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Addresses the growing trade deficit between the United States (US) and Japan. Disadvantage of sanctions in the form of punitive tariffs or quotas; Cooperation between the government and industry; Japan's per capita foreign direct investment; Japanese deregulation; Book `Opening Japan'; American trade goals and President Bill Clinton's Administration's technology-promotion policies.

Focuses on Japan's campaign to unload second-hand machinery abroad from excess Japanese production capacity. Array of idle equipment; Country's undergoing of a transformation from an Asian dynamo to a more mature economy; Sales of plants a shift from Japan's former island-fortress business mentality.

Reports that China's Dalain is becoming an outsourcing center for multinationals. How the town is very Japanese in nature rather than Chinese; Historical reasons why the town associates itself with Japan; Pro-Japanese affinity that draws Japanese consumers to the town; How multinational companies have established call centers or software development operations in the city; Belief of Chen Ying Sheng, the managing director of BearingPoint China Global Development Center that Dalian is becoming Japan's version of Bangalore, India; How the success of the city is creating some problems; Belief that it will eventually reach the success level of Bangalore.

Reports that Japan is finally welcoming foreign investment in nonperforming Japanese assets after years of turning it away. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi who told banks that they had to cut their nonperforming loan rations to 4.1% of assets by March 2005; Banks which are now unloading not just nonperforming debts but better quality problem loans; Foreign investment which has gone from under $3 billion in 2001 to nearly $25 billion in 2004; Return on investment which has been 20-30% a year.

Discusses the concern that the U.S. will follow Japan's lead into a long-term deflationary spiral. Comparison of real interest rates in the U.S. with those in Japan, when the Japanese market started falling; Study that was done by a team of economists at the Federal Reserve Board; Suggestion that Japan's problems could have been avoided through more aggressive interest rate cuts; How Japan's example serves as a cautionary tale.

Focuses on cost-cutting measures taken by Japanese companies to fight the global technology recession. Example of chip- and computer maker NEC Corporation, which is restructuring again after making cuts during Japan's economic slowdown; Similar cuts which are being made by Toshiba Corporation and Fujitsu Ltd.; Question of whether their restructuring plans go far enough; Opinions of industry analysts.

Discusses the rapidly declining prospects of the Japan-based Mitsubishi Corp. after decades in which it was seen as a corporate world leader. Scandal at Mitsubishi Motors Corp. following allegations that it did not effectively handle customer complaints concerning product safety; Other companies included in the parent company; Strategy of president Minoru Makihara.

This article features Masayoshi Son, founder of Softbank Corp. in Japan. Son has built Softbank into the world's biggest Internet holding company by leveraging some $3.8 billion into equity stakes in 300 companies. Even though the company's shares have fallen 80% since its February 2000 high, they are still fourfold over the past 14 months. One reason is Son's strategy of placing hundreds of tiny bets on a whole range of new technologies, instead of seeking a controlling interest in a few. His strategy, while still unproven for the long haul, has become a model for investors around the region.

Reports on changes in the Japanese workplace the favors women employees in 1999. Revision of Japan's Equal Employment Opportunity Law in April; Increased opportunities for women in factories; Effect of the nation's economic decline on changing attitudes toward the employment of women.

Reports on the forecast on the downtrend in Japan's trade surplus. Increase in import volumes and American motor-vehicle exports to Japan.

Editorial. Focuses on the role of the United States on making Japan realize the need for opening its markets to global stimulus. Reasons for the opposition of Japanese corporations; Goals of the Administration; Avoidance of a public trade war; Options for the U.S. in the event of Japan's noncooperation.

Opinion. Comments on the breakdown of the trade agreements between the United States and Japan. Intolerability of mercantilist sytem; Power of Japan's economy in the world; Focus for President Clinton; Reforms in Japan's distribution system; Targeting Japan's closed financial markets; Japanese fear on rising yen making them uncompetitive; Prodding of Japan to be less insular.

