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JAPAN
Jun 15, 2002

Emperor, Empress to visit Europe

The government decided Friday on the itinerary for Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko's official visit to Poland and Hungary, and stopovers in the Czech Republic and Austria, next month, government officials said.
JAPAN
Jun 15, 2002

Ruling bloc rams medical bills through committee

The ruling coalition rammed a set of medical reform bills through a House of Representatives committee meeting Friday, laying the groundwork for an increase in the ratio of medical expenses paid by salaried workers.
JAPAN
Jun 14, 2002

Opposition parties begin Diet boycott

Four opposition parties boycotted Diet deliberations Thursday after senior leaders of the ruling bloc rejected claims they forced the Defense Agency to withhold a full report on the information disclosure scandal.
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2002

Nonnuclear policy to stay as is: Koizumi

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reiterated Wednesday that his administration will never change the nation's nonnuclear weapons policy.
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2002

Komura named Imperial attendant

Former Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura will be the top attendant for Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko's official visit to Europe next month, government officials said Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Jun 13, 2002

BOJ board votes to keep ultra-easy monetary policy

The Bank of Japan Policy Board voted Wednesday to maintain its ultra-easy monetary grip.
BUSINESS / ON THE FRONT LINE
Jun 13, 2002

Revival abroad, not policies, aiding economy

Real gross domestic product grew at an annualized 5.7 percent during the January-March period. The revised GDP growth figure, to be released in August, is expected to be lower due to revisions to consumption figures for single people, who boosted their spending during the first quarter.
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2002

Yamasaki suppressed defense report

Taku Yamasaki, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, effectively admitted Wednesday that he instructed the Defense Agency to withhold its full in-house report on how the agency systematically compiled private data on individuals seeking public information.
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2002

78% of consumers distrust food labels: poll

Seventy-eight percent of consumers across the country do not trust information provided in food labels, according to a recent survey by the Japanese Consumers Cooperative Union.
BUSINESS
Jun 12, 2002

Shiokawa to fill in G7 on tax-cut plans

Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa said Tuesday that he will tell Japan's Group of Seven partners that the nation is ready to bolster its fragile economy by cutting taxes and accelerating the disposal of bad loans held by Japanese banks.
BUSINESS
Jun 12, 2002

Lower taxes by March possible, Fukuda states

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda sounded a hopeful note Tuesday that tax cuts could be introduced by the end of March.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 11, 2002

Flaws in Japan's nuclear-arms debate

The ongoing debate in Japan on nuclear arms lacks sophistication. On May 31, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said if the international situation were to change, public opinion might favor a nuclear-armed Japan. He was commenting on the government's long-standing three nonnuclear principles of not...
JAPAN
Jun 11, 2002

Nonnuclear principles to stay: Fukuda

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, who provoked an uproar by suggesting that Japan's ban on nuclear weapons could be reviewed, told a Diet panel Monday the government has no intention of abandoning the "three principles" of not possessing, manufacturing or allowing nuclear arms on its soil.
COMMENTARY
Jun 9, 2002

Labour's dearth of dissent

LONDON -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair could be suffering from the first signs of the madness of princes. It is paranoia, and it afflicts almost every political man who has ambition but does not have the security of the divine right of kings (the madness of kings being grandiosity or megalomania.)...
JAPAN
Jun 8, 2002

State targets single moms in bid to fight divorce rate

In reaction to the growing number of divorces in Japan, the government said Friday it will restrict single mothers' eligibility to receive child-care benefits.
COMMENTARY
Jun 8, 2002

A right royal celebration

LONDON -- Queen Elizabeth has just celebrated her Golden Jubilee (50 years) in splendid style. Her popularity has never been as high as it is today and people are now said to be planning for her Diamond Jubilee (60 years).
JAPAN
Jun 7, 2002

Road privatization panel gets the nod

The House of Councilors Cabinet Committee approved a bill Thursday to establish a third-party panel to discuss how four road-related public entities should be privatized.
BUSINESS
Jun 6, 2002

2% group surtax may be short-lived

The government may repeal earlier than initially scheduled a 2 percent surcharge on the group profits of firms that adopt a new group taxation system to be introduced in the current fiscal year, Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa suggested Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jun 5, 2002

Politicians turn to fundraising parties

In one night, you may be able to earn as much as 100 million yen.
JAPAN
Jun 5, 2002

Beijing, Seoul given explanation about nuclear-arms remark

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Tuesday he has provided China and South Korea with an explanation of what he meant by his controversial remarks on Japan's nuclear weapons policy.
JAPAN
Jun 5, 2002

Japan officially ratifies Kyoto climate protocol

Japan ratified the Kyoto Protocol on Tuesday, officially committing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, nearly 4 1/2 years after the pact was inked.
BUSINESS
Jun 5, 2002

Key gauge points to continuing economic expansion

The key gauge of the current state of the economy topped the boom-or-bust line of 50 percent in April for the second month in a row, the government said Tuesday in a preliminary report.
BUSINESS
Jun 5, 2002

Nation's economic chiefs to consider tax reforms

Japan's various economic chiefs were to meet Wednesday evening to discuss tax reforms, including tax cuts, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda.
JAPAN
Jun 4, 2002

Kansai to ask for continued airport funding

OSAKA — A delegation of Kansai business and government officials was to visit Tokyo on Tuesday to ask that funding for the second-phase of construction at Kansai International Airport be continued.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jun 2, 2002

Who's got the scoop on the Shenyang Five?

The disagreement between the foreign ministries of Japan and China over the attempted defection by five North Koreans at the Japanese consulate in Shenyang was intensified by a comment made early on by LDP Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda. During a press conference, Fukuda looked at the assembled...
JAPAN
Jun 1, 2002

Kawaguchi Cup-luck attire throws off beat reporters

Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi was decked out in a red "power suit" Friday, which usually means she plans to make an important, usually bad, announcement, such as sacking staff involved in scandals.
JAPAN
Jun 1, 2002

Upper House OKs laws in support of Kyoto pact

The House of Councilors on Friday approved statutes designed to put Japan on the path to meet its legally binding international obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, also given the legislative stamp of approval the same day.
JAPAN
Jun 1, 2002

Japan scrapes the barrel after latest downgrade

Moody's Investors Service Inc. on Friday dealt a long-expected blow to Japan's credit rating, lowering it two notches to A2. The world's second largest economy and largest creditor nation is now in the same league as Cyprus, Greece and Israel.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?