| |
| | Daily Excelsior... World |
 | | Obuchi, who came to power in July 1998, was involved in long negotiations at the weekend which failed to stop the liberal party, the smallest member of the coalition, from defecting over policy differences. |
 | | Obuchi first attracted the limelight in 1989 when as Chief Cabinet Secretary he announced the start of the countrys new era, Heisei, after the death of Emperor Hirohito. |
 | | Obuchi, who has a son and two daughters, is a master of the Japanese martial art of Aikido, a system of pure self defence derived from the weaponless fighting techniques of judo. |
| www.dailyexcelsior.com /00apr04/inter.htm (3045 words) |
|