日本經濟喪失增長動力 - 极品民工

Opposition parties in upper house of Japan's legislature reject government's nomination of Toshiro Muto to succeed Toshihiko Fukui as head of Bank of Japan. Move leaves leadership of central bank in doubt.
Japan Faces a Leadership Vacuum 3/13 SB120528442354829079
Nominee for Japan's Bank Governor Is Voted Down 3/12 SB120523058331326935
OJ: The Man With A Plan for BOJ 3/12 SB120527019535428267
日本政府提名中央銀行副行長武藤敏郎(Toshiro Muto)，出任新一任行長，接替本月十九日任滿的福井俊彥(Toshihiko Fukui)。共同社說，提名已呈交國會審議，由於反對派民主黨表明反對，武藤的提名可能無法在參議院獲通過。首相福田康夫希望邀請民主黨黨魁小澤一郎會談，尋求達成協議。Fukuda Risks Veto As He Readies Pick For Bank of Japan 3/07 SB120482929214117121

Japanese investigators say they have have found traces of pesticide on more packages of Chinese-made dumplings (2008/2). The food scare has been dominating the Japanese media, and triggered recalls and floods of queries from worried consumers. The Japanese government says so far, 10 people have been diagnosed with pesticide poisoning, while hundreds of others have sought treatment for possible exposure. Police have said they are investigating a report of a small tear in one pack of dumplings that made a family ill, opening up the possibility of deliberate tampering. A team of Chinese experts has now arrived in Tokyo to join the Japanese investigation. China is Japan's second biggest supplier of imported food.

Weak Japanese Consumer Sentiment Further Clouds Outlook 1/19 SB120070608428001957 The Bank of Japan cut its core assessment of the nation's regional economies, the first such downgrade since Japan's central bank began publishing its regional report in April 2005. 1/16 SB120042139479391755

[Japans regional economies map]

Sega Sammy Holdings Inc. said its Sega Toys Co. unit and Sanrio Co. have created a new line of fictional characters, hoping to replicate the success of "Hello Kitty." 1/16 SB120043086190592139

WSJ editorial writers take a look at Japan's ambition to play a greater role in international security, a stance that can be chalked up as a victory for the country's new prime minister. 1/14 SB120026495934287047

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe 安倍晉三 announced his resignation at a nationally televised press conference in Tokyo (2007/9/12). Abe is stepping down in the middle of a crisis over Japan's commitment to support the US-led military coalition in Afghanistan. Six weeks ago, Mr. Abe's Liberal Democratic Party was heavily defeated in parliamentary elections. Yasuo Fukuda (前內閣官房長官福田康夫和父親福田赳夫同於71歲高齡出任首相 ) won the leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party (9/23), but he won't be sworn in as prime minister until Tuesday (9/25), when his position will be confirmed in a parliamentary vote. The former top aide to the premier known for his dovish foreign policy, received 330 votes among party members against 197 for his sole rival, hawkish former foreign minister Taro Aso (自民黨幹事長、外相麻生太郎 66). Japan's powerful lower house of parliament has approved (9/25) veteran lawmaker Yasuo Fukuda as prime minister. Fukuda received 338 votes against 117 for main opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa 民主黨黨魁小澤一郎. The upper house, where the opposition won control in July elections, later approved Mr Ozawa as its choice for prime minister in a 133-106 vote over Fukuda. However the lower house vote wil take precedence. 保守派高村正彥出任外相，溫和派石破茂出掌防衛相，前外相町村信孝轉任內閣官房長官，財相額賀福志郎留任。Fukuda called for closer cooperation with China as he wrapped up a four day visit (12/27-30) to Beijing, Tianjin and Qufu. SB118957247318924914

Japan's Cabinet secretary Shinzo Abe 安倍晋三 won an election (2006sept20) by the country's ruling Liberal Democratic Party to succeed Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi 小泉纯一郎. Mr Abe, who turns 52 this week, became Japan's youngest prime minister (9/26) and the first born after World War II. Mr Abe has pledged to rewrite the nation's US-drafted pacifist constitution, tighten already close ties with Washington, and strive to repair ties with China and South Korea, damaged by outgoing Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's annual visits to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine for war dead. Less than two weeks into his first term Abe went to BJ (10/08) and Seoul on fence-mending visit for the first leadership summit in five years that both hailed as a turning point in the relationship.

Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako have had one child, four-year-old Princess Aiko. Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko 紀子 have three kids, the youngest (悠仁 born 2006sept06) being the royal family's first boy in more than 40 years.

AWSJ 2006jan26 FP scrutiny of accounting standards
AWSJ 2006jan24 FP Livedoor probe 日檢察機構週一逮捕活力門首席執行長堀江貴文(Takafumi Horie)

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