  In this paper we propose a computational treatment of the resolution of zero
pronouns in Japanese discourse, using an adaptation of the centering algorithm.
We are able to factor language-specific dependencies into one parameter of the
centering algorithm. Previous analyses have stipulated that a zero pronoun and
its cospecifier must share a grammatical function property such as {\sc
Subject} or {\sc NonSubject}. We show that this property-sharing stipulation is
unneeded. In addition we propose the notion of {\sc topic ambiguity} within the
centering framework, which predicts some ambiguities that occur in Japanese
discourse. This analysis has implications for the design of
language-independent discourse modules for Natural Language systems. The
centering algorithm has been implemented in an HPSG Natural Language system
with both English and Japanese grammars.
