Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe calls snap election

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called an election a year early and will dissolve parliament on Thursday. Mr Abe said he was seeking a fresh mandate to overcome "a national crisis" amid rising threats from North Korea. His decision comes amid ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo stocks close lower on US-NorthKorea woes

Tokyo stocks closed ended lower on Tuesday as exporters were hit by a rush into the safe-haven yen with tensions between the United States and North Korea flaring up again. The bellwether Nikkei 225 index slipped 0.33 percent, or 67.39 points, to 20,330.19 ... ( read original story ...)

Why India must join hands with Japan

For Tokyo, it could mean big business for Japanese conglomerates that are involved in the nuclear energy sector. Third, Japan is looking for new partners, although its alliance with the US remains strong. However, the US withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific ... ( read original story ...)

New Mixed-Use Redevelopment Project to Open in Tokyo’s Hibiya

IN WITH THE NEW: When Japanese property developer Mitsui Fudosan said in 2005 that it would tear down the historic Sanshin Building in Tokyo’s Hibiya district, it was met with opposition by historians and architects who sought to preserve the property. ( read original story ...)

Multiple challenges remain to Fukushima nuclear cleanup

TOKYO – Japan's government approved a revised road map Tuesday ... The water is stored in hundreds of tanks that cover much of the plant property. They get in the way of decommissioning work and pose another risk if they were to spill out their contents ... ( read original story ...)

Light earthquake, 4.9 mag strikes near Kushiro in Japan

A light earthquake magnitude 4.9 (ml/mb) has struck on Tuesday, 173 km SSE of Kushiro, Japan (107 miles). A tsunami warning has not been issued (Does not indicate if a tsunami actually did or will exist). Exact location, longitude 145.4831° East, latitude ... ( read original story ...)

Video makers explore virtual reality for adults in Japan

Though still a fairly new technology, the virtual reality market in Japan is the second largest in the world, following the United States. As the technology continues to grow, numerous industries, including the adult entertainment industry, are looking to ... ( read original story ...)

Japan’s Fukushima cleanup plan delays removal of fuel rods

(Kyodo News via AP, File) Japan's government on Tuesday approved a revision of its 30-to-40-year plan to decommission the Fukushima nuclear plant, delaying by three more years the removal of radioactive fuel rods stored at two of the three reactors damaged ... ( read original story ...)

Danish jazz violinist returns from Japan to play at the Bing

“Wherever you go in Japan, they’re playing jazz — in restaurants and cafés ... “Stanley was certainly a great mentor for me to have at that early age.” Like the Palo Alto Daily News Facebook page for neighborhood news and conversation from ... ( read original story ...)

On the Road: Hog turns Japanese

Instead of following American trends of long and skinny custom Harley-Davidsons in the ‘West Coast-style’, Hatton says, he turned instead to Japanese influences. “In Japan, they tend to go for a big and chunky look, and it’s much more muscular ... ( read original story ...)

Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines agree to new partnership

Hawaiian Airlines (Nasdaq: HA) was the busiest airline serving the Islands last year, while Japan Airlines was busiest international airline serving the state, according to Pacific Business News research. More than 1.8 million passengers flew to Hawaii ... ( read original story ...)

Maehara, Ozawa rebuke Abe’s explanation for holding election

Abe said at a news conference Sept. 25 that he would dissolve the Lower ... A 24-year-old graduate student in Sapporo said he was twice awakened by the J-Alert nationwide warning system when North Korea fired a ballistic missile over the southern part ... ( read original story ...)