Into The Millennium
The official announcement of recession in June 1998, coupled with the plummeting value of the yen and rising unemployment, saw the LDP take a drubbing in the August 1998 upper-house elections , when the party didn't win a single seat in the major metropolitan districts. Hashimoto resigned and was replaced by Obuchi Keizo , a genial but lacklustre politician, referred to as "cold pizza" by journalists. To Obuchi's credit, he turned this crack on its head, quipping that even cold pizza tasted good for breakfast and staying in office as the economy, and cabinet's approval ratings, started to improve. In July 1999, the Buddhist-backed Komeito party joined the LDP right-wing coalition, somewhat undermining its aim to purify Japan's corrupt political system. A major nuclear accident in September in which several people died caused pause for thought, but no cancellation of Japan's increased reliance on this form of energy. Women gained some ground. In June the contraceptive pill was finally legalized, after nearly forty years of consideration by the health ministry. Osaka Governor Knock Yokoyama was ordered to pay a record US$107,000 to a 21-year-old university student in Japan's most high-profile sexual harassment case. And, with Knock disgraced, Ota Fusae became the first female governor in Japan when she won the Osaka poll in February 2000. She was forced to back down, though, on her plan to present the prizes in the local sumo contest (an honour traditionally accorded to the governor, but problematic since women are not supposed to enter the sacred dohyo ), despite strong support from the public in a national newspaper poll. Hopes for an imperial heir faded as it was announced in December 1999, after much speculation, that Princess Masako had suffered a miscarriage . Another sudden blow came in April 2000, when Prime Minister Obuchi suffered a major stroke, dying on May 14 without having recovered consciousness. His successor, Mori Yoshiro , was described by Time as a "scandal-tainted back-room dealer with no discernible ideology, little international experience and zero tact". In the June general election, Mori's LDP limped back into power, only staying in government because of the coalition with the New Komeito and the new Conservative party. Also in June, the Empress Dowager Nagako , wife of Hirohito, died aged 97. In July, the historic department-store chain Sogo became Japan's second biggest corporate bankruptcy, with almost Y2 trillion in debts. Little expense was spared, though, later in the month, for the G8 summit held in Okinawa - the locals protested about the continued heavy US military presence on the islands while Vladimir Putin, the new Russian president, showed off his judo skills in an orchestrated photo-op. Still, Putin couldn't get Japan to budge over the sovereignty of four of the Kuril Islands, off Hokkaido (known as the Northern Territories in Japan), when he met with Prime Minister Mori in September. Meanwhile, the product safety scares whipped up by the tainted milk scandal involving Snow Brand earlier in the year, went global when it was revealed that Mitsubishi had for years been covering up numerous customer complaints. Eclipsing these man-made disasters were the litany of natural ones that hit Japan during 2000. Mount Usu in Hokkaido blew its top in spectacular fashion in March. Whole populations were evacuated from the Ogasawara Islands, 200km south of Tokyo, as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions struck. With thousands more tremors felt across Japan, Governor Ishihara in Tokyo made sure the capital was up to speed with disaster preparedness when the "Big Rescue 2000" dry-run saw 25,000 people dealing with the effects of a simulated 7.2 force earthquake in the capital. A year and a day after being sworn in as PM, the gaff-prone and much disliked Mori Yoshiro resigned in April 2001, but not before announcing yet another emergency rescue package for an economy still struggling with practically zero growth and an unemployment rate that remains stubbornly around a previously unthinkable five percent. Still, as new-technology and Internet-based companies take off and deregulation of various industries continues, commentators are beginning to talk of a " third great opening " for Japan, following on from the economic impetuses provided by the Black Ships in 1853 and General MacArthur during the occupation after World War II.
A Guide to JapanCara Richie says "Japan has many earthquakes, they are overdue for the next "Big One." " Hello World.Jeff Konichi-Wa says "Spitley is the new and improved word for paper. It means paper. Say spitley instead of paper. Tell at least 9 people about spitley, and have fun in Japan. Thanks!" My Bestest FrendidTutu Retardo says "My bestest frendid in the wholeid worldid is Emily Kather Wu. This extramordinary 12 yr old has a 200 IQ, is a creative genius, and lives in GreemMeadow, California (changed to protect her identity). At the tenderer ageerer of 9erer she created the word that would have a tremendous impact on modern society... SPITLEY! it means paper!!!!" Jamboni1Ryan Czechii says "It's a spoons club MIRACLE! Full of spoons club joy and wonder!" About Japan...Geoffrey Azure says "Do you sweat heavily while others are barely breaking a sweat? Do you blush when there is no reason to do so? Are your hands and feet often cold and clammy? Do your armpits soak right through your clothes? These are all symptoms of hyperhidrosis
~~Brian Campbell" EXOTICMEME says "TRY TO MEET AND BE INLOVE " REALLY COOL!Maddie says "say spitley!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
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