Elections for half of the 252 seats of the upper house of Japan's Diet (parliament) will be held in late July 1992. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) appears unlikely to regain the majority it lost in the previous upper house election in July 1989. It appears that continued, but sometimes difficult, cooperation between the LDP and some of the smaller opposition parties is one likely result of the 1992 election. On the other hand, there is a possibility that significant political changes, such as the formation of a coalition government or even a reorganization of the political parties, could result from an opposition victory. As of early June, there are two large sources of uncertainty regarding the upcoming election: first, the LDP could dissolve the lower house and hold a lower house election on the same day as the upper house election, which would alter all calculations of likely outcomes; and second, political scandals which would probably hit the LDP hardest could be brought to light before the election.

Japanese officials interviewed for this project in May-early June 1993 were generally sanguine about relations with the United States at the start of the Clinton Administration, but the Administrations's strong emphasis on U.S.- Japan trade issues in recent months deepened their pessimism over the near term prospects of U.S.-Japan relations. They were uncertain whether U.S.- Japanese talks on trade issues prior to the Clinton-Miyazawa summit of July 1993 would reflect a basic change in U.S. trade policy that in term would alter their generally pessimistic outlook.

This report examines: (1) the definition(s) of managed trade, (2) the underlying economic arguments for and against such policies, (3) past U.S. experiences with managed trade, (4) perceptions that Japan is somehow "different" from other trading nations and warrants a distinctive approach to resolving trade disputes, (5) the implications of the Administration's current results oriented approach to U.S.-Japan trade issues, and (6) alternative proposals offered in Congress to resolve trade disputes with Japan.

Over the past 30 years, U.S. trade negotiators have pressured Japan to open its market to foreign goods and services. These outside pressures, known as gaiatsu in Japan, have been based partly on economically coercive bargaining and partly on invitation. The coercive element, which has entailed threats of retaliatory market constriction should a satisfactory resolution of the market opening dispute not be forthcoming, generally has been a necessary ingredient in obtaining concessions from Japan. The invitational component, which has included requests for U.S. pressures from Japanese interests who favor reforms, generally has facilitated Japanese concessions and made the gaiatsu process unique.

There have been varying estimates of the number of U.S. automobile dealerships that would be affected by the Administration's recently announced plan to impose a 100-percent tariff on imported Japanese luxury automobiles. This report examines the assumptions which result in some of the differences. also provides a State-by-State estimate of numbers of dealers potentially affected if the higher tariffs are imposed.

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In both Japan and in the United States, industrial associations play an important role in enhancing government understanding and interaction with industries and in easing cooperative efforts among firms. This report examines the role of industrial associations and related organizations in high-technology policymaking and in accelerating technological development.

Japan has made considerable progress in opening its economy to imports, but significant obstacles remain. This report analyzes the underlying causes of Japan's market protection and assesses the prospects for Japan moving in the direction of greater market openness.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Mike Mansfield once classified U.S. Japanese relations as "the most important bilateral relationship in the world, bar none." Over the past decade, tensions between the two nations increased markedly, due largely to U.S. concerns over the sharp rise in the U.S. Japan bilateral trade imbalance and to the growing competitive challenge posed by Japan. This paper provides a chronology of major trade events between the United States and Japan from 1980 through 1990 in order to provide a perspective of major trade issues between the two nations. The appendix provides selected data on trade between the two countries over this period.

JETRO, the Japan External Trade Organization, has played a key role in Japan's system for trade promotion. It is a public corporation, a quasi-governmental organization, operating under the general supervision of Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).

On May 9, 1995, the United States initiated action designed to resolve a dispute with Japan dealing with automobiles and auto parts. In an effort to move negotiations along and resolve a U.S. unfair trade practices case (Section 301) dealing with barriers in the aftermarket for auto parts in Japan, the United States has threatened to impose 100 percent tariffs on imports of thirteen Japanese luxury passenger cars (Honda Acura, Nissan Infiniti, Toyota Lexus, Mazda 929 and Millenia, and Mitsubishi Diamante). The decision will be made by June 28, 1995. The United States also is pursuing a broad unfair trading case dealing with access to Japan's automotive market at the World Trade Organization. Japan, meanwhile, has also initiated a case at the WTO challenging the legality of the threatened increase in U.S. tariffs. Consultations under the WTO on these issues began in Geneva on June 12, 1995.

