Japanese investors: Land of the rising sum

Brett Himbury, IFM Investors’ chief executive, says: “There has been a strategic shift to offshore markets among Japanese institutions, insurance and pension funds for investment in debt, equity, private equity, property and infrastructure.” ( read original story ...)

Nikkei drops for 6th day as mining companies, steelmakers fall

Inpex Corp dropped 2.4 per cent and Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal shed 2.1 per cent. TOKYO: Japan's Nikkei share average fell for a sixth straight day on Wednesday in choppy trade, with most sectors in negative territory, while large-cap stock Advantest ... ( read original story ...)

Japan’s Fujifilm to take over partner Xerox to slash costs

TOKYO - Fujifilm Holdings and Xerox Corp. say the Japanese company will take over Xerox in a restructuring intended to slash costs. The companies said Wednesday that Fuji Xerox, their 56-year-old joint venture, will combine with Xerox. Fujifilm Holdings ... ( read original story ...)

2020 Tokyo Olympic costs keep rising despite efforts to cut

In late December, Tokyo Olympic organizers said the games would cost 1.35 trillion yen, which is about $12.4 billion at the present exchange rate of 109 yen to the dollar. But at a news conference last Friday, Koike said the city would spend an added 810 ... ( read original story ...)

The rise of ‘made-in-Japan’ Chinese herbal remedies

TOKYO -- With the market for traditional Chinese herbal medicines going from strength to strength, Japanese makers of the remedies are increasingly starting to source raw ingredients at home, rather than importing them from China. An hour and a half by car ... ( read original story ...)

Starbucks Japan evokes tradition and history with unique designs

TOKYO/MATSUYAMA, Japan -- In the old Japanese capital of Kyoto, on the Ninenzaka slope leading up to the Kiyomizu Temple, one of the city's most notable landmarks, a 100-year-old traditional house has been turned into a Starbucks coffee shop. At Starbucks ... ( read original story ...)

American tourism: Millennials opt for family vacations

According to Google, Athens is among the top 5 destinations of American millennials, with Osaka ranking first ... in 65,000 cities and rising valuation in advance of an imminent IPO. The report found that despite 52% of respondents saying they regularly ... ( read original story ...)

Former school head used Akie Abe’s name in seeking discount

It found that Kagoike had referred to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's wife, who had assumed the post of honorary principal of the elementary school under construction in Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture. According to Finance Ministry officials’ replies in the Diet ... ( read original story ...)

Japan sanctions Coincheck after massive cryptocurrency theft

Bitcoin price tracks Google searches for the cryptocurrency as speculators fear missing out Japan’s finance minister Taro Aso told parliament on Monday that the government would take “necessary administrative measures, including an on-site inspection.” ( read original story ...)

New Osaka drone museum offers hands-on flight experience

OSAKA – The nation’s first drone museum opened in the city of Osaka in December featuring a wide variety of drones on display and for sale, with visitors able to try them out. “There are not many places in Japan where people can see and touch drones ... ( read original story ...)

US, Australia scientists win Japan Prize for immunology work

An American professor at Emory University and an Australian scientist have been awarded the Japan Prize for research in immunology. The winners were announced Tuesday at a news conference in Tokyo. The Japan Prize Foundation said the work of Emory ... ( read original story ...)