colleagues, according to a National Personnel Authority survey released Thursday.
JAPAN
Jan 14, 1999

Ozawa urges state to define defense support area for U.S.

The government should clearly define the "areas surrounding Japan" in which Japan can provide support to the U.S. military, Liberal Party leader Ichiro Ozawa said Thursday.
JAPAN
Jan 14, 1999

Steel quotas out of the question: Yosano

Japan has no intention of setting a numerical target so its surging steel exports to the United States can be monitored, International Trade and Industry Minister Kaoru Yosano emphasized Thursday.
EDITORIALS
Jan 14, 1999

Dangerous posturing in Brazil

Meeting in Hong Kong earlier this week, 17 of the world's central bankers expressed cautious optimism that the Asian economic crisis had bottomed out. Any relief those comments might have inspired was short-lived: Almost immediately after came reports of a political standoff in Brazil. If President Fernando...
JAPAN
Jan 14, 1999

Japan is prepared to help Brazil: Miyazawa

Should an international rescue package be prepared to help financially troubled Brazil, Japan is ready to contribute its fair share, Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa said Thursday.
JAPAN
Jan 14, 1999

Pyongyang would face 'strong warning' for missile move

Japan, the United States and South Korea should jointly issue a strong warning to North Korea if Pyongyang shows signs of attempting to launch another missile, visiting U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen and Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura agreed Thursday.
JAPAN
Jan 14, 1999

Obuchi puts happy face on minority coalition launch

While the Liberal Democratic Party and Liberal Party will jointly tackle Japan's mounting problems, they will also try to seek support from other parties to stabilize the government, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi said Thursday.
JAPAN
Jan 14, 1999

Japan's previous coalition governments

Coalition governments have emerged numerous times in Japanese politics to either secure a better hold on the Diet or topple an administration:
JAPAN
Jan 14, 1999

Meiji Life hawking policies in magazines

Meiji Life Insurance Co. has started selling a 5 million yen life insurance plan through magazine advertisement inserts, company officials said Thursday.
JAPAN
Jan 14, 1999

Imported auto show dampened by recession

The nation's largest imported automobile trade show started Thursday in Tokyo, with the number of participating companies and cars on display significantly decreased from previous shows amid the economic slump.
JAPAN
Jan 14, 1999

Imperial poetry reading touches on blue, youth

The Emperor and Empress took part in an annual New Year's poetry reading ceremony at the Imperial Palace Thursday where Japanese "waka" poems written by both Imperial family members and the general public were read.
JAPAN
Jan 14, 1999

The Asahara Trial: Endo tags guru as Matsumoto mastermind

Former Aum Shinrikyo biologist Seiichi Endo, 38, told the court for the first time Thursday that cult founder Shoko Asahara ordered the 1994 sarin gas attack in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture.
JAPAN
Jan 14, 1999

Analysis: Coalition plagued with problems

After days of intense haggling between the Liberal Democratic Party and Liberal Party, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi finally launched a coalition government Thursday. But despite his desire for a stable government, he appears to be headed for trouble.
JAPAN
Jan 14, 1999

Japan, U.S. approve low-level flight training

Japan and the United States formally adopted new guidelines Thursday for low-altitude flight training by U.S. military aircraft in Japan that restricts practice on weekends and holidays.
EDITORIALS
Jan 13, 1999

Avoiding a toxic meltdown

A survey conducted last year by the Environment Agency showed that endocrine-disrupting chemicals, or environmental hormones, had been detected in most of Japan's water systems. It also indicated that dioxin in excess of standardized limits existed in the air in the Tokyo Metropolitan area and many other...
LIFE / Digital / CYBERIA
Jan 13, 1999

We ski, Web ski

I've got a problem, and rather than just let it smolder, I figured the best way to confront it is to go public
JAPAN
Jan 13, 1999

Miyazawa urges monitoring of exchange rate

Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa called for continuous monitoring of the currency market Wednesday despite the seeming stabilization of the yen-dollar exchange rate.
JAPAN
Jan 13, 1999

JAL, BA ink code-sharing, mileage agreement

Japan Airlines Co. and British Airways signed an agreement Wednesday to form a comprehensive alliance to jointly launch frequent flier programs and code-sharing operations.
JAPAN
Jan 13, 1999

College seniors enter tough job market

A total of 80.3 percent of university students seeking employment this spring received informal job offers by Dec. 1, according to a joint survey by the Education and Labor ministries released Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jan 13, 1999

Mitsuzuka's ties with Nakajima probed

Prosecutors have questioned former Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka in connection with wrongdoing involving indicted Diet member Yojiro Nakajima, sources said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jan 13, 1999

Universal theme park faces developer pullout

With the recent pullout of a group of investors from plans to develop the area around Universal Studios Japan, there are growing concerns among potential investors that Osaka's hopes for a USJ-led economic revival face a serious setback.
JAPAN
Jan 13, 1999

Textbook panel moves for return to basics

Textbooks used in the nation's elementary and junior high schools should be edited down to cover only basic and standard issues, an advisory panel to the education minister decided Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jan 13, 1999

Toyota unveils 1,000cc hatchback

Toyota Motor Corp. unveiled Wednesday a new 1-liter hatchback vehicle called Vitz, which will serve as a base for its line of cars aimed at the global compact car market, the automaker says.
JAPAN
Jan 13, 1999

Fuji to enter hybrid car race

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. said Wednesday it will begin marketing a hybrid minicar equipped with a 660cc gasoline engine and an electric motor in 2001.
JAPAN
Jan 13, 1999

LDP, Liberal Party clear last coalition hurdle

The Liberal Democratic Party and Liberal Party reached final agreement Wednesday on controversial security issues, eliminating the last remaining obstacle to the parties' launch of a coalition government.
JAPAN
Jan 13, 1999

Cohen, Norota discuss Pyongyang, defense guidelines

Defense chiefs from Japan and the United States agreed Wednesday that Tokyo, Washington and Seoul should continue to closely cooperate in developments on the Korean Peninsula.
EDITORIALS
Jan 12, 1999

More than just a lot of hot air

Last month, we became accustomed to seeing daily more riveting images of a huge, upside-down-pear-shaped bag: now rising from the Moroccan desert, now sailing over the Himalayas, now poised photogenically above Mount Fuji.
JAPAN
Jan 12, 1999

Voice-mail dating proves to be risky proposition

Sex, drugs and violence often combine as the ingredients of a sensational crime, and voice-mail dating services can provide them all.
JAPAN
Jan 12, 1999

New debate on surname use urged by Justice Ministry

Justice Minister Shozaburo Nakamura said Tuesday he has urged Liberal Democratic Party officials to restart discussions on revising the Civil Law to allow married couples to retain separate family names.

Longform

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