We’re practicing disaster vocabulary midway through an English-language workshop on earthquake preparedness. After some repetition and a lively game of karuta (a Japanese card game) to reinforce the vocab, even the non-Japanese speakers among us are able ... ( read original story ...)
China trims 2017 growth target, warns against trade controls
“We must be fully alert to the buildup of risks related to non-performing assets, bond defaults, shadow banking and Internet finance,” said Li. Banking and securities regulators already have said their priority this year is reducing risk and watching ... ( read original story ...)
BoJ: Blockchain Could Come Under Dark Cloud Amid DAO Hack
The Bank of Japan’s director has said that it’s important to constantly engage in taking measures against threats made to the blockchain or else it could impact the technology’s credibility and hinder its development. Speaking at the third meeting of ... ( read original story ...)
Kasikorn Bank becomes first to handle transactions in all ASEAN+3 currencies
Kasikorn Bank Vice President Silawat Santiwisad pointed out that trade between Thailand and the ASEAN+3 group, which includes China, Japan and South Korea totaled up to 66 trillion baht last year. The figure has prompted the bank to develop a system ... ( read original story ...)
Yellen provides cover for Draghi and Kuroda to reduce monetary stimulus
Mario Draghi, head of the European Central Bank, is facing huge pressure from Germany's powerful Bundesbank, to start raising its key deposit rate – which sits at an emergency low of minus 0.4 per cent. Similarly, Japanese banks and insurance companies ... ( read original story ...)
Two popular views that can't both be right
Would you expect to read the following story in the New York Times, in July 2006? TOKYO, July 14 -- Economists applauded the Bank of Japan's interest rate increase, the first in six years, as a long-awaited signal that Japan's $4.6 trillion economy is ... ( read original story ...)
A Japanese Fix for American Savings: 1.25 Percent Interest
But it's now topped by an offer that just came out from a just-launched, savings-only division of San Francisco-based MUFG Union Bank. The new entity, PurePoint Financial, offers a rate of 1.25 percent on a savings deposit of at least $10,000, and 1.4 ... ( read original story ...)
Why I quit my London investment banking job to open an art gallery in Paris
He says contemporary Japanese photography is still an untapped niche in art ... “There are a lot of people in banking who are keen art collectors, and I have friends in finance who are interested in buying some work,” he says. “I’m a salesman ... ( read original story ...)
One day after Japan legalizes Bitcoin, Austria opens up first 'Bitcoin Bank'
Yesterday Japan announced that they are accepting Bitcoin as legal tender in their monetary system, making them the first nation to legitimize the crypto-currency into their financial system. Now on Feb. 10, a blockchain based tech company in the city of ... ( read original story ...)
Japan's Race to 2% Inflation: ETFs in Focus
Japan’s core inflation has returned for the first time in more than a year owing to increased energy prices, giving signals that the country is on its path to reach its inflation target of 2%. Even though the unemployment rate dropped to 3%, its lowest ... ( read original story ...)
Gamba Osaka beats Kashiwa 3-1 for 1st win in J-League
TOKYO - Gamba Osaka won its first game of the J-League season on Sunday, beating Kashiwa Reysol 3-1 on a pair of goals from Shun Nagasawa. Nagasawa headed in a cross from Hiroki Fujiharu in the seventh minute and scored again in the second half after ... ( read original story ...)
Japan Federation to Advance Women’s Economic Empowerment
Keidanren, as a representative of Japan's business community, will continue our strategy to support the success of women in the workplace, with a view to realize the genuine 'diversity' so that everyone in Japan can actively participate regardless of ... ( read original story ...)
Japan’s Sogo Shosha investing P198.5 B in Phl
The DTI said the investments are expected to come in until 2018. “Japanese investor remains confident of business prospects in the Philippines. We urge Japanese investors to take the chance to invest in the Philippines as it experiences its momentous ... ( read original story ...)
Rule change could make Abe longest-serving leader in Japan
TOKYO -- Japan's ruling party is expected to approve a change in party rules Sunday that could pave the way for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to become the country's longest-serving leader in the post-Second World War era. It is a remarkable turnaround for Abe ... ( read original story ...)
From faded Ferris wheels to rusting roller-coasters: Inside Japan's eerie abandoned amusement parks
The eerie fairground near Biwa lake is just one of many abandoned themeparks in Japan, neglected due to economic woes and reclaimed by nature. Traveller and photographer Reginald Van de Velde, from Belgium, explored four of the country’s forgotten ... ( read original story ...)
JAL Business Class Haneda SFO
We flew in from Osaka, so we already had our boarding passes ... located opposite to the entrance to the JAL First Class Lounge & Sakura Lounge. (Flying Business Class gave us access to Sakura Lounge). Boarding started at 7:20pm. Two lines were formed ... ( read original story ...)