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# GNU and other Free Software in Japan

Mieko (`h-mieko@sra.co.jp`) and Nobuyuki Hikichi (`hikichi@sra.co.jp`) continue to volunteer for the GNU Project in Japan. They translate each issue of this Bulletin into Japanese and distribute it widely, along with their translation of the GNU General Public License Version 2. This translation of the GPL is authorized by the FSF and is available by anonymous FTP from `srawgw.sra.co.jp` in ``/pub/gnu/local-fix/GPL2-j'`. They are working on a formal translation of the GNU Library General Public License. In addition, they also solicit donations and offer GNU software consulting.

Japanese versions of Epoch (`nepoch`) and MULE are available and widely used in Japan. MULE (the MULtilingual Enhancement of GNU Emacs) can handle many character sets at once. Eventually its features will be merged into the FSF's version of Emacs. The FSF does not distribute `nepoch`, but MULE is available (see "Source Code CD-ROM"). You can also FTP it from `sh.wide.ad.jp` in ``/JAPAN/mule'` or `etlport.etl.go.jp` in ``/pub/mule'`.

The Village Center, Inc. prints a Japanese translation of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual and uploads the Texinfo source to various bulletin boards. They have also published a copylefted book, Nobuyuki's and Mieko's Think GNU. This appears to be the first non-FSF copylefted publication in Japan. Part of the profits are donated to the FSF. Their address is: Village Center Bldg., 2-2-12, Fujimi-Cho, Choufu city, Tokyo 182 Japan

Addison Wesley Publishers Japan has printed a Japanese translation of the GNU Make Manual and GAWK Manual. Their address is: Addison Wesley Publishers Japan; Nichibou Bldg. 2F; 1-2-2 Sarugaku-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101 Japan

ICOT (Institute for Next Generation Computer Technology) is distributing the fifth-generation software produced by their research efforts as free software. This includes over 70 megabytes of programs for symbol processing, knowledge representation, problem solving and inference, and natural language processing. For more information, contact `irpr@icot.or.jp`.

Many groups in Japan now distribute GNU software. They include JUG, a PC user group; ASCII, a periodical and book publisher; the Fujitsu FM Towns users group; and SRA's GNU support special group, called Wingnut, who also purchased the first Deluxe package in Japan. (Since then, there have been several other anonymous purchases of the Deluxe package in Japan.) Anonymous UUCP is also available; for more info, contact `toku@dit.co.jp`.

It is also easy to place orders directly with the FSF from Japan, helping us to fund new code. We have an FSF Order Form written in Japanese, ask `japan-fsf-orders@prep.ai.mit.edu` for a copy of the order form. There are also two toll-free facsimile numbers for use in Japan (see the front cover). We encourage you to buy tapes: every 150 tape orders allows FSF to hire a programmer for a year to write more free software.

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