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Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: Allied raids effective -- Stilwell in India -- Chinese repulse Japs -- Planes sink subs -- Against overconfidence -- Private buys $3,700 war bonds -- U.S. mission in Britain points to new fronts -- Labor will be 'frozen' -- Camacho asks for war -- 'Freeze' fish, razors -- New registration set -- Recruiting for WAAC -- Millions in war work -- Bombers to pop out like Model T's at Willow Run -- Kurdish revolt crushed -- Heavy action at Kharkov -- Himmler's aid wounded -- Axis drive in Libya -- RAF ruins Genoa. Large world map is keyed to text and illustrates time zones around the world. Inset maps show area occupied by Japanese troops near Chungking -- Nazi drives and Soviet attacks near Kharkov. Includes photographs: Beaufort torpedo-bombers under mass production in Australia -- Sec. Hull -- Lt. Gen. Arnold -- Lt. Gen. Somervell -- Rear Adm. Towers -- WAAC officer's winter and summer uniforms and Auxiliary's winter uniform -- Flying B-24 -- Bren Gun carriers in action -- Long-barrelled Russian rifles -- British 25 pounder fires on the enemy in Libya -- Hurricane bomber -- Training for motor torpedo boat …

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: Cologne and Essen flattened -- Tiny subs find Sydney ready -- the Japanese "save face" -- Army of 4 1/2 million for '42 -- Mexico welcomed into war -- Rommel's forces turned -- Hitler's hangman dies -- Poison gas used in China -- Armies shift in Russia. Large world map is keyed to text and illustrates time zones around the world. Inset maps show Libyan battle, Dutch Harbor, Axis drives and British attacks at Libyan; Unalaska Is.; Unalaska Bay. Includes photographs: Producing the big seacoast rifles; Red gound defense on the Russian front; Nazis' Focke-Wulf 190 fighter; Yanks saw a motor show put on by Aussies; 4-motored Stirling bombers used over Cologne. Back: Enemy Tanks Are Vulnerable. Includes 10 photographs with descriptive text below each.

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: Plans, Russia, Italy, Far East, Southwest Pacific, Argentina. Maps: The Eastern Front; large world map shows United Nations, Axis and Axis occupied areas, countries with Axis relations broken, and neutral countries. Photographs: Gangway, I'm a choo choo train [Army jeep pulls a freight car] -- Member of Chinese Expeditionary Force trains at a U.S. Army base in India -- Soldiers move material into place to build a bridge -- Chinese soldier simultaneously receives immunization shots in both arms. Back: The Making of a U.S. Bluejacket. Text and 25 photographs illustrate the training of the Naval personnel.

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: France ; Marianas ; Biak ; Japan ; Italy ; Eastern Front ; China ; Southeast Asia. Maps: [Eastern Hemisphere] ; Italy ; Liberated Area of France ; Karelian Isthmus ; [American Advance on Saipan]. Back: Map of the Far East, copyright, National Geographic Society, used by special permission. Scale [ca. 1:10,000,000]. "International Boundaries as of Sept. 1, 1939, the day Germany invaded Poland." Transverse Polyconic Projection.

Front: Text describes action on various war fronts: Italy, Western Europe, USSR, Pacific, Southeast Asia, China. Maps: Approach to Rome; northern New Guinea. Includes photographs: U.S. Navy plane on patrol duty; American jeep passes by a disabled German self-propelled 88mm. gun in the Spigno area; Ensign R. Black, Navy hellcat pilot of Brigham, Utah exits from his shattered plane. Back: Air commandos. Text and 8 photographs tell the story of air commandos in Asia.

Front: Text describes action on various fronts and is keyed to map. Photographs: Japanese soldiers, Japanese submarine, Suicide planes, Japanese war industry, aerial view of damage to Tokyo. Map: East Asia and Pacific. Inset maps: 5480 tons of bombs a day! Back: World map with shaded areas showing liberated areas since 7 Dec 1941, enemy held areas as of 8 May 1945; dotted lines show battlelines as of 7 Dec 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944 and 8 May 1945.

Front: Text describes action on Okinawa, in Foochow, Tokyo, Mindanao. Maps: Pacific action flares; Okinawa; Foochow; Tokyo; Mindanao. Relief shown by spot heights and hill shading. Back: Paper bullets. Text describes propaganda leaflets as part of psychological warfare. Illustrations and text detail German and Jap Safe-Conduct Surrender Pass instructions.

Front: Text describes Pacific action. Map: Pacific action. Inset maps: Yanks push north on Luzon; Allied troops in New Borneo landings; Japs fall back toward Fr. Indo-China border. Back: Save : don't help delay V-Day! Illustration of fist raised in V for Victory sign with text admonishing no waste of materials.

This report describes SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment), and case studies demonstrating the merits of SEA in Europe and North America. The report is aimed at helping readers understanding and implementing SEA.

This document reports the global and Japanese trends in creating a low carbon, material-cycle society. It also describes the policy measures taken by Japan towards establishing such a society.

The wide diversity of developing countries dictates that sustainable development might include different measures in different contexts. This document provides information on quantitatively evaluating measures for sustainable development.

This report discusses the relationship between the United States and Japan, including Japanese efforts to support the U.S. in the wake of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks and the two countries' economic ties, especially with regards to the recent economic downturn. This report also discusses the general political atmosphere of Japan, including the recent and ongoing political turmoil in Tokyo.