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The article offers information on the newspaper "Asahi Shimbun" and its popularity in Japan. It states that its circulation its double than the biggest newspaper in the U.S. It mentions that the newspaper started 80 years ago by a businessman and is still continued by the family. It highlights that the newspaper is one of the most popular national newspaper in Japan.

The article presents an outlook for the impact of a new preliminary draft on corporate foreign exchange operations to be released by the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). It is expected that corporations that have been showing gains in their quarterly income statements may see major losses under the new rules. Major upward revisions on the asset side of the balance sheets of the foreign subsidiaries of U.S. multinationals doing business in Europe and Japan.

This article presents the analytical findings of economists Jeffrey Frankel of the University of California and Shang-Jin Wei of Harvard University on Japan's plans for the creation of a de facto trade bloc in East Asia. These economists suggest that Americans and Europeans need not fear of Japan's economic supremacy in creating Wast Asia the world's fastest growing region by means of cementing trade ties. Their analysis, summarized in a recent issue of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's periodical "Weekly Letter," shows scant evidence of a developing Pacific economic bloc dominated by Japan. These economists found that from 1979 to mid-1992, the major East Asian countries all consistently assigned a heavy weight to the dollar in valuing their currencies.

The article reports that Fuji Photo Film Co., is the world's second-largest maker of photographic film and paper, known to Americans as the company that has given Eastman Kodak Co. a harrowing run for, its money. Fujifilm has staged a remarkable makeover on its home turf. But the world of digital photography is still new. So in the next two years, as Fujiffim courts Americans with a whole new bag of digital goodies, it will confront the most confusing obstacle course in its 65-year history. The global market for photo film and paper is a tidy duopoly with clearly defined rules.

The article reports on the significance and the efficacy of msx computers in the American market. The U.S. home computer makers appear unconcerned that such an invasion about to hit. Darrel E. Whitten, an analyst at Prudential-Bache Securities Ltd., says that msx is a difficult niche in Japan due to its higher price than the hot-selling Nintendo unit.

The article reports that a U.S.-Japan commercial treaty to internationalize the Japanese yen is not expected to strengthen the yen in foreign exchange markets and to alter international trade, balance of payments, and balance of trade patterns between the two countries. Measures to make the yen an international currency include the creation of a free Euroyen market and deregulation of Japanese capital markets.

A photograph of the dedication of the "Y" bridge in the Genza district of Tokyo, Japan is presented.

The article focuses on Japanese newspaper "Asahi Shimbun" which is considered as the No. 1 advertising vehicle of the country despite of its printing problem due to language complex. It mentions that the newspaper delivers 5.5 million copies in its morning edition and 3.5 millions in its evening edition. It states that the newspaper focuses on hard news, national and international affairs and features fiction articles. It says that Asahi is headed by professional newspaperman Tomoo Hirooka.

The article focuses on the export of wood chips to Japanese pulp and paper makers by U.S. forest products companies. It states that wood chip exports increased to a little more than 1.1 million units in 1968, since the first boatload of wood chips sent by U.S. Plywood-Champion Papers Inc. to Japan. It notes that the imported chips of Japan account for over 12% of its chip consumption in 1968 and may likely increase to 30% by 1975.

The article reports on the intensifying competition in the copiers market which has affected the dominant position of Xerox Corp. in the worldwide market for plain-paper copiers. The companies that played a role in reducing Xerox's market share are Japan's Ricoh, Savin, and Nashua, whose shares rose to 9 percent. It is noted that the decision of the competitors of Xerox to take on the company individually gave Xerox a chance to launch an assault on the small-copier segment.

The article reports on the implication of the collapse of Toyo Valve Co. to big trading companies in Japan. It mentions that over a quarter of the firm's 300 million-dollar debt is held by traders and affirms that fears are surmounting in the region due to its lusterless economic recovery. It affirms that the major cause of the company's failure is its heavy borrowing to purchase 26 million-dollar worth of new valve-making equipment.

