The Yomiuri Shimbun

Medical experts have developed a new type of artificial skin that can be used in
treatment of serious burns and other conditions.

Kyoto University and Osaka-based major textile manufacturer Gunze Ltd. said Monday
they had obtained on April 10 the government�fs approval to manufacture and sell
the prosthetic skin they jointly produced as medical equipment.

The new product will improve the pace of recovery seen with current skin
replacement materials by two to three times, they said.

The product is expected to be put into practical use from next year.

The new artificial skin was conceived in 2005 by a group led by Kyoto University
Prof. Emeritus Shigehiko Suzuki, a specialist in plastic and reconstructive
surgery. The group took conventional artificial skin made of collagen and added a
type of protein that helps increase the number of skin cells and blood vessels.

Gunze joined the project to commercialize the product.

Clinical tests and other examinations found that application of the new artificial
skin on an affected part of a patient�fs skin accelerates skin regeneration to two
to three times faster than previous kinds of artificial skin.

The artificial skin in the smallest size available measures 12 square centimeters
and costs about \5,500. It can be covered by insurance when it is used for
treatment of burns and diabetes-related skin diseases. The new skin apparently has
the potential to be used in the treatment of tens of thousands of patients per
year.

In the field of skin treatment, tissue-generated skin, which is produced through

cultivation of the patient�fs own cells, is already available in Japan. But this is
less effective with patients suffering from serious damage deep in the skin.

Transplantable skin made from the skin of a donor has been developed overseas, but
this type of skin replacement apparently costs about 10 times as much as the new
product.

The Yomiuri Shimbun

The Finance Ministry will launch an investigation led by outside lawyers into
allegations that Administrative Vice Finance Minister Junichi Fukuda verbally
harassed female journalists with sexually suggestive comments, the ministry
announced Monday.

During an internal ministry hearing, the 58-year-old top ministry bureaucrat denied
the allegations reported by a weekly magazine, and expressed his intention to keep
his current position, according to the ministry.

Criticism of Fukuda within the government and ruling bloc has nevertheless
escalated, and there is a growing view that he will eventually need to resign.

The internal hearing was conducted by Deputy Vice Minister Koji Yano. However, the
ministry opted to take the rare step of entrusting the probe to outside lawyers, as
Yano holds a position subordinate to Fukuda, the ministry said.

Audio of the alleged exchange of words between Fukuda and a female journalist has
already been released. However, according to the ministry, Fukuda said during the
internal probe, �gI never engaged in such an exchange with female journalists.�h
He added, �gI have no idea whatsoever who the person I allegedly talked to is, or
whether the person really is a female journalist.�h

Fukuda said he is proceeding with preparations to file a lawsuit against Shinchosha

Publishing Co., which reported the alleged harassment, on the grounds that the
report is contrary to fact and therefore defamatory.

Regarding whether he should resign, the vice minister said he intended to keep his
current position. �gWhile humbly reflecting [on my deeds], I want to execute my
duties with a sense of seriousness,�h he said.

The ministry is calling on the news organizations that employ the alleged
harassment victims to cooperate with the outside lawyers conducting the probe.

As the ministry confronts issues concerning the sale of state-owned land to private
school operator Moritomo Gakuen, there is a growing view that the sexual harassment
allegations will make it difficult for Fukuda to continue leading the ministry�fs
handling of the matter.

The Shukan Shincho weekly magazine released April 12 reported that Fukuda sexually
harassed female journalists by hugging them and making sexually suggestive remarks.

The publishing company on Friday released online part of the audio of the remarks
allegedly made by the vice minister.

Following these reports, Finance Minister Taro Aso said at a press conference
Friday after the Cabinet meeting, �gIf [the reports] turn out to be true, it will
be �eover [for him]�f due to sexual harassment.�h

However, Aso also repeated his previously expressed position that he would not take
disciplinary action against Fukuda.

Calls for Fukuda�fs resignation within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and
Komeito are escalating.

Komeito chief Natsuo Yamaguchi said during an address in Aomori on Sunday: �gA
high-ranking public servant allegedly spoke in a manner that infringes on and
denigrates women�fs rights. We should properly correct [the situation] as needed.�h