Together they earn about $55,000 a year, a very good salary by Japanese standards.

Economists expect growth to be about 2 percent, which is very low by Japanese standards.

These are all revolutionary developments by Japanese standards, and not limited to marginal players.

But it is possible to enjoy pleasant meals at what are, by Japanese standards, reasonable prices.

Comes from an above-average family background, even by Japanese standards.

It could increase the school year from the present 185 days to something closer to the Japanese standard: about 240 days.

Chrysler reached about 60 percent of the Japanese standard in 1988, up from 50 percent three years earlier.

"But the current 30 days vacation is very high by Japanese standards."

Its success would be assessed by French, not Japanese, standards.

The latest unemployment rate was 2.9 percent, very high by Japanese standards.