Discusses the relationships between the United States and Japan. U.S. industry's reliance on Japan for imports of advanced components essential to production; Total transactions linking U.S. and Japanese companies; Japanese investors' annual finance of the U.S. government's debt and acquisition of a large proportion of U.S. private paper; Concern about the health of the relationship; Japan's effort to open its market and change its economy; Need to solve the tension that exists in the relationships. INSET: Case Study in Diversification: The New Face of Summitomo Metals.

The article unveils the plan of the Japanese government to reduce wages for all employees by two to 12 percent.

The article focuses on the contributions of American woman Marion Scott Tilton, Far East representative of fabric importer Cohn-Hall-Marx Co. (Cohama) and neckware manufacturer Baar & Beards Co. (B&B), in the growth of silk production in Japan. It discusses the efforts of Tilton to overcome the shortage of weavers, and the introduction of high style patters and colors and the American standards of quality to the Japanese silk industry.

The article reports on the impact of Japan's top advertising companies on maintaining the status of low-salaried executives in the U.S. It notes that the executives were better paid off by the Japanese firms through fringe benefits and a liberal system of expense accounts. This is attributed to the attacks of the government in terms of tax laws, straight salary, and entertainment fund policies towards these companies.

The article reports on the dominance of the U.S. in camera market and the battle between Japan and West Germany for the second place. It notes the recognition of Japan as a fast growing camera industry. It points out that the country ship up to nearly 14 million dollars to the U.S. market in 1962. However, it is stressed that West Germany led Japan in the value of its photographic equipment exports.

The article reports that U.S. President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, has approved increasing the tariff on the import of Japanese thermometers, and in turn, Japan is planning to impose an export quota. However, there is controversy over the quota, as it goes against the U.S. economic policy, and encourages the recovery of cartels inside Japan. It states that quota favors big trading companies, therefore, smaller Japanese companies will have to work through larger trading companies.

The article reports that Content Idea of Asia (CIA) created a printable bar code, which is the size of a postage stamp, but can store data files such as video clips. The Japanese company dubbed the code "paper memory." It can be used with cell phones and in advertising. Kazuhiro Miwa, CIA research chief, has been working on the PM Code.

The article offers world news briefs. The Indiana Farmer's Guide Publishing Co. has filed a lawsuit against other U.S. farm papers alleging damages caused by a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. The French Senate has reasserted the husband's position as the head of the family. Japanese Major General Seiichi Kita has admitted that the Japanese Army has provided airplanes for rebels in Mongolia.

The article reports that Eastman Kodak Co. is striving to grab more market share in Japan. Kodak has only 15 percent of the Japanese market while Fuji Photo Film Co. has 70 percent. Kodak has launched a technical center for customers and distributors, revealed plans to construct a Japanese research center, and purchased a 10 percent stake in a Japanese camera producer, and acquired a Japanese distributor of various business products.

A photograph of the Marunouchi Building in Tokyo, Japan is presented.

The article reports on the construction of a factory on Mount Fuji in Japan for Sweden-based Tetra Pak International that the Japanese government allowed because it wants more residents to drink milk that is packaged in tetrahedrons made with polyethylene-coated paper. The appeal of the packaging has gained worldwide reputation. The entry of Tetra Pak in Japan will give the company a bigger market share of the packaging business.

Focuses on the rising concern among the companies in Japan to preserve the environment. Information that Suntory Ltd., the food and beverage giant, readily admits to exploiting Japan's current fascination with the environment; Observation that Dozens of Japanese companies are latching onto ecology as a potent marketing theme for everything from clothing to mutual funds; Opening of "earth-friendly" corners by top department stores to sell environmentally sound products.

Reports that the decline in the yen has substantially raised Japan's labor-cost advantage as compared to the U.S. Position of yen against the U.S. dollar in 1988; Decline in Japanese factory wages in dollars; Advantage of this decline to Japanese imports.