Reports on Japanese Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa's Cabinet plans for a major stimulus package for 1993. Tax incentives; Oppositions to the Finance Ministry's plan.

Editorial. Argues that it is very important that government officials in Washington do their homework on the `new' Japan before trade negotiations actually begin. Japanese societal traits; Changes that the 1990s have ushered in for Japan; Additional information.

Discusses the ways in which Japan could possibly benefit from the appreciation of the Japanese yen. While such export industries as automobiles and electronics are already meeting stiff price resistance overseas, other industries will benefit mightily as the yen's rise slashes the cost importing raw materials. The global influx of cash into yen may even allow the Bank of Japan to lower interest rates. And that will give the state's $117 billion economic stimulus plan an extra boost. Many economists are skeptical about the bet that a higher yen will curb the trade deficit. They say the strong currency will spur companies to even greater efficiency and induce them to build more plants overseas to cut manufacturing costs.

Discusses how the lingering economic slump in Japan is producing the biggest blow yet to life-time employment, the core of Japan's social contract. Small and midsize manufacturers, as they have in the past, are already axing staff, and so are hordes of troubled real estate and software companies. Male employees at blue-chip companies watching their backs; Ratio of jobs to applicants.

States that according to some estimastes, up to $300 billion in bad real estate loans now burden Japan's once-buoyant banks. Refusal of tightfisted Ministry of Finance regulators to mount a wide-ranging relief-and-restructing campaign; Risks posed to economy by low-key approach to the banking problem.

Discusses how Japanese executives such as Haruyasu Osumi, senior managing director of the Kansai Economic Federation, view hardening United States attitudes toward Japan with alarm because they have huge stakes in the American market. Comments from Sony Chairman Akio Morita; US needs Japanese collaboration; Emphasis on managed trade.

Editorial. Comments that the US trade deficit with Japan shows no signs of going away. The underlying problem is that Tokyo manipulates its trade and external economic relations to extract one-sided, long-term benefits for itself. Failure of President George Bush's trip to Japan; Conclusions.

Presents economist David Hale's contention that interest-rate cuts in Japan in 1992 spells good news for the U.S. under President George Bush. Japanese stock market crash of 1990-1991; Related problems in the banking system; Japanese monetary policy.

Compares how the Japanese spend their free time as opposed to Americans. Differences between American and Japanese work habits; Breakdown of survey data; Educational comparisons; Comparison between the Japanese and the American Television.

Presents information on U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Paul E. Tsongas. Comment on how his party needs to drop their business-bashing and class warfare; View of Tsongas on how the U.S. takes on economic superpowers Germany and Japan; Report that he wants the government to deal with a shortage of venture capital by stepping in and investing in promising technologies; Opinion of Republican strategist Kevin Phillips calls Tsongas, the last of the Atari Democrats, referring to a late 1970s breed who wanted more government-industry cooperation to meet global competition, particularly in high-tech industries.

Focuses on business strategies of Citizen Watch Co. Ltd. Information on a newspaper advertisement circulated in Japan; Comment that Citizen wants to be known as a company with the vision and mettle to pursue new ambitions, largely in computers and components; Report that the company has become an important supplier of laptop computer components; Reasons for diversification in the company; Information on future plans of the company.

Reports that QMS Inc. has launched a color printer in Japan that punches out Kanji, or Japanese characters. Information that Japanese giant Mitsubishi makes the engine for the Kanji color printer, while QMS designs and develops the circuit board, electronics, and software; Profit earned by QMS through Kanji printer.

Reports on the announcement by electronics company Sony Corp. to sell digital audio tape (DAT) recorders for as little as $799, far less than anyone expected. Presence of a microchip in each DAT cassette deck for unlimited taping; Competitors of Sony which launched competing machines.

