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JAPAN
Jun 5, 1997

Nomura ex-chief denies knowledge of 'sokaiya' payoffs

Yoshihisa Tabuchi, former president of Nomura Securities Co., maintained June 5 in unsworn Diet testimony that he had nothing to do with the alleged illegal payoffs by the nation's largest brokerage to a "sokaiya" corporate extortionist.
JAPAN
Jun 5, 1997

DKB chief admits 'sokaiya' had influence

Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank President Katsuhiko Kondo admitted June 5 that DKB executives had maintained cozy relations with a late powerful "sokaiya" leader, and that the man even influenced personnel matters at the major commercial bank.
JAPAN
Jun 5, 1997

The Asahara Trial: Scientist recounts sarin deaths

The people who were killed in the Tokyo subway nerve gas attack were poisoned by high-density sarin, a National Police Agency scientist reiterated June 5 in the trial of Aum Shinrikyo founder Shoko Asahara.
JAPAN
Jun 5, 1997

Bill on nonprofit organizations clears panel

The Lower House Committee on the Cabinet passed a bill June 5 that would grant corporate status to volunteer and other citizens' groups and recognize them as official nonprofit organizations.
JAPAN
Jun 4, 1997

Keidanren, Nikkeiren back budget reduction goals

The head of the the nation's most powerful business organization on Wednesday gave high marks to the government's budget-reduction plan, saying it is imperative to have business support the scheme.
JAPAN
Jun 4, 1997

Japan to push for China WTO entry at Denver

Japan will promote the accession of China to the World Trade Organization at the upcoming annual meeting of the world's top leaders in Denver, said Kazuo Ogura, deputy minister for foreign affairs at the Foreign Ministry.
JAPAN
Jun 2, 1997

LDP shelves plan for Constitutional debate group

A nonpartisan Diet group's long-withheld discussions on the Constitution failed to start June 2 when leaders in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party demanded that the effort be shelved for at least a few months.
JAPAN
May 30, 1997

China falls to No. 2 spot on aid list

China fell from being the largest recipient of Japanese official development assistance in 1996 after Tokyo temporarily froze grants-in-aid to protest Beijing conducting nuclear tests, the Foreign Ministry said May 30.
JAPAN
May 29, 1997

ANA's Yoshikawa declines president's post

The feud among top managers at All Nippon Airways took an unusual twist May 29 as the airline announced that its president-designate had withdrawn his nomination and a new president had been appointed.
JAPAN
May 28, 1997

Seoul trade ambassador bullish on Korean economy

Despite a range of difficulties facing South Korea, its economy will soon begin to pick up and the country may well evolve into another major Asian business center, according to Kim Kih Wan, South Korean ambassador for international economic relations.
JAPAN
May 28, 1997

Disgraced financial execs to brief Diet on 'sokaiya'

Former and present executives of the nation's leading financial institutions are to be summoned to the Diet this afternoon to testify about alleged ties with "sokaiya" corporate extortionists.
JAPAN
May 26, 1997

Forum on sexual exploitation set for May 28

The Swedish Embassy and the Japan Committee for UNICEF will hold a meeting and international symposium May 28 in Tokyo on the problem of commercial sexual exploitation of children.
JAPAN
May 23, 1997

The Asahara Trial: Commuter recalls gas attack victims

A Tokyo company employee described in court May 23 how he helped three victims of the 1995 nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway system, for which some members of the religious cult Aum Shinrikyo are now on trial.
JAPAN
May 22, 1997

Editor rues not probing Aum for body-burning story

The deputy editor of the Sunday Mainichi weekly magazine testified in court May 22 that he regrets not pursuing rumors that Aum Shinrikyo was burning bodies in an incinerator in 1989.
JAPAN
May 22, 1997

ANA feud takes new twist: Wakasa to resign from board

Tokuji Wakasa, the powerful and controversial 82-year-old honorary chairman of All Nippon Airways, will resign as a board member next month in an apparent move to take responsibility for a recent feud that shook the firm's top management.
JAPAN
May 20, 1997

Many voices join in battle over 'comfort woman'

Nationwide debate over "comfort women" will probably not end soon. Did wartime Japanese authorities really abduct Korean women for sex slavery, and is it the key question? Should school textbooks cover the issue and should Japan alone be mentioned regarding such practices?
JAPAN
May 16, 1997

Wakasa likely to resign over ANA reshuffle

Tokuji Wakasa, honorary chairman of All Nippon Airways, is likely to resign as a board member to take responsibility for confusion over the airline's personnel change in senior management, sources said May 16.
JAPAN
May 15, 1997

Lawmakers to form group on revising Constitution

Lawmakers from noncommunist parties will next week form a new group with the intention of creating a regular Diet committee and holding talks on revising the Constitution.
JAPAN
May 14, 1997

Bill to aid Hanshin quake victims submitted

A nonpartisan group of lawmakers submitted a bill May 14 aimed at providing financial aid to households hit by the Great Hanshin Earthquake in January 1995.
JAPAN
May 13, 1997

Pyongyang's ADB bid to get due consideration, bank chief says

FUKUOKA -- North Korea's bid to gain membership in the Asian Development Bank will not be affected by other ongoing diplomatic negotiations concerning the country, ADB President Mitsuo Sato said May 13.
JAPAN
May 12, 1997

Annan hints Japan has good shot at UNSC seat

There is a strong possibility that Japan will become a permanent member on the U.N. Security Council as part of the body's future reform, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan hinted May 12.
JAPAN
May 9, 1997

Tepco promises rate cuts next year

Tokyo Electric Power Co. will reduce electricity rates early next year as a result of the utility's progress in streamlining management, Tepco President Hiroshi Araki told a news conference May 9.
JAPAN
May 7, 1997

Aboriginal leaders hit Asian Development Bank projects

Three leaders of Asian indigenous peoples said at a news conference May 7 that their human rights and environment are being violated because of development projects partially funded by Japan.
JAPAN
Apr 28, 1997

Disclosure for disposal of arms left in China urged

The government must make public information on how it will dismantle poison gas weapons abandoned in China at the end of the war, a citizens' group holding exhibitions on Japan's wartime development and use of poison gas demanded April 28.
JAPAN
Apr 23, 1997

Questions raised over Japan's crisis management system

The hostage crisis in Lima ended with the release of all but one of the hostages by Peruvian forces, but questions have been raised about Japan's readiness to deal with a similar situation in the future.
JAPAN
Apr 21, 1997

Vote looms on legality of brain death, transplants

After years of inaction, members of the Diet must make the difficult decision of whether brain death should be stipulated as human death to pave the way for allowing organ transplants from brain-dead donors in Japan.
JAPAN
Apr 17, 1997

Police unit boasts Snakehead arrest

OSAKA -- The new warrant served on Wang Yunfeng, who lives in Osaka and is allegedly a key member of a Chinese Snakehead syndicate that works with the yakuza to smuggle Chinese into Japan, marks the first major arrest since the prefectural police here set up a special task force earlier this month to...
JAPAN
Apr 11, 1997

Foreign nonlife insurers want review

Foreign nonlife insurers called Friday for a review of Japan's insurance rating system that would allow insurers to set premium rates through their own efforts. The Foreign Nonlife Insurance Association of Japan voiced concern that debate surrounding reform of the current rating system, which was pledged...
JAPAN
Apr 11, 1997

Osaka delegation to visit sister cities

OSAKA -- Osaka Mayor Takafumi Isomura will lead a 15-member delegation to San Francisco next week for an eight-day trip to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Osaka-San Francisco sister city relationship.
JAPAN
Apr 10, 1997

Banned candidate to run from adjacent constituency

AOMORI -- A candidate banned from running in his constituency after being found guilty of a guilt-by-association clause in a revised Public Office Election Law will run in the neighboring district in the next prefectural assembly poll, it was learned April 10. Isamu Moriuchi, 59, is the first candidate...

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