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JAPAN
Mar 6, 1997

Transport doles out new Haneda flight slots

In a move aimed at promoting further competition in the nation's aviation industry, the Transport Ministry has favored small and fledgling airlines over the dominant All Nippon Airlines in its final distribution of slots for new flights at Haneda airport.
JAPAN
Mar 6, 1997

Current account surplus finally rises -- 362.3%

Japan's current account surplus for January surged 362.3 percent from a year earlier to 150.7 billion yen, posting the first rise in 17 months, according to provisional figures released Mar. 6.
JAPAN
Mar 6, 1997

English teachers say industry needs more regulation, not less

OSAKA -- The English-language conversation industry is in urgent need of reform and, unlike other sectors of the economy, needs more regulation, not less.
JAPAN
Mar 6, 1997

ITF joins dockworkers in protesting U.S. fines

The International Transport Workers' Federation joined Japan's dockworkers Mar. 6 in denouncing the U.S. decision to impose penalties on three Japanese shipping lines over what it charges are unfair port practices.
JAPAN
Mar 6, 1997

Land-mine conference gets under way

A two-day international conference to address the problem of antipersonnel land mines kicked off Mar. 6 in Tokyo with participation of officials from 38 countries and 11 international organizations, including the United Nations.
JAPAN
Mar 5, 1997

Ainu revive traditional hunts

SAPPORO -- The Ainu, Hokkaido's indigenous people, used to joke that one could put a pan on the fire, go hunting for deer, and have the pan filled with venison before it got too hot. That was more than a century ago.
JAPAN
Mar 5, 1997

Chrysler offers one-year test drive of Neon

In an effort to increase the popularity of its flagship sedan Neon, Chrysler Japan Sales Ltd. announced Mar. 5 that it will introduce a program on Mar. 7 to let customers "test-drive" the car for a year for a monthly fee of 14,200 yen to 18,800 yen.
JAPAN
Mar 5, 1997

Tokyo finds snub by Russian envoy regrettable

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said Mar. 5 that Tokyo regrets a visit to Switzerland this week by Viktor Ilyushin, Russia's first deputy minister, because it was made immediately after he canceled a visit to Japan due to domestic reasons.
JAPAN
Mar 5, 1997

Izu tourism begins to tail off

Almost 12,000 people have canceled reservations at hotels and inns in the hot spring resort city of Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture, due to the series of earthquakes that has been shaking the Izu Peninsula since Mar. 3.
JAPAN
Mar 5, 1997

Dockworkers' unions planning 24-hour strike

The National Council of Dockworkers' Unions of Japan (Zenkoku Kowan) and the All Japan Dockworkers' Union (Kowan Domei) began flexing their muscle on Mar. 5 in an attempt to ward off possible deregulation of Japan's ports.
JAPAN
Mar 5, 1997

Abe trial begins next week

The mother of a hemophiliac who died of AIDS after being administered HIV-tainted blood products said Mar. 5 she wants defendants in the upcoming trial over the medical scandal to offer a sincere apology.
JAPAN
Mar 5, 1997

Hemophiliac says tainted blood scandal not over yet

Almost a year after playing a key role in a historic court battle against the government and five drug firms, a 21-year-old HIV-positive hemophiliac insists the truth behind the suffering of hundreds of victims has yet to be revealed.
JAPAN
Mar 5, 1997

Curtain falls on Ikebukuro's Bungei-za

A postwar landmark in Tokyo will disappear Mar. 6 when the Bungei-za theater in Ikebukuro, which has featured classical films since 1955, closes its doors.
JAPAN
Mar 5, 1997

Japan Red Cross in hot water over waylaid donations

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JAPAN
Mar 4, 1997

Japan to help fund Indochina road plan

In the first application of its new aid policy, Japan will provide official development assistance to help finance a major road project linking Thailand, Laos and Vietnam to promote the development of the greater Mekong subregion, Foreign Ministry officials said Mar. 10.
JAPAN
Mar 4, 1997

Keidanren reshuffles four top posts

The Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren) on Mar. 10 appointed four new vice chairmen and a new director general, effective after its annual meeting on May 27.
JAPAN
Mar 4, 1997

Nasdaq listing can liberate Japanese firms, exec says

If the Japanese government implements "Big Bang" financial reforms as quickly and efficiently as it has promised, it will not only liberalize domestic capital markets, it will also help Japanese firms feel freer to "go public and go international," according to Guang Xun Xu, a Nasdaq executive.
JAPAN
Mar 4, 1997

Business leaders discuss e-commerce with MITI

Industry leaders called on the government Mar. 10 to support and promote electronic commercial transactions, an important tool for Japanese companies in maintaining global competitiveness.
JAPAN
Mar 4, 1997

Minister urges hiring foreign grads of Japanese universities

Education Minister Takashi Kosugi asked business leaders on Mar. 10 to hire more foreign graduates of Japanese universities at overseas offices of Japanese companies, according to officials of the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren).
JAPAN
Mar 4, 1997

U.S. meat exporters celebrate 20 years in Japan

A delegation from the U.S. Meat Export Federation held a symposium in Tokyo on Mar. 10 to reaffirm its commitment to the Japanese market, promote a meat-safety system and celebrate 20 years in the Japanese market.
JAPAN
Mar 4, 1997

Police Agency drafts more-forgiving traffic law

The National Police Agency has drafted a bill revising the Road Traffic Law that would remove minor traffic offenses from the records of drivers whose licenses have been suspended if they attend traffic school or participate in volunteer activities.
JAPAN
Mar 4, 1997

Abe pleads not guilty as HIV trial gets under way

Takeshi Abe, the nation's leading hemophilia expert, pleaded not guilty Mar. 10 to professional negligence in connection with the 1991 death of a hemophiliac.
JAPAN
Mar 4, 1997

Limited tenure draws flak from teachers

In April 1995, Sachiyo Kaneko was fired as a teacher of Japanese literature at the Kanagawa Prefectural College of Foreign Studies. She protested the decision, claiming that she was ousted by the college president and her senior colleagues for no valid reason.
JAPAN
Mar 3, 1997

Prepare for the 38th annual speech contest in Japanese

The International Education Center is seeking participants for its 38th annual International Speech Contest in Japanese, scheduled for June 21.
JAPAN
Mar 3, 1997

Finance official rules stimulus measures out

A top Finance Ministry official ruled out on Mar. 3 the need for fiscal economic stimulus at this time, expressing confidence that the nation's recovery can be led by domestic demand.
JAPAN
Mar 3, 1997

ACCJ urges persistence to remove trade barriers

The U.S. government should continue playing an active role in Japan-U.S. trade issues and help U.S. companies gain greater access to the Japanese market, the American Chamber of Commerce and Industry said in a report released Mar. 3.
JAPAN
Mar 3, 1997

Help sought for Iran quake victims

The Japan Emergency Team is seeking volunteers and contributions to launch relief efforts for victims of the earthquake Feb. 28 in northwestern Iran.
JAPAN
Mar 3, 1997

Ambulance crews hassled by youths

The Tokyo Fire Department said Mar. 3 there have been 13 recent cases of youngsters confronting or attacking members of ambulance units rushing to emergencies in entertainment districts.
JAPAN
Mar 3, 1997

Foreigner juggles roles in radio, city hall

IWAMIZAWA, Hokkaido -- When Keith Barton came to Japan in July, he had no idea he would be filling the unusual combination of roles that he does now.
JAPAN
Mar 3, 1997

Women take the fight to Girl's Day

About 100 female activists on Mar. 3, Girl's Day, formed a human chain and surrounded the Labor Ministry building in Tokyo to demand equal rights.

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