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OTHERS MAY RUN FASTER, BUT NO ONE RUNS AS FREQUENTLY FAST AS MARATHONER YUKI KAWAUCHI DOES. WHICH, AT LEAST IN JAPAN, MAKES THIS MANGLOVING SALARYMAN A ROCK STAR. BY KUMIKO [...]

Byline: Kumiko Makihara (Makihara lives in Tokyo.) Like most Japanese primary- school students, my son, 6, is expected to get to school on his own. Donned in his uniform, white, [...]

Profiles Masako Owada, 29, the Harvard-educated foreign service officer who will marry Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, 33, on June 9, 1993. Speculation rages in Japan between those who feel Owada will use her diplomatic skills effectively, and those who feel she let down the side. Her father's brilliant diplomatic career; Naruhito's pursuit which spanned six years; Owada's deeply Japanese outlook; Her background in economics and the foreign ministry; Her new position.

Recounts President George Bush's recent 12 day journey to Australia, Singapore, South Korea and Japan, planned as a routine diplomatic swing, then converted to a full-blown trade mission by White House officials. In Australia farmers objected to export subsidies for American grain; Japanese agreements to buy more American cars, auto parts, computers, glass and paper; Abandoning free-trade for `managed trade'; Question of quality; Bush's gastroenteritis.

When I started inquiring about cram schools for my 5-year-old son's primary-school entrance exams, I knew I would be chastised for starting late. It was May, and most children in [...]

Compares the salaries and bonuses of the three US auto-company chiefs (Chrysler's Lee Iacocca, Ford's Harold Poling and GM's Robert Stempel) with those of Japan's big three (Shoichiro Toyoda of Toyota, Honda's Nobuhiko Kawamoto and Nissan's Yutaka Kume). Japanese perks compared to American benefits: corporate jets, homes and home security services, stock options; Underwhelming financial performance of the companies represented; US competitive position.

Focuses on the resignation of Japanese Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa over a suspect loan from the Sagawa Kyubin trucking company in 1982. Controversy over whether or not the loan was repaid and what Hosokawa used the money for; His responsibility for passage of a landmark political-reform bill; Criticism that he resigned so abruptly; Contenders for prime minister.