Large firms' business confidence up for 3rd qtr in gov't poll
December 25, 2005Business confidence among large companies in Japan rose in the October-December period for the third straight quarter, lifting a key index to the highest level on record, according to a government survey released Monday. The index of business conditions at companies capitalized at 1 billion yen or more came to 10.5 on an all-industry basis, up from 9.7 for the previous quarter and the highest level since the Cabinet Office and the Finance Ministry began conducting the quarterly survey in the April-June quarter of 2004.
Number of local gov't employees falls by 41,000
December 25, 2005The number of local government employees dropped by a record 41,475 in fiscal 2004 to 3,042,122 as of April 1, 2005, down for the 11th consecutive year, a government survey showed Monday. The fall followed a decrease of some 33,000 in fiscal 2003, which was the previous record high, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
N. Korea to work to settle past, solve issues to normalize Japan ties
December 25, 2005North Korea will work to settle issues relating to the past and resolve other contentious issues to achieve normalization of diplomatic ties with Japan, Song Il Ho, vice director of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's Asian Affairs Department, said Sunday. Song, who headed North Korea's team at two-day bilateral talks with Japan, also told reporters that North Korea wants experts to discuss a Japanese analysis of cremated remains the North handed over in November 2004 that concluded they were not those of abductee Megumi Yokota.
Chronology of Japan-North Korea events related to abductions
December 25, 2005Key events related to officially recognized or alleged abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korea: May 1997 -- Japan's National Police Agency recognizes 10 Japanese as victims of abduction by North Korean agents.
Japan, N. Korea agree on 3-group negotiation format
December 25, 2005Japan and North Korea agreed Sunday to set up three working groups to address outstanding issues that have stalled negotiations on normalizing diplomatic relations, if possible in late January, Japan's chief delegate Akitaka Saiki said. North Korea accepted Japan's proposal to establish the working groups for separate, parallel discussions on diplomatic normalization, the North's past abductions of Japanese nationals and the country's nuclear programs in two days of talks in Beijing.
Japan, N. Korea agree on 3-group negotiation format: Saiki
December 25, 2005Japan and North Korea agreed Sunday in bilateral talks to set up three working groups to address outstanding issues that have stalled negotiations on normalizing diplomatic relations, Japan's chief delegate to the talks Akitaka Saiki said. The two sides will launch the groups in late January, he told reporters after the two-day talks in Beijing.
Crown prince, crown princess may visit Mexico for World Water Forum
December 25, 2005Crown Prince Naruhito may visit Mexico together with Crown Princess Masako next March to attend the 4th World Water Forum, sources close to the matter said Saturday. The government is sounding out the trip, which if materialized would mark the first overseas trip for the crown princess in four years.
Taiwan's cross-strait negotiator mourns death of China counterpart
December 25, 2005Chang Chun-hsiung, head of Taiwan's semi-official Straits Exchange Foundation, on Saturday sent a telegram of condolence following the announcement of the death of Wang Daohan, China's longtime top negotiator with Taiwan, the foundation said. Wang, president of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, died of disease in Shanghai earlier in the day at the age of 90, according to China's official Xinhua News Agency.