Discusses issues related to the economic growth of the countries of Group-7 (G-7). Information on the members of G-7; Opinion of Philip M. Hubbard, director of London, England-based Consensus Economics Inc. on the economic issues of G-7; Forecasts that in 1990, output growth will range from a low of 1.1% in Great Britain to a high of 4.3% in Japan.

Examines the recent enormous rise in Japan's capital outflow and the spiraling prices in assets. Argues that until the Japanese find a way to bring their asset prices closer in line with values overseas, the yen is likely to remain under pressure.

Discusses the development in the field of cold fusion; Information that two Japanese research teams have said that they have turned up solid evidence of cold fusion in a jar; Evidence, found by two U.S. laboratories, showing that tabletop fusion might prove to be a practical source of energy; Description of the evidences of the Japanese research teams and U.S. laboratories.

The article comments on United States Federal Reserve Board's attempts to beat down inflation. The Board is willing to tolerate slow growth. The Board cannot back off from its professed goals without undermining its hard-won reputation as an inflation-fighter. The continued willingness of West Germany and Japan to pursue low-inflation policies can only make the Board's job easier.

Discusses the link between the Nikkei and the United States bond market, according to economist Lacy H. Hunt. Connection between the behavior of the Japanese stock market and the U.S. stock market; Evidence that as the Japanese market rises, the 30-year bond yield declines.

Comments on the results of a study by economist Fumio Hayashi of the University of Pennsylvania, which suggests that in Japan, net national savings, both public and private, may be one-third to one-half the level reported. Savings rates in the United States and Japan; Hayashi's argument that it is highly misleading to compare the reported savings rates of the U.S. and Japan.

Comments on the reasons for the dominance of Japan in trade and in high technology. Use of Tokyo's heady markets and low interest rates as a pool of cheap financing; Increase in demand that Japan's trading partners have been clamoring for.

Report that on April 28 the Bush Administration threatened retaliation against Japanese makers of computers, portable phones and other exports in an attempt to crack down on trade disputes with Japan. Discusses Japanese reaction and whether Bush will follow through with pressure on Tokyo.

The article reports that International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) in Japan is giving up its traditional "go-it-alone" strategy and is instead teaming up with powerful Japanese companies to emerge to the top position with new products. It states that IBM's tactics shows its attempt to use its lead in computers to get into telecommunications and automated office equipment market.

The article reports on the issues concerning the effort of the Japanese Ministry of International Trade & Industry (MITI) to establish cartels. It notes that such move receives serious opposition from the U.S. as well as from antitrust proponents across the country. Those opposing groups claim that cartels pose threats to the nation's recession-stricken companies and cause adverse impacts on competitiveness.

The article focuses on the diversification plans of Mitsubishi Metal Corp. (MMC). It informs that MMC, the largest copper smelter of Japan, is diversifying its operations into titanium, nuclear fuel and semiconductor materials industry and states that slump being experienced in the Japanese copper industry is forcing companies to venture into developing areas. MMC president Takeshi Nagano stresses on the need for companies to take a global view.

Information about the sixth annual U.S.-Japan Conference of Antitrust Policy that was held in Tokyo, Japan on August 1982 is presented. Topics include Japan's legal cartels, preferential purchasing policies, and administrative guidance as the heart of trade friction. It featured Assistant Attorney General William F. Baxter noting that there is no concerted efforts in Washington to get Japan.

The article focuses on the sell of the products of Motorola Inc. to Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Public Corp. (NTT) which offers benefits to the trade relations between the U.S. and Japan. It states that the said purchase of U.S. equipment provides an important breakthrough in the U.S. campaign to convince Tokyo to lower its import restrictions. It mentions that the selection of Motorola by NTT is due to the former's perseverance in getting the NTT contract to provide portable pagers.

The article reports that Japanese executives think job-hopping as an American phenomenon and is unthinkable to workers at major Japanese "lifetime employment" companies. According to research analyst Naoko Shimoyama, many people are leaving big companies to set up their own companies. It states that the problem is on a trend wherein lots of people are trying to work for the information service industry and manufacturing companies cannot give special pay incentives to their employees.

