Uber IPO ‘target’ is 2019: CEO

He said an investment from Japanese tech giant SoftBank -- a deal which has taken longer than expected to seal -- remains in the works and is unrelated to the IPO plans. "It hasn't happened yet, but it will," he said. SoftBank, which has amassed a $100 ... ( read original story ...)

Amazon brings the Echo to Japan

To learn more and subscribe, please click here. Amazon has released its Echo smart speakers in Japan, continuing its expansion of the family of devices beyond the US and Europe, reports TechCrunch. The company will also make the Alexa voice assistant ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo’s Topix index hits more than 25-year high

Tokyo’s Topix index climbed past its 2007 peak on Thursday to touch its highest level since 1991. The equity index rose as much as 0.4 per cent in early trade to 1,824.55, edging just past its pre-financial crisis peak to an altitude not seen since ... ( read original story ...)

Trump says US will arm Japan to knock down Korea missiles

He told a group of American and Japanese business leaders: the United States was open for business, but he wanted to reshape the nations' trade relationship, though he did not say how he would cut the trade deficit with Japan, which totalled nearly $70 ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo ends down after sharp reverse as Asia markets mostly slip

However, analysts said investors had decided the rally was running a little too hot -- Tokyo has piled on more than 20 percent since early September -- and turned sellers in the afternoon. The index closed down 0.2 percent, having fallen as much as 1.7 ... ( read original story ...)

Hundreds of fish die at Tokyo aquarium due to lack of oxygen

Sunshine Aquarium said Thursday that 1,235 fish had died in the "Sunshine Lagoon" tank. Only 73 fish survived. The aquarium says it plans to gradually add more fish to the 12-meter (40-foot) -wide tank. A security guard found the dead fish on Wednesday ... ( read original story ...)

Asia’s big money reigns over Japan’s property market

TOKYO -- Overseas investment funds are increasingly buying real estate in Japan, attracted by the country's weakening currency and ultralow interest rates. For the first half of fiscal 2017, property purchases by overseas investors expanded 3.3 times from ... ( read original story ...)

Ancient construction is a model for earthquake-safe buildings

Horyu-ji's pagoda is a monument to stability in a land of seismic instability; it has stayed upright despite nearly 50 earthquakes of magnitude 7.0-plus having struck Japan during the building's lifespan. Japanese builders used a shinbashira — a large ... ( read original story ...)

APA Group swindled in ¥1.3 billion land deal in Akasaka

TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested nine ... According to TBS, the suspects shopped the property to multiple real estate companies while posing as its rightful owner. The property was eventually sold to the APA Group for 1.26 billion ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo surge leads broad Asia gains, eyes on Trump-Xi talks

Tokyo resumed its surge on Thursday, leading a broad Asia rally following another record close on Wall Street, while investors are keeping tabs on a key meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. Global traders have been emboldened in recent weeks by a ... ( read original story ...)