Eyes on Kansai for EEC inspiration

Osaka is the centre of the region, a vast metropolitan area second only to Tokyo in scale. Kansai was one of six areas designated on May 2014 by the Abe administration as Japan's national strategic special zones equipped with business-friendly conditions ... ( read original story ...)

BRIEF-Saudi Arabia favors New York for Aramco IPO- WSJ

Saudi Arabia favors New York for Aramco IPO; also said to be considering London, Toronto - WSJ, citing sources * Saudi officials also have talked to exchanges in Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Shanghai but are unlikely to pursue listing in those places ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo stocks end higher as yen loses ground

Tokyo stocks overcame early losses to end modestly higher on Monday as yen weakness prompted late bargain-hunting. Shares opened in negative territory even though US stocks hit new highs Friday for the sixth time in seven sessions, with investors focusing ... ( read original story ...)

Bare cheek as Japan men strip off for naked festival

Okayama, Japan: With only a skimpy loincloth to protect their modesty, thousands of men brave freezing temperatures to fight for lucky charms thrown by a priest at Japan’s annual Naked Man Festival. A writhing mass of sweaty worshippers wrestled for ... ( read original story ...)

Turning Japanese

Japanese investment in the Thai property market is gathering pace, with several of Japan's leading developers tapping Thailand's rapid urbanisation, growing mass transit system and regional integration. Thai-Japanese joint ventures in condominium ... ( read original story ...)

Japan export growth slows, Trump's trade policies cloud outlook

Exports rose in January due to higher shipments of fuel, car parts and steel, but a decline in auto exports contributed to the slower pace of growth, finance ministry data showed on Monday. Japan's exports to the U.S. fell 6.6 percent in January from a ... ( read original story ...)

Japan returns to trade deficit in January

Japan logged its first trade deficit in five months in January, official data showed Monday, as higher energy prices overwhelmed slower growth in exports due to the lunar new year. The country routinely falls into deficit in January due to the lunar new ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo Steel keeps product prices unchanged for March delivery

"We have decided to maintain prices for March so that local market prices would come in line with our revised prices," Tokyo Steel's managing director Kiyoshi Imamura told a news conference on Monday. "Export demand is improving as China reduces its ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo stocks retreat in morning as firm yen dents exporters

TOKYO, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks retreated Monday morning as the Japanese yen's strength against the U.S dollar hurt exporters and dragged down the broader market. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average shed 27.32 points, or 0.14 percent, from Friday to ... ( read original story ...)

Nagoya junior high trio hold cancer event to share concerns

The first event, called cancer philosophy cafe, was held on Feb. 11 at a medical facility in Mizuho Ward in Nagoya and the three students plan to hold the gathering once every three months. The event was organized by 14-year-old cancer patient Kodai ... ( read original story ...)