China’s Mobike to launch bike-sharing service in Sapporo

BEIJING – China’s Mobike will start a bicycle-sharing service in Sapporo in late August, becoming the first major player in the rapidly expanding Chinese industry to set foot in Japan. Mobike has quickly expanded since it started in Shanghai in 2016. ( read original story ...)

‘Polka dot queen’ Yayoi Kusama to open museum in Tokyo

World famous Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, known as "the queen of polka dots", will open a museum exhibiting her works in Tokyo in October, an official said. Kusama, 88, is known for her use of vivid colour in her works that often depict polka dots and ... ( read original story ...)

Mizuho funds more accommodations for foreign students in Japan

Marubeni Corp and Tokyo Tatemono Co, among other investment firms, are set to join the fund, Takata, said. With furnished rooms to be sub-leased by a property manager at monthly prices of JPY30,000 and JPY80,000, yields for investors could reach at least 5 ... ( read original story ...)

Nikkei dragged to 3-month low by weaker Wall St, stronger yen

TOKYO, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average skidded to three-month lows on Friday, pressured by losses on Wall Street and a weaker dollar as doubts grow over whether President Donald Trump will be able to push through policies to boost U.S ... ( read original story ...)

Osaka: Man accused of killing wife with 1-meter-long wooden sword

Osaka police have arrested a 50-year-old man in the alleged beating death of his wife with a wooden sword at their residence in Izumisano City (TBS News) OSAKA (TR) – Osaka Prefectural Police have arrested a 50-year-old man for allegedly killing his wife ... ( read original story ...)

U.S. general pledges to defend Japan from North Korea

TOKYO - America's top military official reiterated Friday his country's pledge to defend Japan against a North Korean missile attack, as western Japan carried out a test of an emergency alert system. "I think we made it clear to North Korea and anyone else ... ( read original story ...)

Japan to install land-based missile defense Aegis Ashore

Tokyo, wary of Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development programs, said Japan must now contend with "a new level of threat," Kyodo News reported Thursday. The decision to deploy a land-based component of a missile interceptor system, the Aegis Ashore ... ( read original story ...)

Invasive Japanese beetle spotted in False Creek

An invasive species of Japanese beetle never before seen in B.C. has popped up in False Creek. According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), a live beetle was found in a trap put out by the City of Vancouver in July. It has since been identified ... ( read original story ...)

Could Trump’s blundering lead to war between China and Japan?

For news out of east Asia, it is difficult to compete with North ... Kim was pictured surrounded by his top generals mulling over maps with targets closer to home, in South Korea and Japan, while warning again that he was ready to “wring the windpipes ... ( read original story ...)

U.S., Japan step up defense cooperation to counter North Korea

Japan's Kyodo news agency said, citing a government source. Foreign Minister Taro Kono said Japan would strengthen its defense posture in response to the North Korean threat and provide $500 million to help boost maritime security in East Asia, where China ... ( read original story ...)