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JAPAN
Mar 25, 1997

Ota rejects Hashimoto's request to back lease revisions

Okinawa Gov. Masahide Ota on Mar. 25 turned down Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto's request for support for revising a 1952 special land lease law that would allow the U.S. military to legally continue using facilities in Okinawa Prefecture beyond the expiry of forced land leases.
JAPAN
Mar 25, 1997

1997 budget to be enacted Mar. 28

The 77.4 trillion yen fiscal 1997 budget is expected to be enacted Mar. 28 -- four days before the new fiscal year begins -- with the backing of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its small allies, the Social Democratic Party and New Party Sakigake.
JAPAN
Mar 24, 1997

Tax hike reports misinterpreted, Ogawa says

There have been misinterpretations of media reports that Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka hinted at another rise in the consumption tax, Vice Finance Minister Tadashi Ogawa said Mar. 24.
JAPAN
Mar 21, 1997

Ainu bill approved but void of legal rights

The government on Mar. 21 officially approved a bill to create a new law on the Ainu people of Hokkaido, but failed to grant them special rights as an indigenous group.
JAPAN
Mar 17, 1997

Foreign secretary Komura leaves with message for Peru

State Foreign Secretary Masahiko Komura left for Peru on Mar. 17, carrying a message from the prime minister that the Lima hostage standoff must be resolved via peaceful means.
JAPAN
Mar 15, 1997

Four JR firms anticipate drop in pretax profits

Due to an increased burden of fixed-asset taxes and negative effects of the April 1 consumption tax hike, the pretax profits of four Japan Railway group carriers are likely to shrink in the next business year, compared with the figures in their business plans for the current fiscal year, the four firms...
JAPAN
Mar 7, 1997

Bridge authority moves offices out of Tokyo

Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authorities, the first special corporation to relocate its head office outside the capital, stepped up its moving operations Mar. 7 in preparation for beginning business at its new head office in Kobe's Chuo Ward on Mar. 5.
JAPAN
Mar 7, 1997

Kyoto cab firm offers Tokyo top-service taxis, discount fares

Neatly dressed in a uniform designed by Hanae Mori, Japan's leading fashion designer, an MK Taxi driver can make you feel like you are riding in a limousine. The driver will greet you as you climb aboard and, upon arrival at your destination, open the door for you, instead of relying on the automatic...
JAPAN
Mar 6, 1997

Salsa dancers invited to compete

Sponsors of the Cuban Salsa Dance Contest are seeking participants for the event scheduled for April 6 in Tokyo.
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 3, 1997

The Date 'miracle' is acceptance

DATE, Hokkaido -- Some people refer to this city as "Japan's miracle." Not because of its splendid weather or beautiful scenery, but because someone like Takako Nagahama can lead a comfortable life here.
JAPAN
Feb 25, 1997

Areas damaged by spill to get 2 billion yen

The government will provide about 2 billion yen in subsidies to local governments in areas affected by oil spilled from the wrecked Russian tanker Nakhodka, Transport Minister Makoto Koga said Feb. 25.
JAPAN
Feb 21, 1997

Osaka to use 980 million yen for Olympics

OSAKA -- The Osaka Municipal Government will allocate 980 million yen of its fiscal 1997 budget for its campaign to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, it was announced here Feb. 21.
JAPAN
Feb 19, 1997

Citizens' group calls for law to give Koreans war pensions

A citizens' group submitted a request Feb. 19 to both houses of the Diet calling for special legislation to make Korean residents who worked for Japan during World War II eligible to receive war pensions from the government.
JAPAN
Feb 19, 1997

Financial leaders play down worries, give support to banks

Financial authorities continued Feb. 19 to play down concerns that the nation's financial system is in dire straits, stressing that they will support banks while urging them to continue restructuring efforts.
JAPAN
Feb 18, 1997

Kobe budgets 200 billion yen to rebuild

KOBE -- The Kobe Municipal Government has allocated about 200 billion yen of its fiscal 1997 budget to help its citizens rebuild their lives in the wake of the Great Hanshin Earthquake.
JAPAN
Feb 17, 1997

DPJ to submit pair of bills for more Kobe quake relief

The Democratic Party of Japan -- the second largest opposition force -- will soon submit to the Diet two bills designed to provide more financial aid to survivors of the Great Hanshin Earthquake.
JAPAN
Feb 13, 1997

