41.  Both U.S. and Japanese officials have repeatedly said this week that an excessive decline of the yen is undesirable.

42.  But a Japanese official was a little more positive.

43.  But he said that in the end the long-term stability and success of Japan were dependent on how Japanese officials handled the crisis.

44.  But in public on Monday, administration and Japanese officials aimed their public comments at forestalling a sharp reaction in the financial markets.

45.  But it was only a matter of time, Japanese officials say, before the trade issues returned to the fore.

46.  But Japanese officials complain privately that the concession received too little attention in Washington.

47.  But Japanese officials have been eager for some sign of action in the United States before pursuing its ratification.

48.  But Japanese officials insisted Wednesday that if U.S. officials believed Japan would follow the traditional script and compromise at the last moment, they were mistaken.

49.  But Japanese officials say they, like the United States, are not in a position to lend the kind of cash Korea needs.

50.  But Japanese officials contend that they are already deregulating markets, and they are concerned about losing influence in areas they have dominated for decades.