SCANDALS: Clouds of Black Mist

Reverberations from the Lockheed scandal echoed across Japan last week in angry newspaper headlines and outraged television commentaries. The affair was the country's most explosive political issue since ex-Premier Kakuei Tanaka resigned 15 months ago under charges of shady financial dealings. Fearful of voter reaction, the ruling Liberal Democrats now plan to put off until the fall parliamentary elections that were expected this spring. After marathon sessions with worried party members from the Diet, Premier Takeo Miki ordered an investigation by a lower-house committee, which this week will hear testimony from...