The paper discusses flue gas sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) control technology in Japan, where success in reducing SO2 and NOx emissions in recent years has been quite remarkable considering Japan's economic growth and the increased role of coal in Japanese energy production. Yearly SO2 emissions in Japan were reduced from from 5 million tons in 1967 to 1.2 million tons in 1985, while NOx emissions were reduced from 2 million tons in 1973 to 1.3 million tons in 1985. Conversely, Japanese energy use increased from about 3.0 x 10 to the 15th power kcal in 1970 to 4.0 x 10 to the 15th power kcal in 1985, during which time coal has become increasingly important. Fuel coal imports, which began in 1977, reached 20 million tons in 1985, and are expected to increase to 50 million tons by 1990. (Copyright (c) Power, February 1987.)