Japan zoo culls 57 monkeys carrying ‘invasive’ genes

TOKYO: A Japanese zoo has culled 57 native snow monkeys by lethal injection after finding that they carried genes of an “invasive alien species”, officials said Tuesday. The Takagoyama Nature Zoo in the city of Futtsu in Chiba prefecture east of Tokyo ... ( read original story ...)

Japan’s silver-tongued Lotharios sell dreams to lonely women

TOKYO, Japan – Cigarette smoke hangs thick in the air of a Tokyo nightspot as Aki Nitta sips champagne with a trio of sweet-talking Lotharios peddling fake love at premium rates. In a country which has lost its mojo, many wealthy Japanese women spend eye ... ( read original story ...)

Spain's king, queen to visit Japan April 4-7

It will be the king's first visit to Japan since ascending the throne in 2014. The Spanish royal couple will also meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during the visit, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said. To have fuller access to the Kyodo News website ... ( read original story ...)

Saudi favours New York for Aramco IPO

Saudi officials also talked to exchanges in Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Shanghai but are unlikely to pursue ... Saudi officials expect the IPO to value Aramco at a minimum of $2 trillion. Saudi Aramco was not immediately available for comment. ( read original story ...)

Japan carving out wider pathway for foreign service workers

TOKYO -- The Japanese government is moving to ease residency requirements for non-native service workers in an effort to deal with an influx of tourists from outside the country. Beyond work-study Japan hosted a record 24.03 million foreign tourists in 2016. ( read original story ...)

Japan's manufacturing sector hasn't looked this good in years

Japan’s manufacturing sector enjoyed another strong month in February with activity levels improving at the fastest pace in nearly three years. The Nikkei-IHS Markit “flash” manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) rose to 53.5 in February ... ( read original story ...)

Negative rates put corporate Japan in a spending mood

TOKYO -- The introduction of negative interest rates a year ago by the Bank of Japan is prompting listed companies here to funnel the money they save on borrowing costs toward takeovers and capital investment. The average borrowing rate of 1,387 ... ( read original story ...)

Japan's regional bank consolidation gains momentum

TOKYO -- The planned consolidation of three regional banks in greater Osaka highlights an increasingly harsh business environment and a pressing need to raise efficiency in Japan's shrinking market amid ultralow interest rates. The financial institutions ... ( read original story ...)