Tokyo may revise law on U.S. land leases

The government may revise a special law so that it can smoothly extend forced leases on land used for U.S. military facilities in Okinawa Prefecture, Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiroku Kajiyama hinted Feb. 13. It is the first time that Kajiyama, who is responsible for affairs related to U.S. bases there,...
JAPAN
Feb 12, 1997

Life term sought for gangster charged with drug dealing

Prosecutors on Feb. 12 demanded a life prison term for a 56-year-old former mob kingpin accused of engaging in the illegal trade of stimulant drugs for two decades.
JAPAN
Feb 10, 1997

Exhibit celebrates late alpine adventurer

The climbing gear and a diary of the late adventurer Naomi Uemura are currently on display at a museum in Tokyo's Itabashi Ward dedicated to the renowned adventurer.
JAPAN
Jan 29, 1997

Murderer's appeal quashed by top court

A man who has spent 27 years in jail after being convicted of poisoning his wife, mistress and three others in Mie Prefecture had his fifth appeal for a retrial rejected by the Supreme Court on Jan. 29.The court rejected the special appeal filed by Masaru Okunishi, 71, ruling that the defense had not...
JAPAN
Jan 28, 1997

Keidanren urges simpler merger, acquisition rules

The procedures for corporate mergers and acquisitions should be simplified so companies can keep up with rapid changes in the global environment by reorganizing their corporate structure, according to an economic advisory group.In its report released Jan. 28, the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations...
JAPAN
Jan 23, 1997

Tokyo pares '97 budget by 3.1%

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government unveiled Jan. 23 a budget draft of 6.66 trillion yen for the next fiscal year that features a 210 billion yen cut -- the largest ever -- from the previous year. The 210 billion yen represents 3.1 percent of last year's budget.The metropolitan government has been in...
JAPAN
Jan 22, 1997

Museum to get rare swallowtail butterfly specimens

OSAKA -- The widow of Kaoru Sumiyoshi on Jan. 24 will present 6,086 butterfly specimens left by her husband, who was known for his research on swallowtails, to the Osaka Municipal Natural History Museum.Sumiyoshi was a former professor at Hyogo Education University and passed away in September 1995...
JAPAN
Jan 20, 1997

Recovery remains 'moderate,' BOJ governor says

The economy remains on a moderate recovery course, but the causes and possible impacts of the recent fall in stock prices should be studied carefully, Bank of Japan Gov. Yasuo Matsushita said Jan. 20.Given the need to ensure a strong foundation for recovery, there will be no change in the BOJ's easy...
JAPAN
Jan 17, 1997

Foreign automakers fight to secure market share

With more people in Japan beginning to think that there is nothing special about imported cars, foreign automakers can no longer rely on their once luxurious brand image to do the selling for them.Now foreign carmakers are finding themselves in increasingly fierce competition with domestic automakers....
JAPAN
Jan 17, 1997

Ruling allies await LDP reform plans

With dark political and economic uncertainties hanging over the nation, the government and ruling Liberal Democratic Party are expected to face several challenges during the 1997 regular Diet session that convenes Jan. 20.The LDP, which lacks a majority in the Diet, is expected to place priority on...
JAPAN
Jan 9, 1997

Moscow offers help as oil spreads

Oil from a wrecked Russian tanker has spread to shorelines in five prefectures along the Sea of Japan coast and may be heading east beyond the Noto Peninsula to Toyama Prefecture, the Maritime Safety Agency said Jan. 9.The Russian government meanwhile offered to cooperate with Japan in collecting the...
JAPAN
Jan 8, 1997

Mitsuzuka vows to keep an eye on TSE

Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka said Jan. 8 that authorities will closely monitor movements in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, where the key Nikkei index closed below the 19,000 mark for the second straight day.Concern over the future of the nation's economy was one reason behind the continued slide of...
JAPAN
Jan 8, 1997

Canoeing group offers disabled people recreation, not rehabilitation

OSAKA -- On a riverside road, a man in a wheelchair tries to unload a canoe tied to the top of his car. A stranger stops his vehicle nearby that also carries a canoe, walks down to him and offers to help. They later go to the river together, chatting about their vessels and currents. This is the kind...

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