MAY 1983
ANTIMONOPOLY LAW & INDUSTRIAL POLICY
Debate Continues on Basic Materials Industry Policy and Industrial targetting
Structurally Recessed Industries Law
Shipbuilding Industry Law - Cartel Antimonopoly Law
AmakuDari - Bureaucrats Retire - National Government Service Law
No Increase in Beef or Pork Support Prices
Cartel - Silk Manufacturers to Jointly Scrap Production Facilities
Lumber Project to Reduce Dependence on Imports
Construction Industry Law - Bid Riggiing
No Change in Designated Bidding System - Construction
Cement Cartel Ends - Fair Trade Commission Fines Imposed
Nintendo Ordered to Stop Price Fixing
FTC Orders Trucking Companies to Stop Rationing Trucks
More Restrictions on Large Retailers?
Revision of Plan to Relocate Industry in Japan
Osaka to Open Biotechnology Center
MITI to Promote Software Center
Seibu Department Store to Make Retailers Robots in Joint Effort with 20 Electronics Firms
Electronic Camera Standardization Discussions
MITI to Subsidize Development of Plastic Processing
Cabinet Approves Technopolis Law
Petrochemical Firms Continue Negotiations
AVIATION
Pacific Competition Increasing - Aviation
Japan Asia Airways Seeks Revision of Aviation Treaty with China
Committee Supports Nippon Cargo Airways
ENERGY
Revision of Japan Canada Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Pact
First Meeting of US-Japan Energy Working Group
Revision of Long Term Energy Policy - Substitute Energy
ENVIRONMENT
Environmental Impact Law Up in the Air
Environment Agency to Study Neighborhood Noises
Air Pollution Victims Compensation Raised
FINANCE
Sokaiya Practicing for June Record Breaking Shareholders Meetings
Fuji Bank Makes Huge Acquisition of US Financial Firm
Yen - Ministry of Finance to Continue to Restrict Capital Outflows
Number of Foreign Banks in Japan Up
Stock Market Listing Standards to be Eased
Domestic Bond Issuing Standards to be Eased
Banks Set Bad Debt Reserve Levels for Overseas Debts
Bank Brances & Automated Tellers - Authorizations Dramatically Increased
Interest Free Loans to Small & Medium Firms to be Abolished
Investment Law - Saraking - Loan Shark Control Bill Likely to be Passed
Credit Sales Law - Product Defects - Credit Companies to be Liable
Three US Insurance Companies Enter Japan Independently
Clamp Down on Commodities Futures Frauds
MOF Approves Certificates of Deposit and Commercial Paper
Bank - Securities Companies Wars - Government Bonds
One Year Under New Banking Law
Credit Companies Increase Use of Notarial Deeds
PHARMACEUTICALS - PRODUCT LIABILITY
Pharmaceuticals Law - Inspection Procedures for Foreign Pharmaceuticals
Nine New Food Additives Approved
Meiji Seika Gets Warning - Data Falsification
Pharmaceuticals Distribution Routes to be Cut? Gift Indications Law
Product Liability - Drug Firms Ordered to Pay 27.6 million yen
Medical Treatment Law Amendment - Medical Malpractice
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Zilog Sues NEC Over Semiconductor Patent
Allied Turns to ITC on Amorphous Alloys Patent Dispute
Unfair Trade Practices - ITC Finds Japanese Firm Violated Dupont's Patent - Blocks Imports
Burberry Wins Design Rights Case at High Court
Software Rental Companies - Copyright
Another Computer Secrets Theft Case
Japan - China Software Agreement
LABOR
Auto Parts Industry - Others Granted Labor Subsidies
Machine Tool Makers to Apply for Labor Subsidies
US-Japan Social Security Talks Resume
Mine Workers Win Poisoning Cases - Mining Law - Labor Law
Families of Dead Coal Miners File Criminal Complaints
Wide Differences in Retirement Payments
LAND
Grievance Machinery Recommended for Real Estate
Fire Defense Board to Extend Application of "Suitable" Designations
Construction Ministry to Start 10 Year House Guarantees
LEGAL PROFESSION
Couple Ostracized, Harassed for Resorting to the Courts
MARINE
' US Cuts Japan's Fishing Quorta by 35% in Retaliation on Whaling
Korea - Japan Fish Pact Standoff
Japan-China Navigation Pact Within the Year
TAX
Japanese Complain About Unitary and Minimum Capital Taxes
Liquor Firm Tax Violation - Liquor Tax Law
Minimum Reportable Income to be Raised to 15 Million Yen
Tax - Companies Using up Reserves as Business Deteriorates
Interest Free Loans Sometimes NonTaxable
Don't Rely on Tax Office Advice
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Telegram Business to be Reduced
NTT to License Optical Fiber Patented Technology
Government Pushing Database Development
TRADE
Japan Ferroalloy Industry to File Dumping Suit
Another Trade Package Going Into Effect
Foreign Auto Makers Not Satisfied with Import Improvements
Preferential Tariff Treatment for Developing Countries
Increased Agriculture Imports from ASEAN
While Clamping Down on Textile Imports - Exports Grow Remarkably
Japanese Distribution Channels, Business Customs are Nontariff Barriers
US - Japan Customs Duties Talk
Kyushu Group Seeks Foreign Firms
Foreign Chocolate Makers Rush to Take Advantage of Lower Tariffs
World Import Mart Going Out of Business
Flexible Application of Export Insurance
Foreign Tobacco Firms Angered on Japan's Moves
US Imposes 45% Tariff on Imported Motorcycles
New Zealand Seeks More Dairy Imports
US to Limit Specialty Steel Imports
Japan Opposes Controls on Technology Flows to Soviets?
Yen - Attitude Towards Japan Hardening
Sears World Trade Subsidiary Opens Office In Tokyo
IBM - Hitachi Talks Continue - Software Copyright
Japanese Topping US in Supercomputers?
US Concerned Over Japan's Industrial Targetting
EC Pushes for MultiParty GATT Working Party on Japan's Trading Practices