Kawamura looks set to secure fourth term as Nagoya mayor

NAGOYA – Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura was set to be re-elected for the fourth time in Sunday’s mayoral election, with many citizens backing his tax cut policies, early returns showed. Kawamura, 68, who leads a local political party called Tax Cut ... ( read original story ...)

US warship in west Pacific for Japan navy drills: Tokyo

Tokyo (AFP) - The US supercarrier Carl Vinson will start joint exercises with Japan's navy on Sunday, Tokyo's defence ministry said, as the warship passes through the western Pacific after days of contention over its whereabouts. The strike group is in the ... ( read original story ...)

Australasian Flavor to Tokyo Maiden

Sunday’s fourth race at Tokyo, a 1400m turf maiden, has attracted a full field of 18, including a trio of Southern Hemisphere-bred 2-year-olds, who will receive a weight and/or sex concession from their Japanese-bred counterparts. Flora de Mariposa (Aus ... ( read original story ...)

US carrier heading for Korea trains with Japanese destroyers

TOKYO - An American aircraft carrier heading toward the Korean Peninsula began joint exercises Sunday with Japanese naval ships in the Philippine Sea. Two Japanese destroyers joined the USS Carl Vinson and two other U.S. warships as they continued their ... ( read original story ...)

Mihara 2nd in free skate as Japan wins World Team Trophy

TOKYO — Mai Mihara placed second in the women's free skate on Saturday to help Japan win the World Team Trophy. The 17-year-old Mihara, the Four Continents champion, received 146.71 points and Wakaba Higuchi came third with 145.30, as Japan clinched the ... ( read original story ...)

Japan's labor shortage imperils economic growth

TOKYO -- Construction companies in Japan are scrambling to hire site managers as the industry is gearing up for a surge in building projects ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. A website operated by C4, a specialized job placement service for construction ... ( read original story ...)

Japan grapples with evacuation plans for nationals in South Korea

TOKYO -- Japan's government is reckoning with the challenge of ensuring that its nearly 60,000 citizens in South Korea can escape in the event of a crisis on the Korean Peninsula. Tokyo is "preparing various responses" and seeking mutual understanding with ... ( read original story ...)

Moritomo files for bankruptcy protection in Osaka

according to a different lawyer working on behalf of Moritomo who cited the construction company that erected the buildings for the elementary school as well as the central government and the Osaka prefectural government. The lawyer spoke at a news ... ( read original story ...)

Koroki leads Urawa to 3-2 win over Sapporo in J-League

SAITAMA, Japan — Shinzo Koroki scored his J-League-leading seventh goal of the season on Saturday as Urawa Reds beat Consadole Sapporo 3-2 to maintain first place in the standings. Rafael Silva and Takahiro Sekine gave Urawa a 2-1 lead in the first half ... ( read original story ...)

Japan won't resort to 'helicopter money': Finance Minister Aso

NEW YORK Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said there was no quick fix for the country's tattered finances, shrugging off the chance the central bank would resort to "helicopter money" - or direct underwriting of public debt to fund government spending. ( read original story ...)

Japan's Sawai Pharma to buy US generics maker

OSAKA -- Sawai Pharmaceutical will buy the generics business of U.S. drugmaker Upsher-Smith Laboratories for $1.05 billion, the Japanese company said Thursday, eager to make up for lost time after its first push into the American market stalled. ( read original story ...)