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JAPAN
Mar 31, 1998

Japan to aid Karen refugees in Thai camps

In a move that threatens to displease Myanmar's military regime, Japan will provide between 5 million yen and 10 million yen in grant-in-aid to help relieve the suffering of Karen refugees in Thailand, Foreign Ministry sources said March 31.
JAPAN
Mar 31, 1998

Firms feel banks' loan policies getting tighter

Roughly 60 percent of the firms responding to a recent Finance Ministry survey believe that lending by the nation's top 19 banks became more stringent toward the end of March, the ministry said March 31.
JAPAN
Mar 31, 1998

Tokyo stocks end year on lackluster note

The Tokyo stock market ended fiscal 1997 on a dour note March 31, with the key market gauge stopping far short of last year's level.
JAPAN
Mar 31, 1998

Deregulation plan launched to activate economy

A three-year plan was launched March 31 that targets 15 industrial sectors for deregulation, including domestic airline operations, electric power retailing and digital broadcasting, government officials said.
JAPAN
Mar 30, 1998

Foreign hires bring hope for improved workplaces

Japanese businesspeople hope that the hiring of non-Japanese employees will lead to the introduction of the merit system, according to a survey released Monday.
JAPAN
Mar 30, 1998

Tokyo's riskiest districts named

Because of fears of a large earthquake hitting the Tokyo region, the metropolitan government's disaster vulnerability survey released Monday may warrant a close look.
JAPAN
Mar 27, 1998

Osaka subway worker dies in fire

OSAKA -- A construction worker died from smoke inhalation after a fire broke out early March 27 at Honmachi Station on the Midosuji Subway Line here, police said.
JAPAN
Mar 27, 1998

The Asahara Trial: Cultist says he buried VX to stop attacks

Former Aum Shinrikyo fugitive Yasuo Hayashi testified March 27 that he volunteered in April 1995 to bury deadly VX nerve gas produced by the cult so it would not be used in a terrorist attack.
JAPAN
Mar 27, 1998

Displaced brokers embark on uncertain career paths

Early this month, a 55-year-old manager at the failed Yamaichi Securities Co. had a job interview with Merrill Lynch, a major U.S. brokerage that has launched a new campaign to penetrate the Japanese market.
JAPAN
Mar 27, 1998

MMC pushes back market-share target six years

KYOTO -- Mitsubishi Motors Corp. is set on obtaining a 15 percent share in the domestic market by 2006, not 2000 as originally targeted, MMC President Katsuhiko Kawasoe said March 27.
JAPAN
Mar 26, 1998

Ceramics-maker turns bottles into bucks

Sixteenth in a series of occasional articles on venture businesses
JAPAN
Mar 26, 1998

Rogue copper trader draws eight-year prison term

Yasuo Hamanaka, a former chief copper trader at Sumitomo Corp., was sentenced to eight years in prison March 26 for fraud and forgery that eventually cost the trading giant some $2.6 billion -- the largest trading loss ever.
JAPAN
Mar 26, 1998

The Asahara Trial: Cultist says he hoped for post-attack probe

A senior Aum Shinrikyo follower testified March 26 that he had hoped police would launch a full-scale investigation into the cult after the 1994 sarin attack in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, because he believed a probe would have kept the cult from committing further crimes.
JAPAN
Mar 24, 1998

Banks adopt U.S.-style disclosure rules

The banking industry federation decided Tuesday that from this fiscal year, all member banks will need to disclose information about their bad loans according to stricter standards, in line with those of the United States.
JAPAN
Mar 24, 1998

Effects of tax cuts are overestimated, Yamasaki insists

and MARI KOSEKI
JAPAN
Mar 24, 1998

Unlicensed liquor dealer loses appeal

The Supreme Court dismissed Tuesday an appeal by a former liquor dealer charged with selling liquor without a license in the early 1980s, in violation of the Liquor Tax Law, and upheld his suspended prison term.
JAPAN
Mar 24, 1998

Former Yamaichi chiefs indicted for hiding debt

Former Yamaichi Securities Co. Chairman Tsugio Yukihira and Atsuo Miki, the firm's former president, were indicted Tuesday on charges of violating the Securities Transaction and Commercial Code by hiding about 270 billion yen in debts and still paying about 6 billion yen in dividends to shareholders,...
JAPAN
Mar 24, 1998

Panel advises schools to get help on violence, delinquency

To fight increasing student delinquency and violence of recent years, an Education Ministry council submitted a report Tuesday urging schools to take a firm stance against serious crimes and to seek specialized assistance from other organizations.
JAPAN
Mar 24, 1998

Number of mobile computer users ready to rise

In the 2000 business year, the number of users of mobile computers in Japan , excluding voice-service users, will be 20 times what it is in the current business year and is likely to total 13.63 million people, an industry group reported Tuesday.
JAPAN
Mar 23, 1998

Forged passports earn detainees new arrest warrants

Police served new warrants Monday to five Chinese now under arrest on suspicion of forging passports and alien registration cards.
JAPAN
Mar 23, 1998

National financial aid for civil lawsuits sought

Legislation is needed to provide financial help to people who cannot afford to file civil suits, an advisory body to Justice Minister Kokichi Shimoinaba urged Monday.
JAPAN
Mar 23, 1998

Spain opens 'ExpoConsumo '98'

Spain kicks off its three-day exposition "ExpoConsumo '98" today in Tokyo as it seeks out more business opportunities and tourists from Japan.
JAPAN
Mar 23, 1998

Public works considered best stimulus package

Staff writer
JAPAN
Mar 20, 1998

Hong Kong denies plan for Olympics

Staff writer
JAPAN
Mar 20, 1998

Hashimoto, LDP play different roles on economy

Staff writer
JAPAN
Mar 20, 1998

Upper House approves soccer lottery revisions

The Upper House, supported by members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and one of its allies, New Party Sakigake, approved a revised bill March 20 to start a soccer lottery system that would raise funds for the promotion of athletics.
JAPAN
Mar 20, 1998

Anniversary of subway nerve gas attack observed

Memorial events were held March 20 to mark the third anniversary of the deadly Tokyo subway nerve gas attack, which key members of Aum Shinrikyo have been accused of carrying out.
JAPAN
Mar 20, 1998

Aum Three Years Later: Victims struggle for redress

Last of three parts
JAPAN
Mar 20, 1998

Hayami takes helm of Bank of Japan

Masaru Hayami took the helm as governor of the trouble-stricken Bank of Japan on March 20, emphasizing the need for the central bank to protect its independence and ensure transparency in policymaking as the revised BOJ Law takes effect April 1.
JAPAN
Mar 19, 1998

Reporter dogs cultists' trials

For more than eight years, freelance journalist Shoko Egawa has devoted her time and energy to reporting on Aum Shinrikyo, driven by regret that she could not keep her friend, lawyer Tsutsumi Sakamoto, and his family from being murdered.

Longform

Passengers that were on a morning train attacked by members of the Aum Shinrikyo group wait for medical assistance outside Kasumigaseki Station on March 20,1995.
The day a religious cult brought terror to Tokyo