Search - 2000

 
 
JAPAN
Feb 2, 1999

Fukushima urges Japan, U.S. to talk over trade differences

Now that Washington has decided to revive the controversial "Super 301" procedure, Japan should start market-opening discussions with the U.S. to prevent trade conflicts, according to Glen S. Fukushima, a former deputy assistant U.S. trade representative for Japan and China.
JAPAN
Feb 1, 1999

Finance Ministry separation still in debate

Policy officials of the Liberal Democratic Party and two major opposition parties agreed Monday to work toward a conclusion on whether to strip the Finance Ministry of its policy-planning powers before the fiscal 1999 budget clears the Lower House.
JAPAN
Jan 26, 1999

Sony, Toyota enter data service venture with IIJ

A joint data communications venture established by Toyota Motor Corp., Sony Corp. and Internet Initiative Japan Inc. announced Tuesday that it will begin high-speed data services of up to 600 megabits per second in April for corporate users.
JAPAN
Jan 25, 1999

Logistic SDF support of U.N. forces constitutional: Obuchi

The Constitution allows the Self-Defense Forces to provide logistic support to United Nations-led multinational forces, but the provision of weapons and ammunition by the SDF will be determined on a case-by-case basis, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi said Monday.
EDITORIALS
Jan 22, 1999

An Olympic-size mess

What a difference a year makes. One year ago, Nagano City was pulling out the stops to welcome athletes from all over the world for a mammoth festival on ice and snow. Such was the universal appeal of the Olympic Games that even warring nations laid down their arms for the duration of the competition...
JAPAN
Jan 21, 1999

Toyota to field F-1 racing team

Toyota Motor Corp. President Hiroshi Okuda announced Thursday in Tokyo that Japan's No. 1 automaker will enter Formula One racing by 2003 and launch research and development activities including engine and chassis development.
JAPAN
Jan 20, 1999

Minister pushes for breakthrough in Narita deadlock

Transport Minister Jiro Kawasaki ordered top ministry officials Wednesday to do what they can to break a deadlock over the Narita airport expansion project by about April.
JAPAN
Jan 15, 1999

20-year-olds celebrate adulthood

Ceremonies commemorating Coming-of-Age Day were held Friday, drawing thousands of new adults to municipal offices across the country.
JAPAN
Jan 8, 1999

LDP, Liberals muzzle bureaucrats

The Liberal Democratic Party and the Liberal Party agreed during working-level talks Friday to abolish a system in which bureaucrats answer questions in Diet deliberations instead of Cabinet ministers, beginning in the 2000 regular Diet session.
JAPAN
Jan 7, 1999

Tokyo to snub Russia call to treat treaty, border separately

Japan plans to reject Moscow's proposal to discuss the timing and method for drawing a demarcation line between the two nations separately from the peace treaty the two nations hope to sign by 2000, government sources said Thursday.
JAPAN
Jan 7, 1999

Japan, EU seek investment protection rules

Japan and the European Union will jointly propose creating a set of rules to protect direct cross-border investments from official seizures and illicit interference at the next round of world trade liberalization talks, government sources said Thursday.
EDITORIALS
Jan 1, 1999

Testing times ahead for Mr. Obuchi

The administration of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, inaugurated just five months ago, faces in the coming year a real test of its ability to achieve its most urgent goal: lifting the economy out of two years of negative growth. A failure to meet that challenge could further erode public confidence in...
JAPAN
Dec 31, 1998

Century of Change: Plebiscites reshape political process

Staff writer
JAPAN
Dec 31, 1998

Obuchi ushers in New Year with vows to lift economy

Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi welcomed the New Year by restating his determination to spark positive economic growth in the next fiscal year, calling for smooth Diet passage of the fiscal 1999 budget bill that he says will help achieve that goal.
JAPAN
Dec 23, 1998

China to send over train-study group

China has indicated that it plans to send senior officials to Japan early next year to exchange information on the construction of a high-speed train system between Beijing and Shanghai, a Transport Ministry official said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Dec 21, 1998

Honda forecasts slowdown in domestic sales

Honda Motor Co. announced on Monday that it expects domestic sales to fall short of 800,000 units in both 1998 and 1999.
JAPAN
Dec 18, 1998

Japan to dispatch rice tariff lobbyists

Staff writer
JAPAN
Dec 16, 1998

LDP finalizes record 9.3 trillion yen tax cut plan

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party finalized a large package of tax revisions Wednesday allowing for a record 9.3 trillion yen in tax cuts for fiscal 1999.
JAPAN
Dec 16, 1998

Defense to tighten purse strings

The Defense Agency will tighten its purse strings and try to save 100 billion yen in its procurement of defense equipment over the next three fiscal years, agency officials said Wednesday.
JAPAN
Dec 14, 1998

Environment Agency targets diesel emissions

An advisory council under the Environment Agency proposed Monday a set of stricter emissions guidelines for diesel automobiles that would lower the upper exhaust limits of nitrogen oxide and particulate matter by more than one-fourth by 2004.
JAPAN
Dec 11, 1998

Auto auctioneer way ahead of information highway

23rd in a series of occasional articles about venture businesses
JAPAN
Dec 11, 1998

Tokyo invites Iran President to visit

Staff writer
JAPAN
Dec 7, 1998

MOX assured safe for use in Fukui nuclear reactors

A planned project by Kansai Electric Power Co. to use recycled plutonium to fuel nuclear reactors in Takahama, Fukui Prefecture, assures nuclear safety, a government panel on nuclear safety concluded Monday.
JAPAN
Dec 3, 1998

WTO talks should end by 2003, EU says

The World Trade Organization should be able to wrap up its next round of multilateral liberalization talks within three years of its 2000 start, a senior European Union official said Thursday.
JAPAN
Nov 27, 1998

Obuchi repeats recovery pledge as new Diet session opens

Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi renewed his pledge Friday to attain positive economic growth in the next fiscal year and put the nation on a recovery path by fiscal 2000.
JAPAN
Nov 24, 1998

WorldCom digs into Japanese market

Staff writer
JAPAN
Nov 19, 1998

Defense chief resigns, offers reform plan

On announcing his resignation Thursday, Defense Agency chief Fukushiro Nukaga mapped out basic plans for reforming the scandal-tainted agency, including a call to dissolve the agency's Central Procurement Office.
JAPAN
Nov 19, 1998

Daiwa, Sanwa to seek 900 billion yen in public funds

Daiwa Bank and Sanwa Bank, two of the nation's city banks, will ask for 300 billion yen and 600 billion yen each in public funds under the provisions of the newly adopted bank recapitalization law, officials of the two banks said Thursday as they released their midterm earnings reports.
JAPAN
Nov 13, 1998

Textbook amendments may require written reasoning

The school textbook screening process may become more simple and transparent beginning in 2000, and students' school bags may become less bulky, the Education Ministry said Friday.
JAPAN
Nov 6, 1998

Good news kids: End in sight for 'exam hell'

Japanese youngsters may no longer have to endure the ritual of "entrance exam hell" and specialize in cramming for either high school or university admissions tests if the Education Ministry's planned reforms are implemented.

Longform

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan