December 27, 2006 Foreign Affairs Minister Taro Aso spoke to the
Board of Counselors
at Nippon Keidanren. His speech can be found at: speech0612
December 20, 2006 Japan's Ministry of Finance released its "planned bond issuance" for 2007. Further information is available at: plan
December 13, 2006 Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released the final "Japan-Australia Joint Study for Enhancing Economic Relations: Free Trade Agreement." The report can be downloaded here: joint0612
December 14, 2006 Nippon Keidanren released the results of its FY2006 "Voluntary Action Plan on the Environment." Findings of Japanese companies' compliance with Kyoto Protocol principles can be found at: 089
December 11, 2006 ESRI, the Japanese Cabinet's Economic and Social Research Institute, released the monthly Consumer Confidence report covering all of Japan: 0611shouhi-e
December 11, 2006 The transcript of Nippon Keidanren Chairman Fujio Mitarai's press conference is available here: 1211
December 8, 2006 The Bank of Japan released its "Preliminary Figures of Financial Institutions." They can be downloaded from: kasi0611
December 7, 2006 Japan's Ministry for Foreign Affairs announced that MOFA Minister Taro Aso will attend ASEAN Ministerial in the Philippines and meet with his Asian counterparts, December 7-10, 2006: 1206-2
November 27, 2006 The Bank of Japan released the transcript of a speech by Toshihiko Fukui, Governor of the BOJ at a meeting with business leaders in Osaka. It can be downloaded here: ko0611d
November 21, 2006 Nippon Keidanren released its position paper, "Call for the Start of a Joint Study for a Japan-U.S. Economic Partnership Agreement." It can be found here: Japan-US EPA - Keidanren 11-21-06
November 20, 2006 Prime Minister Abe gives a press conference following the APEC summit in Hanoi (November 18-19). The transcript can be found at: 20061120_191238. The APEC ministers' joint declaration following the summit: declaration
November 19, 2006 Japan's Ministry of Finance released a joint statement of the G-20 Central Bank governors following their annual meeting in Melbourne, Australia: g20_061119
November 13, 2006 ESRI, the Japanese Cabinet's Economic and Social Research Institute, released the monthly Consumer Confidence report covering all of Japan: 0610shouhi-e
November 12, 2006 Keidanren Chairman Fujio Mitarai gave a speech in which he called for a comprehensive, high-level Economic Partnership Agreement between Japan and the U.S. The EPA could include not only removal of tariffs but also liberalization of trade in services and of investment, smooth and safe movement of goods and people, and cooperation in the area of intellectual property rights, Mitarai said. His speech, "Political and Economic Situation in Japan" can be downloaded here: 20061112
November 7, 2006 In a State Department press briefing, Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey confirmed that the U.S. disregards Pyongyang's statement that Japan is unwelcome at the next round of 6-Party Talks on North Korea. "Obviously, Japan is one of the core members of the group. You can't have six-party talks without them and we fully expect that they will be at the table when the next round convenes." Casey's full transcript can be found at : 75566
November 1, 2006 The Bank of Japan released its monthly "Outlook for Economic Activity and Prices" for October 2006 and forecasts a "sustained period of expansion" for the Japanese economy for the remainder of the current fiscal year: gor0610
October 31, 2006 The U.S. and its five partner countries in the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, including Japan,
Australia, China, India, and Korea)
have endorsed nearly 100 individual projects for meeting energy and environmental goals: tp-20061101-10
October 27, 2006 The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan and the European Business Council expressed concern today at recent reports Keidanren favors rules that would require foreign companies to list their shares on Japanese exchanges before being allowed to conclude triangular mergers with public Japanese companies. The ACCJ press release can be found at: PR_Triangular_Merger_E
October 26, 2006 The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) released the results of its latest annual survey of Japanese manufacturers based in the United States. Fully 80.9% expect to have operating profits in 2006 and
55.3% anticipate to increased operating profits next year. The JETRO report is available at: 20061026397-news
October 25, 2006 Following the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Rice to Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing and Moscow, she gave a speech to the Heritage Foundation about
America's foreign policy toward the Asia Pacific region: 75106
October 17-22, 2006 U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice visited Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing and Moscow during a six-day mission. Further information can be found here: 74017. A transcript of her October 19 press roundtable is available here: 74750
October 17, 2006 Nippon Keidanren issued a position paper calling a strategic consideration of EPAs, "Towards Broader and Deeper Economic Partnership Agreements." The paper can be found here: index
October 17, 2006 Nippon Keidanren issued a position paper regarding Internet security before the first
Internet Governance Forum: 071
October 17, 2006 Japan's Ministry of the Environment has compiled the provisional data on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for FY2005. The data (which finds that Japan's
FY2005 Greenhouse Gas Emissions totaled one billion three hundred sixty four million tons. Compared to FY1990, the Kyoto protocol base year, emissions increased 8.1%. Compared to the previous year, emissions increased 0.6%. The data (in Japanese) can be found at: headline
October 16, 2006 U.S. Federal employees with career interests in the U.S.-Japan relationship are urged to apply for a Mike Mansfield Fellowship. During the two-year program, Fellows spend a year working full-time in Japanese government offices, preceded by a year of full-time rigorous language and area studies training in the U.S. After completing the program, Fellows return to their U.S. agencies with proficiency in Japanese and practical, firsthand experience. More information is at: www.mansfieldfdn.org
October 16, 2006 Japan and China issued an English translation of the press statement following the meeting between Prime Minister Abe and President Hu Jintao: 20061016_211050
October 14, 2006 U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice said the unanimous United Nations Security Council vote (Resolution 1718) to impose sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear test demonstrates a “remarkable unity of purpose and unity of message" that
sends a very strong signal to Pyongyang that it is now completely isolated:" tp-20061016-17
October 13, 2006 Japan's Prime Minister Abe convened his first Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy: 13keizai_e The members of the Council can be found at: memberlist-e
October 11, 2006 The Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry said Japan would appeal a September 20, 2006 WTO panel report because it "did not affirm some of Japan’s arguments" against U.S. zeroing methodology on antidumping: n061010e
October 4, 2006 Shinzo Abe, Japan's new Prime Minister, vows to open the Japanese economy in a speech to the Diet: wto2006_5971a
October 2, 2006 Japan assumed the presidency of the United Nations for one month in a normal rotational schedule: 1002
September 26, 2006 Shinzo Abe was appointed as the 90th Prime Minister by both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors: index-e. His Cabinet appointments can be found at: index_e
September 25, 2006 Japan's Ministry of Finance released a table showing the amount of central govenrment debt: e1806
September 22, 2006 The Ministry of Finance released the July-September "Business Outlook Survey" of Japanese firms: e1c1802
September 20, 2006 The Japanese
Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA)
issued a report that finds Japanese automakers spend an estimated $1.7 billion in the construction of four new U.S. auto and auto parts manufacturing plants: index
September 20, 2006 USTR Susan Schwab announced that a WTO panel found in favor of the United States on Japan’s challenge to U.S. administrative reviews of "zeroing" – a technique used in measuring antidumping (selling below fair value): WTO_Panel_Finds_for_United_States_in_Zeroing_Dispute_with_Japan
September 16, 2006 The IMF released its annual Asia and Pacific Regional Economic Outlook which predicts that economic growth "in emerging and industrial Asia is expected to reach 7.3 percent this year, declining slightly to about 7 percent in 2007." The report can be found at : areo0906
September 14, 2006 The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) released a statement calling for a 'level playing field' in Japan's insurance market: PR_Kyosai_VP_E
September 1 2, 2006 ESRI,
the Japanese Cabinet's Economic and Social Research Institute, released the monthly Consumer Confidence report covering all of Japan: 0608shouhi-e
September 11, 2006 Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a press statement about the sixth ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) in Helsinki : index
September 7, 2006 The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan released a 36-page report,
"Conscientious Commerce - Exploring the Nature and Scope of Corporate Social Responsibility": ACCJCSRReport
September 7, 2006 ESRI, the Japanese Cabinet's Economic and Social Research Institute, released the "Index of Business Conditions" for July: di-change-e
September 4, 2006 Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement regarding the extension of retaliation against the U.S. Byrd Amendment: 060804ByrdAmendment
August 30, 2006 Japan's Ministry of the Environment submitted a report on Japan's assigned amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, under the Kyoto Protocol: file_view
August 29, 2006 Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the 2006 survey of the image of Japan in the U.S. The survey shows that "91% of American opinion leaders and 69% of the general public" believes Japan to be a dependable ally and that only 29% of both opinion leaders and the general public believe the Japanese market is closed: summary2006
August 23, 2006 Japan's Ministry of Finance issued the July 2006 trade statistics: 200607ce
August 22, 2006 The Japanese Ministry of Economics Trade and Industry released the English language translation of a position paper on foreign direct investment in eleven regions in Japan: 060714ForeignCompany
August 16, 2006 ESRI,
the Japanese Cabinet's Economic and Social Research Institute, issued its June 2006 "Indexes of Business Conditions." The statistics available at: di-e2
August 15, 2006 The Bank of Japan issued its August 2006 "Recent Economic and Financial Developments" report which can be downloaded here: gp0608
August 10, 2006 The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) released its White Paper on International Trade and Foreign Direct Investment. It can be found at: 20060810728-news
August 3, 2006 A troika of U.S. business interests -- the National Association of Manufacturers, the American Farm Bureau and the Coalition of Service Industries -- issued a joint statement calling for an extension of Trade Promotion Authority past its scheduled expiration date of July 2007: Joint Statement on TPA Extension
August 1, 2006 Nippon Keidanren and a number of business organizations from around the world issued a statement expressing regret after the breakdown of WTO trade talks and urged their resumption. It can be downloaded at: Joint DDA statement following G-6 Breakdown FINAL
July 24, 2006 Japan's Minister for Economy Trade and Industry Toshihiro Nikai gave a speech in Geneva to the WTO in which he urged the WTO round be restarted "as soon as possible with a strong resolve": cDoha060822e
July 31, 2006 The Business Accounting Council (an advisory panel of experts to Japan's Financial Services Agency) released a report, ''Towards the International Convergence of Accounting Standards." It can be found: 20060731
July 13, 2006 Prime Minister Koizumi's Cabinet Office released the June 2006 Outline of the Economy Watchers Survey of Japan's regional economic growth: outline
July 13, 2006 Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted a description of the status of Japan's Economic Partnership Agreements with its trading partners. The MOFA piece can be found at: effort
July 12, 2006 Keidanren, the Business Roundtable and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce issued a joint statement calling on the formulation of market access modalities by the end of this month in order to reach a successful completion of a comprehensive and ambitious Doha Round. It is available at: US-Japan_joint_statement_on_the_WTO
July 6, 2006 U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab spoke at the National Press Club about prospects for the Doha Development Agenda, the current round of wTO trade talks and said, " Japan needs to make contributions and participate in a manner commensurate with the benefits they gain from the international system. That means making significant contributions in agriculture." Her speech and Q&A are available at: Transcript of Ambassador Schwab
July 6, 2006 Speaking at the Press Club in Tokyo, Director-General of the World Trade Organization Pascal Lamy appealed, " Ladies and gentlemen, the WTO is in crisis and we need Japan's help." The Lamy speech can be found at : sppl31_e
July 6, 2006 The Bank of Japan released its regional economic survey: chiiki0607
July 6, 2006 ESRI, the Japanese Cabinet's Economic and Social Research Institute, issued its
"Index of Business Conditions" for May: menu
June 30, 2006 President Bush visits Graceland with Prime Minister Koizumi. The State Department press release can be found at: 68505
June 29, 2006 The new United States Trade Representative Susan Schwab issues a press release regarding Japan's economic reforms and urges continued progress: USTR Statement
June 29, 2006 Working groups from the governments of Japan and the United States issued the Fifth Report to the Leaders on Regulatory Reform US-Japan Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative. The report can be found at: wwwf-regref20060629
June 29, 2006 President Bush welcomes Japan's Prime Minister to the United States in what is likely to be the Koizumi's last official visit to Washington DC: 20060629
June 29, 2006 The
Department of State and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI) today released the
U.S.-Japan Investment Initiative 2006 Report Progress on Opening Japan to Foreign Investment. The report documents the Initiative’s success in promoting changes to Japan’s Corporate Code, which will enter into force in May 2007, that will expand access to merger and acquisition (M&A) techniques for foreign companies in Japan and it welcomes an effort by the Government of Japan to translate its laws and regulations into other languages. The document is available at: 68456
June 27, 2006 Steven Vogel, Professor of Political Science at U.S. Berkeley, spoke at Keidanren-USA about Prime Minister Koizumi's legacy and its implications for the U.S. bogel's PowerPoint presentation can be found here: Vogel PP June 27 2006
June 26, 2006 METI released its 2006 White Paper on International Economy and Trade, "Toward Sustained Potential for Growth: Enhanced Productivity through Globalization and Japan as an Investment Powerhouse." It can be downloaded here: gWP2006s
June 26, 2006 METI released the "Announcement of the results of the 2005 e-Commerce Market Survey." The survey can be found at: 060626eCommerceSurvey
June 21, 2006 Asahi Shinbun and other newswires report that Japan will lift its ban on U.S. beef and that American beef will reenter the market in late July. The issue has been a longstanding irritant with the United States. USDA Secretary Mike Johanns issued a statement hailing the breakthrough: 0211
June 20, 2006 Nippon Keidanren issued its position paper, "Japanese Business Community Calls on All WTO Members To Save the WTO Doha Round -- Nippon Keidanren urges Final Agreement During 2006." It can be downloaded here:
20060620 Keidanren Policy Proposal on DDA
June 20, 2006 Toshihiko Fukui, Governor of the Bank of Japan, gave a speech entitled "Recent Economic and Financial Developments and the Conduct of Monetary Policy" to the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo: ko0606b
June 20, 2006 Prime Minister Koizumi chaired the 8th
meeting of the Japan Investment Council (JIC)
aimed at achieving the goal of doubling foreign direct investment into to Japan, as a share of gross domestic product, over a five-year period. The JIC statement can be found here: 20toushi_e
June 12, 2006 Japan's Ministry of Finance released the preliminary April 2006 Balance of Payments statistics: e1c004
June 12, 2006 The transcript of Nippon Keidanren Chairman Mitarai's biweekly press briefing can be found here: 0612
June 2, 2006 METI released its 2006 "Report on the WTO Inconsistency of Trade Policies by Major Trading Partners" report: gCT06coe
June 2, 2006 APEC ministers meeting in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam issued a joint statement regarding the Doha Development Agenda round of trade talks: 2006_trade
June 1, 2006 Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Taro Aso, gave a speech at the Nikkei International Conference, "A Networked Asia: Conceptualizing a Future." The speech can be found on MOFA's website: speech0605-2
May 25, 2006 The White House announced the official visit of Prime Minister Koizumi on Thursday, June 29 in a statement: 20060524-1
May 24, 2006 Teikoku Databank America released a survey of Japanese companies about their awareness of the new Commercial Code that went into effect May 1. It can be downloaded here: ArchiveReport
May 22, 2006 The U.S.-Japan Business Council (USJBC) released a paper today calling on the governments of the U.S. and Japan to
initiate a comprehensive, high level “Economic Integration Agreement,” defined as “FTA-Plus.” The report can be found at: 2006PolicyStatementFinal5-5-06
May 19, 2006 USDA's Acting Under Secretary of Agriculture Charles Lambert gave a press conference in Tokyo to urge Japan to resume imports of US beef by the end of June: tp-20060519-73. The U.S. Embassy in Japan made the audit reports of U.S. beef exporters available: tp-20060519-72
May 19, 2006 The Bank of Japan released its "Recent Economic and Financial Developments" report. The Japanese economy is expected to continue to "recover steadily" and "expand moderately." The BOJ monthly report can be downloaded at: gp0605
May 8, 2006 Nippon Keidanren Chairman Hiroshi Okuda said he hopes Japan's yen will "not surpass 110 yen to a dollar." A transcript of his press conference can be found at: 0508
May 8, 2006 Japan's METI Minster Toshihiro Nikai (Ministry of Economics, Trade and Industry) spoke with the former Editor-in-Chief of The Economist magazine, Bill Emmott. In their dialogue, the two discuss the growth of "non regular employment" in Japan, corporate change, and an Asian version of the European union. A transcript of the Nikai-Emmott discussion is at: MinEmmott
May 6, 2006 The International Monetary Fund released its Regional Economic Outlook for the Asia-Pacific: areo0506
May 4, 2006 The ninth meeting of the ASEAN +3 group met in Hyderabad, India where the participating countries pledged to strenthen East Asian financial cooperation. Their Joint Ministerial Statement was posted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: as3_060504
May 3, 2006 During his visit to Washington, DC, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Taro Aso delivered a major address to the Center for Strategic and International Studies,
"Working Together for a Stable and Prosperous East Asia." The speech can be found here: 20060504_151847
May 1, 2006 The Japanese government's JETRO explains the new Commerical Code: section1 The Ministry of Justice has a comprehensive explanation (in Japanese) here: houan33
May 1, 2006 In the so-called '2 Plus2' meeting, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Aso and Minister of State for Defense Fukushiro Nukaga met with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to discuss the bilateral security alliance. The Joint Statement by the Security Consultative Committee can be found at: index
May 1, 2006 The U.S. Embassy in Japan provides additional information about the SCC '2 Plus 2' meeting and the roadmap regarding US base realignment: tp-20060501-71
April 24, 2006 Chairman Okuda of Nippon Keidanren gave his weekly press conference and covered a range of topics. The transcript is available at: 0424
April 21, 2006 The fifth international National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS) symposium was held in Japan, April 21-22: kyoto2006
April 22, 2006 Prime Minister Koizumi spoke at the Trilateral Commission plenary session about Japan's foreign policy priorities in the Pacific region. His speech can be found at: 060422
April 20, 2006 The US House of Representative's Committee on International Affairs held a hearing regarding the North Korean abduction of Japanese nationals. The transcript can be found at: af042706
April 20, 2006 The Bank of Japan released its most recent balance of accounts. The statistics and sidebar explanations are available at: ac060420
April 18, 2006 Nippon Keidanren issued a position paper calling for a "closer and stronger economic partnership"
between Japan and Europe. It can be found here: 017
April 17, 2006 The Bank of Japan released its most recent "on site examinations" of Japanese financial institutions. Progress on resolving non-performing loans continues and the overall health of the banking sector is improving rapidly, BOJ found. The report can be found at: kpolicy06
April 14, 2006 Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs discussed the fourth round of talks with Indonesia regarding an eventual Economic Partnership Agreement. A transcript of the MOFA press conference is available at: 0414
April 10, 2006 Nippon Keidanren's Chairman, Hiroshi Okuda, gave his monthly press conference. The transcript is available at: 0410
April 5, 2006 Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released minutes from the third round of talks regarding a Japan-ASEAN Economic Partnership Agreement. Further information can be found at the MOFA website: 0404
March 31, 2006 USTR released the 2006 "National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers" -- its annual compilation of the practices of US trading partners. The 42-page section on Japan can be downloaded here: asset_upload_file339_9185
March 29, 2006 Japan's Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry (METI) issued its "Preliminary report on the Current Survey of Commerce" for February 2006. The statistics can be found at: h2s1000e
March 28, 2006 Japan pledged a contribution of 7.5 billion yen (approximately US$70 million) to the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) which will be used to strengthen ASEAN-Japan relations by implementing various projects such as stockpiling half a million courses of Tami flu in the area of avian influenza, projects in the area of counter-terrorism, economic integration, youth exchanges, and the like. The transcript of the MOFA press conference to announce JAIF can be downloaded from: 0328
March 27, 2006 Japan's Ministry of Finance issued its quarterly Business Conditions" in Japan report. The January-March 2006 index is at: e1c1704
March 24, 2006 Japan's Financial Services Agency released its "Bills for New Legislative Framework for Investor Protection: Financial Instruments and Exhange Law." The FSA document can be seen at: 20060324
March 23, 2006 The Bank of Japan released its Monthly Accounts. The BOJ statistics can be downloaded here: ac060320
March 23, 2006 Japan's Ministry of Finance released provisional February trade statistics which can be found at: 200602ce
March 17, 2006 ESRI, the Japanese Cabinet's Economic and Social Research Institute, issued its "Economic Indicators in the US and Japan" menu1
March 14, 2006 The Bank of Japan released the English translation of its minutes from the February 8-9, 2006 and the January 19-20, 2006 BOJ Monetary Policy Meetings. The minutes can be found at: g060209_f and g060120_f
March 13, 2006 The transcript from the Nippon Keidanren press conference by Chairman Hiroshi Okuda, regarding the de-listing of Livedoor from the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the eventual need for Japan to employ foreign workers, in the face of the country's declining population is available at: 0313
March 13, 2006 ESRI, the Japanese Cabinet's Economic and Social Research Institute, issued its monthly consumer confidence findings, based on responses provided by 6,720 households. The report can be downloaded at: 0602shouhi-e
March 10, 2006 Japan's Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Yachi will visit the United States March 12-14 to discuss "issues of mutual interest." A transcript of the MOFA press conference can be found at: 0310
March 9, 2006 Prime Minister Koizumi convened the 7th meeting of the Japan Investment Council (JIC), which found that Japan is well on its way to achieve its objective of doubling the amount of foreign investment. Further information is available at: 09toushi_e
March 8, 2006 Christopher Hill, Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs testified before the Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee. Hill's testimony, "East Asia in Transition:
Opportunities and Challenges for the United States," can be found here: 62755
March 1, 2006 The US Treasury Department's Undersecretary Tim Adams gave a speech in Tokyo today and said "the economic fundamentals in Japan are now stronger than they have been for some time." The full text of Adams' comments can be found at: js4079
February 23, 2006 Japan's Ministry of Finance released the provisional January 2006 trade statistics: 200601ce
February 17, 2006 The US Department of Agriculture's Secretary Mike Johanns released a 475-page report about the "ineligible" US veal that was shipped to Japan on January 6, 2006, which prompted Japan to reinstitute its ban on US beef. The USDA press statement, press transcript and the report can be found at: 0047
February 16, 2006 Japan's Ministry of Finance released the English translation of a speech delivered by Deputy MOF Minister Tanigaki regarding Japn's fiscal position. It can be read at: e20060120
February 15, 2006 The Bank of Japan issued an English translation of the "General Public's Mindset and Behavior" study of the Japanese economy, landprices and household purchasing trends. The full report is available at the BOJ website: ron0602a_f
February 13, 2006 Hiroshi Okuda, Chairman of Nippon Keidanren, conducted his monthly press conference in Tokyo on wide-ranging matters. The abbreviated transcript can be found at: 0213
February 9, 2006 ESRI, the Japanese Cabinet's Economic and Social Research Institute, issued its monthly consumer confidence findings, based on responses provided by 6,720 households. The report can be downloaded at: 0601shouhi-e
February 8, 2006 The Fourth "Japan-China Comprehensive Policy Dialogue" will be held later this week to exchange candid views about bilateral and international matters. Further information about the February 10-11 meeting can be found on the MOFA website: 0206
February 2006 The application deadline of the Keizai Koho Center's "Teacher Fellowship," a two-week program to Japan in summer 2006 is February 28. Details and n application forms are available at: index
January 30, 2006 The commissioner of Japan's Financial Services Agency, Hirofumi Gomi, sent a letter to the Christopher Cox, the chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in which he referenced "close and cooperative" work on common goals . The letter and an accompanying document that explains the terms of reference used in the bilateral high-level dialogue can be downloaded at: 20060130
January 27, 2006 Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare issued the English translation of a 79-page document "Preparedness Action Plan" for a pandemic influenza: pandemic02
January 25, 2006 At the second meeting concerning the privatization of Japan's postal system, Prime Minister Koizumi expressed satisfaction for the progress to date and said he expected the entire Cabinet to work toward this goal in "full gear." Further information is at: 25yusei_e
January 23, 2006 Nippon Keidanren announces its new Chairman will be Fujio Mitarai, CEO of Canon. Mitarai's said his top priorities will be to: overhaul Japan's tax system, build a sustainable social security system, support the WTO's DDA Round, and secure bilateral interests through free trade agreements. The transcript of the Okuda-Mitarai press conference can be found at: index
January 18, 2006 Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that high-level consultations with the EU on will be held January 24. The meeting topics will range from economic relations between Japan and EU and global issues. More information is available from MOFA at : 0117
January 17, 2006 The Japanese government's Economic and Social Research Institute issued its monthly consumer confidence report which surveys some 45 million households. The ESRI report can be downloaded from: 0512shouhi-e
January 16, 2006 Japan's Ministry of Finance released a document that sets forth Japanese tax policies: taxes2005e. A two-page MOF summary regarding FY2006 taxes can also be found at: tax2006a
January 10, 2006 The Bank of Japan released its monthly financial statement: ac060110_f
January 5, 2006 A summary of Nippon Keidanren Chairman Okuda's first press conference of 2006 can be found at: 0105
January 2006 The Embassy of Japan in Washington, DC posted a document related to the govenrment of Japan's "priority issues" for the United Nations. The MOFA priorites are available at: priority
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