Reforms fall short of hopes Public corporations use cosmetic changes to dodge the ax.

Having agreed on the future of seven public corporations, including the Japan Highway Public Corporation, the government has shifted its focus to decide on the fate of 156 other corporations by the end of December.

"I am satisfied with the achievement," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Tuesday regarding the decision on reforming the seven entities. "We have created a big wave of reform that cannot be stopped."

However, as three of the government-backed corporations that were earmarked to be abolished were allowed to continue operations by simply changing their organizational structures, other entities headed for abolition may hope for the same …