On September 1, the day to remind the nation of getting prepared for natural hazards, the Government staged full-scale drills on the assumption that an inland earthquake hit southern Kanto District and a big offshore quake, Tokai District.
Assuming a tremor of 7.2 on Richter scale rocking southern Kanto, rescue teams practiced their regimens in the Minato Mirai 21 area of Yokohama, south of Tokyo.
As soon as an "alarm" was served, Prime Minister R. Hashimoto started an emergency headquarters of Cabinet Ministers at his offcial residence, had a television meeting with Yokohama Mayor Hidenobu Takahide, and then flew by helicopter to the site of exercise to inspect rescuers helping out people trapped in crushed homes.

Prime Minister Hashimoto met visiting Chilean President Mr.Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle at his offcial residence.
He proposed to the president a "partnership program" in which Japan supports Chile's foreign aid for countries outside its region. Chile is first among Central and South American countries to initiate economic aid for third-party countries.
Mr.Frei welcomed Hashimoto's overture.
On Sept.2, the two leaders attended a ceremony at a Tokyo hotel to commemorate the 100th anniversary of mutual relationship between the two countries.

The Government's Advisory Committee to Promote Decentralization of Power (Chairman Ken Moroi) finished compiling its 3rd recommendation to "Create a Decentralized Society" on Sept.2 and immediately presented it to Prime Minister Hashimoto.
Regaring the now crutial procedure to expropriate and use land spaces for US Military in Japan, the committee recommends:
That the three procedures currently done by prefectural and municipal chief executives on behalf of the central government (i.e. "proxy signature," "public notice" and "land expropriation")be conducted directly by the Government, and that the other two procedures ("examination and decision making") be done by specialized prefectural committees as the Government's delegates.
The committee also recommended an end to the system of Government officials working on social securities and employment affairs at prefectural governments and other local autonomies.

Prime Minister Hashimoto honored those "contributors of the year"(1997) in the grand hall of his official residence.
"The Cabinet regards the nation's daily safety as one of its most important missions," said he in his greeting. "We will go on building safer communities and educating the nation on hazard prevention thoroughly and also, on the basis of the Government Administration Reform Meeting's recommendation last May, we will try to be better able to control crises in the event of a serious natural hazard."
Awardees of his certificate of merit this time were 23 organs which provided remarkable services at tragic sites such as that of landslide on the prefectural border of Nagano in December, 1996, and that of oil spill from tanker Nakhodka in January, 1997.

Prime Minister Hashimoto made an official visit to China on those four days. Year 1997 marks the 25th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-Japanese relationship and 1998 on the 29th anniversary of the peace treaty between the two countries. Hashimoto's visit to China started off a series of commemorative events scheduled to mark these historical epochs.
Upon arrival in Beijing, Hashimoto attended a welcome ceremony at Tiennanmen and then talked with Prime Minister Li Peng. On Sept.5, he met President Jiang Zemin. Meetings with other Chinese leaders followed on the same day.
On Sept.6 and 7, Hashimoto toured Shenyang and Dalian.

Prime Minister Hashimoto met Australian Defense Minister Mr. Murray Mclachlan at his official residence.
Speaking of the Government's current reivew of the "Guidelines" for defense cooperation between Japan and US, the Australian visitor expressed support, saying: "Australia shares Japanese position to attach the greatest importance to US presence in Asia and Pacific regions for peace and stability of the regions."

Prime Minister Hashimoto reshuffled his nearly one-year-old cabinet on the evening of Sept.11, appointing 20 new ministers.
As yet half way through his "six-point reform" (of Government administration, national budget, social securities, economic structure, financial systems and education), Premier retained three men --- Finance and Welfare ministers to keep up their good work for "Reform and Creativity", and Director General of Defense Agency to guarantee the Government's consistency in its defense policy.
The picture is of the new Cabinet photographed at Premier's official residence after it was aknowledged by Emperor at the Imperial Palace.

The meeting of the nation's prefectural governors was held at Prime Minister's official residence, himself attending.
The central government will promote decentralization of power as part of its efforts at Government administration reform and smaller government, Hashimoto said. "It is important to see power distribution reach not only prefectural but also municipal levels so that government may come closer to citizenry."
Governors, all aware of the Government's tight financial state, still asked Cabinet to subsidize indispensable public works and allocate national budget in most effective ways.

Prime Minister Hashimoto met World Bank Chancellor James D. Wolfensohn at his official residence Sept.17 and asked the guest to understand that Japan will trim its ODA (Official Development Assistance) by 10% in 1998, emphasizing that "both Government and private sectors' money should be guided back to developing countries with ODA working as a main pump."
Mr.Wolfensohn requested Japan's further assistance and full understanding of the importance of multilateral assistance.

Prime Minister Hashimoto had a courtesy visit by Director of Nepalese state-run "Kanti" Children's Hopistal, Dr. Kalyan Raj Pandey, and his chief nurse, Mrs. Padma Ranabhat, Sept.17.
They came to thank Hashimoto for his personal donation with which, in 1993, a "Hashimoto Fund" was initiated in their hospital. It has been used to reward excellent hospital workers and subsidize poor patients.
Also on hand was actress Judy Ong who helped start a burn therapy division in the Nepalese hospital.

The "Plan (1996) for Gender Equality in 2000" led to a national assembly in central Tokyo Sept.17 to publicize its cause to the whole nation.
All people must be concerned and involved to realize a society in which men and women live on equal terms", said Prime Minister Hashimoto taking podium first.
"Extremely important then are close partnerships among the Government, local public sector and private organizations," he added.

Prime Minister Hashimoto heads his Cabinet's headquarters to discourage people from drug abuse. On Sept.20, he toured the "Class to Stop Drug Abuse" at a high school in downtown Tokyo.
Educational AV presentation over, Hashimoto urged students to be guarded against dangerous lure: "I say heartily --- please do not let drug destroy your dreams."

Redeveloped "Rainbow Town" on Tokyo Bay water front was the site of a National Traffic Safety Campaign event of the season Sept.21.
Among campaign messengers calling for caution were Prime Minister Hashimoto and Yoshie Hayasaka, a young TV talent.
Amid firecracker shows and Metropolitan Police Department's colorful parade, Hashimoto was presented a bouquet by a group of "traffic safety boy scouts."

Prime Minister Hashimoto talked with visiting Finnish President Mr. Martti Ahtisaari on the evening of Sept.25.
Referring to the upcoming (Dec.) convention in Kyoto on global warming, Hashimoto requested the Finnish leader's cooperation for a successful parley.
Mr.Ahtisaari positively responded: "We hope to work closely with Japanese particularly on environmental problems."
Hashimoto pledged commitment to bilateral efforts as well as collabortion with other Scandinavian countries.

Makuhari Messe nesr Tokyo (an international trade fair site) hosted the first economic ministerial conference Sept.28 of ASEM to promote closer ties between Asian and European countries.
"Market economy is not thoroughly functioning in some parts of Asia," said Prime Minister Hashimoto greeting the big party. "It is desired that basic standards such as application of the same rules to domestic and foreign industries prevail before too long."
"Once such problems are solved, big opportunities will open up for both Asians and Europeans," he added.

The Assembly was called on Sept.29 and Prime Minister Hashimoto delivered his key-note speech at Upper and Lower Houses.
"Now is the time," he emphasized in referring to his "six major reform plans," i.e. Government administration, financial structure, social securities, economic structure, financial institution, and education.
"For all this, the nation's strong support is indispensable," he said. "In these attempts, I will listen to and talk with people from all walks of life."