The article reports on the important role of extensive publicity and advertising campaign tailored to the Japanese market in the success of U.S. films in Japan. The Japanese film market accounts for about 8 percent to 10 percent of all foreign film rentals making it one of the largest markets for U.S. films worldwide. Among the U.S. films that succeeded in penetrating the Japanese market was "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Superman II" is expected to be a big hit in the country.

This article discusses the move by Sony Corp., the Japanese consumer electronics equipment manufacturer, into incongruous business schemes under chairman Akio Morita. These business schemes are its decision to sell importer Wilson sporting goods in Japan through a joint venture with PepsiCo Inc. and start selling life insurance in a joint venture with Prudential Insurance Co. The company is also engaging in whiskey and corporate jets importation. Observers are not buying Morita's explanation that he is merely diversifying the company.

The article reports that as of September 1979, Japanese Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira is working to consolidate his country's Liberal-Democratic Party (LDP), and states that should he succeed, Japan could become more aggressive in its foreign and economic policies, citing his desire to reopen talks with the U.S. on allowing his country to rearm itself in the face of growing Soviet aggression.

This section offers news briefs on world business as of April 1979. In Great Britain, the Conservative Party of Margaret Thatcher will campaign in the general elections on a platform of reducing direct personal taxes, union power and supporting Europe's Economic Community. The announcement by Exxon Corp. of reducing oil supplies to unaffiliated companies in Japan has affected the yen rate. In France, Compagnie Francaise des Pétroles has signed a letter of intent to buy 150,000 barrels annually from National Iranian Oil Co.

The article discusses the latest business developments in the international community as of September 4, 1978. The Japanese government is protesting the increase of color television (TV) exports from Taiwan to the U.S., which resulted in the decrease of Japan's market share. It cites the move by China Airlines to favor Airbus Industrie over McDonnel Douglas Corp. for its aircraft needs.

The article discusses the challenge faced by U.S. Special Trade Representative Robert S. Strauss in renegotiating U.S.-Japan trade relations in view of a threatened breakdown in communications between the Americans and the Japanese. Analysts are saying that any solution to the U.S.-Japan trade problem will have to recognize that there is no way to balance the trade on a bilateral basis . It was reported that Strauss will be dealing with Japanese bureaucrats who are even more inflexible than Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda.

The article discusses the reasons why the Mitsubishi Galant was named Japan's 1988 Car of the Year. Galant is one of the very few where the differences are noticeable and each of the settings delivers what it promises in the sport setting. Several characteristics of Galant are presented including the car can make the riders relaxed and the car can definitely hug the road because of its trusted tires.

The article reports on the plan of West Germany's Agfa-Gevaert and Saint Paul, Minnesota-based 3M Co. to offer discount prices in Japan to penetrate the film market. The Japanese appetite for imported consumer goods is strong and getting stronger. Industry sales increased by eight percent in 1987 as the Japanese economy also grew.

The article reports that Tateho Chemical Industries Co., a manufacturer of furnace insulation, lost about $193 million speculating in Japanese government bonds. According to the article, investors are concerned that Tateho's near-bankruptcy would affect the Japanese stock and bond markets. It explains that "zaitech," which means financial wheeling and dealing, has become a panacea for companies facing low export earnings and slow growth.

The article presents an editorial regarding the necessity for Japan, the free world's second-largest economic power, to take the responsibility for strengthening the system of international trade, international economic relations, and international finance on which it depends. Japan's contribution needs to be in the form of investments, technical assistance, and economic assistance.

The article reflects on the need for Germany and Japan to take decisive measures to stimulate their own economies. It is argued that even though West German chancellor, Helmut Kohl, is committed to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), free trade and European integration, it does not affect Germany's reluctance to help in economic growth. It is stated that it is necessary for the U.S. to urge countries like Germany to help save global economic stagnancy.