Surge in visitors to Japan attributed to S. Korean tourists

TOKYO - The surge of foreign visitors to Japan in the first half of this year to a record 13.76 million is primarily attributable to a rise in South Korean tourists, particularly those arriving on low-cost carriers. "More young (South Korean) people are ... ( read original story ...)

Nikkei 225

The Chinese mainland indexes edged slightly higher while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index hit fresh two year highs. Japan's Nikkei slid 0.6% as investors worried about the effects of a stronger yen. Australian shares retreated 1% before bouncing back slightly ... ( read original story ...)

Japan’s long-term rates glued to the floor

TOKYO -- For months, Japan's long-term interest rates have stayed near the floor, with the Bank of Japan buying the vast majority of government bonds as part of its ultra-aggressive monetary easing program. The central bank's extraordinary campaign to ... ( read original story ...)

Japan almost finished with probe into US Navy ship collision

Japanese authorities said Monday that they were almost finished with their investigation into last month's collision between a Philippine freighter and a U.S. naval destroyer that left seven Navy sailors dead, but still haven't been given access to data ... ( read original story ...)

Abe denies abusing influence in Japan favoritism scandal

Grilled by opposition lawmakers as approval ratings for his Cabinet sink, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe repeated Monday his denials that he misused his influence to help a friend in a growing favoritism scandal. The questioning outside parliament's ... ( read original story ...)

Japan marks three-year countdown to Tokyo 2020 Games

The 2020 Games will be Japan’s first summer Olympics since the 1964 games in Tokyo. After a rocky start, organizers are gearing up to get the public more involved. (Yohei Kanasashi/Kyodo News via AP) Other events were to include traditional dancing and ... ( read original story ...)

Japan’s Abe denies abusing influence in favoritism scandal

Grilled by opposition lawmakers as approval ratings for his Cabinet sink, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday repeated his denials that he misused his influence to help a friend in a growing favoritism scandal. The questioning outside parliament's ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo businesses seek to create brands to remember

TOKYO -- The 2020 Tokyo Olympics is just three years away, and the international event provides an exceptional chance for local businesses to package their products under the Tokyo label. This has led them to ask what foreign visitors can take home to ... ( read original story ...)

Japan’s foreign workers want faster promotions, pay raises

TOKYO -- Foreign workers in Japan now total more than 1 million, and they form an indispensable part of the country's labor force. The government and business see them as not just a workforce to compensate for worker shortages, but as a force to revitalize ... ( read original story ...)

The Mystery of Why Japanese People Are Having So Few Babies

Zwei’s business model is based on matching women in Japan’s big cities with men in other areas of the country, where men are more likely to have good jobs and be considered viable partners. “Men in this city are not very masculine and they don't want ... ( read original story ...)

Boom in convenience seen as firms gear up for Olympic profits

Japanese companies are accelerating preparations to seize Olympic business opportunities to ensure money will keep rolling in after the quadrennial sporting spectacle ends in 2020. “The mission for the business community is to realize the expected ... ( read original story ...)