The article features the Copyboard electronic blackboard manufactured by Oki Electric Industry Co. which has been launched in Japan and the U.S. It is a hybrid of a blackboard and a copier which prints paper versions of whatever is written on the board, providing accurate notes. The product has been targeted to schools and businesses.

The article focuses on the adverse effect on Japan's slow economy to the mining industry in Australia. It mentions the 20% decline of the Japanese commitment with Australian iron ore and copper shipment. In addition, the said reduction has affected the operation of the Australian mining industry. Furthermore, the slump's impact on finances is also mentioned.

The article reports on increasing difficulties in the worldwide textile industry of 1952 due to expanded capacity and declining foreign trade. In response to the business condition of Japan, production is lowered to 40 percent with gloomy stock prices where experts predict a switch to synthetics. However, India, one of the largest textile exporters, is expected to figure a business of 400 million yards with rising stocks prices. It also presents information on the dismal textile production of U.S.

This section offers news briefs on international business as of November 25, 1931. The 2 percent import tax to be added to present duties in France will not be applied to raw materials but will be increased to 4 percent on semi-manufactures and to 6 percent on manufactures. There has been an increase in demand for larger imports and dollar exchange in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Montevideo, Uruguay. Japanese goods are being boycotted in China.

The article offers an update on business worldwide as of July 1931. European stock markets increased between 9% to 20% due to a debt plan by U.S. President Herbert Hoover known as the Hoover Plan. The new economic measures launched by Poland include reductions in salary of government employees. Business conditions in Great Britain have improved due to enhanced world outlook. In Japan, the value of stocks continued to increase while prices of silk reached a record high.

This section offers international business news briefs. Japan announced that it will open a central bank in Peking, China which will lay the groundwork for monetary reform in all of China under Japanese occupation. The provincial government of Quebec has purchased a gold mine to be used as a practical training school for young miners. English River Pulp Co. will start construction of a large pulp and paper plant in Northern Ontario.

Focuses on troubling developments within the Japanese business community that are marring its outlook for 1999. The effect of the government's plan to raise $645 billion in bonds which is driving bond prices lower; Fall in the Nikkei during its first two trading sessions of 1999; The rise in the yen and its effect on the economy.

The article reports on international flight delay problems at the Haneda airport in Tokyo, Japan. A comparison between Haneda and the Orly airport in Paris, France or the Kennedy airport in New York is presented. Although an international airport in the city of Narita is being built, the scheduled opening of the said airport has already been delayed several times. Remarks from Malcolm McDonald of Pan American World Airways regarding charter flights at Haneda are also given.

The article focuses on various developments related to industrial research in Japan. It is stated that Japan became a leading industrial power by making technological innovations. In April 1985, Hitachi Ltd. will start a lab that will conduct research related to the development of biochips and computer circuits. According to William V. Rapp, commercial counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Japan, companies in the U.S. are not willing to share technical information with Japanese competitors.

The article focuses on the growing interest of smaller nations in the development of rocket and satellite programs of their own. The trend was confirmed during the meeting of international space scientists in Madrid, Spain in 1966. Among the smaller nations that have launched their own space programs are Japan and Israel. Information is also presented on new developments in rocket and satellite systems.

The article reports on the possible management changes in Japanese company, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Despite a reported increase in net earnings and revenues in its fiscal year ended November 20, 1977, the company is experiencing deep internal problems of an aging, bureaucratic management. Also affecting the internal problem are the structural recession in Japan and expert problems from increasing protectionism and a revalued yen.

The article reports on the status of the Pacific Coast shipping industry in 1950. A plan to refloat two passenger lines from Matson Navigation Co. was sent by the U.S. Maritime Commission to the U.S. Congress. The article also offers information on the impact of the shipping industry in Japan on stimulating the Pacific Coast industry.

The article reports that U.S. occupation authorities have established an antitrust and cartels division to develop economic reforms that is likely to get Japan out of its economic problems. This has forced some family holding companies to sold stock to individuals. Still, some banks and operating companies which are part of cartels and monopolies are existing.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including articles on pensions and taxes, the invention of oil-type incendiaries in Japan, and the manufacture of homemade napalm fire bombs in Manila, Philippines.

