Irvine, California-based AST Research Inc has got in on a plan with six other US and 12 Japanese companies, chosen by Japan’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry with support from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Local Affairs to get computers into Japanese schools: the 19 have formed Educational Computer Systems Ltd, a private lease and rental company that will encourage local schools to participate in the programme by leasing or renting micros for use in the classroom; AST is a shareholder in the company, having made a donation to help establish it; the other US-related companies in the venture are Apple Computer Inc, Compaq Computer Corp, Digital Equipment Corp, IBM Japan Ltd, Fuji Xerox Co and Nippon Unisys Kaisha.
