Obuchi had been hospitalized due to "fatigue from overwork, " announced the chief cabinet secretary, Aoki Mikio.

CNN: Taking Over

Insiders expect the present chief cabinet secretary, Mikio Aoki, aged 65, an upper-house member from Mr Takeshita's district in western Japan, to take over the faction for the time being.

ECONOMIST: Japan��s new politics

Sharp Corp. boss Mikio Katayama got much international pickup on his remarks Friday about the dear valuation of the Japanese yen and how that affects exports of companies like his LCD-screen electronics maker.

FORBES: Corporate tax rate in Sharper focus