The article assesses the possible impact of the decision of the U.S. to drop nearly all internal controls over Japan. The characteristics of the old order are presented together with the effect of ruthless redevelopment of Japan's export markets to U.S. business. The imposition of the formal mechanisms of a model democracy is pitted against the solid opposition of the old leaders of Japan to postwar change. Critical factors are examined including the easing of U.S. subsidy, the drive to contain communism, and the breakdown of plans for economic reform.

The article analyzes the possible impact of the Japanese government's enactment of a law that empowers the government to take over business during an emergency such as war. The law is of interest to the U.S. because of the substantial flow of U.S. goods to Japan and the similarity of the law to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's emergency-power proposal. The law also affects Japan's trade relations with China.

Reports on the scientific study of corrupt economic practices in the Japanese sumo wrestling business. Details of a research model which illustrates the association between incentives and economic behavior in the sport; Incidence of match-fixing in sumo wrestling.

Discusses how Softbank Corp. is using the keiretsu system to provide inspiration in the area of cyberspace. Description of the keiretsu; How Chief Executive Masayoshi Son sees Softbank's position in the huge digital marketplace; The doubling of Softbank stock since September 1998.

Despite decades of slugging it out in the worldwide film market, neither Kodak nor Fuji has made much headway on other's home turf. On May 18, 1995, Kodak launched a trade complaint against Japan, hoping to get the US government to help pry open the Japanese market. Kodak's primary complaint is that Fuji has an almost vise-like grip on Japanese film distribution. In Japan, film is sold in a multitiered system, with a few dozen distributors at the top. Fuji has locked up the 4 biggest distributors that together account for 70% of film sales. INSET: FILM WARS.

Reports on the papers presented for the 1994 International Solid State Circuits Conference in San Francisco, California on February 16-18, 1994. String of industry firsts from Japanese chip giants; Products developed by NEC Corp., Toshiba Corp. and Fujitsu Limited.

The article reports on the launch of several Japan-made TV phones that use same picture standards for better reception of video snapshots. TV phones having tiny video camera and a black-and-white screen can send or receive pictures in about 6 seconds. However, picture gets distorted in case of different picture standards of brands. Five Japanese makers including, Matsushita Electric Corp., Mitsubishi Corp., NEC Corp., Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd., and Sony Corp. have come up with new TV phones.

The article discusses on how Japan gains profit from its low labor turnover. According to economists, Jacob Mincer and Yoshio Higuchi, in a paper for National Bureau of Economic Research, Japan's so-called lifetime employment system is not simply a cultural phenomenon. They say that Japanese manufacturing workers obtain more intensive training than their U.S. counterparts. The paper also states that U.S. workers in Japanese owned companies enjoy an annual wage increase of 3.3 percent.

The article reports on the implications of Japan's move to control the silicon wafers market to the U.S. economy. The $30 million proposal would give Mitsubishi Metal Corp. to take over Siltec Corp. The Japanese already control two-thirds of the market for the materials used in packaging integrated circuits especially that thy have been buying into producers of polysilicon, the raw materials for wafers.

The article reports on the printer technology developed by Ricoh Co. in Japan, which closely duplicate the quality of the expensive color printers for computer graphics. The company created a ribbon with endless repeating patches of dyes in the colors to reproduce color images wherein the computer tells the printer to transfer thermally a dot of dye to the paper when the appropriate color passes beneath the printing head. They planned to release the product later in 1985.

A photograph of heavy vehicles lined up on an airfield in Japan is presented.

This section presents news briefs related to international business compiled as of July 1972. The U.S.-Japan Trade Council is predicting a significant decline in Japanese exports before the year ends. The Indian government is proceeding with its plan for nationalization of basic industries with its take over of the management of Indian Iron and Steel Co. Royal Dutch/Shell is building a lubricant plant in Libya capable of producing 30,000 tons per year.