The Coming Week in Asia: Intel Worries Could Rain on Tech's Parade

TOKYO -- The Japanese government, often criticized for making decisions very slowly, quickly adopted an ambitious plan last week that it believes will help the country speed past the U.S. in high-speed information technology by 2005.

The plan calls for the government to bolster technology literacy by doling out what it calls IT vouchers worth 6,000 yen ($56.18) each to citizens older than 20. Officials hope these vouchers will push the recipients to buy computers or to take lessons on surfing the Internet. The plan may sound a bit bizarre to foreigners, but in a culture that puts a strong emphasis on consensus, some members of the government deem it necessary.

"In the new Internet age, not being able to use a computer is like not being able to read and write," said Taichi Sakaiya, chief of the Economic Planning Agency. ...