Tokyo stocks open mixed on Wall Street’s advance

TOKYO, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened mixed Friday on buying spurred by Wall Street's advance overnight and selling based on investor consternation over ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions. As of 9:15 a.m. local time, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock ... ( read original story ...)

Japan squeezes into last 16 on disciplinary rule

VOLGOGRAD, Russia (Reuters) - Japan lost 1-0 to Poland on Thursday but survived to become the only Asian side to qualify for last 16 of the World Cup in Russia — and the first team ever to progress thanks to FIFA’s new disciplinary tie-breaker rule. ( read original story ...)

Japan’s Jobless Rate Falls to Lowest in a Quarter Century

Japan’s tightest labor market in decades just got even tighter, driving companies to hire more workers in full-time, permanent positions. That’s positive news for the Bank of Japan as it struggles to generate 2 percent inflation. Consumer prices in ... ( read original story ...)

Mason stays on course for Tokyo

New Westminster-born Mike Mason is taking it one meet at a time, one high jump at a time – and admits the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics is his main motivation. “At this point, I think that’s kind of a good end-game,” Mason said following Tuesday’s ... ( read original story ...)

Japan looks to lower North Korean missile guard as threat ebbs

TOKYO -- As North Korea shifts from threats to diplomacy, Japan is considering calling off a standing order to shoot down missiles and withdrawing some of the interceptors deployed in response to Pyongyang’s previous provocations. The prospect of ... ( read original story ...)

Japan vs. Poland 2018 World Cup: Poland wins, but Japan advances

Japan has altered its lineup in a nod to the heat (temperatures are in the high 90s at the start) and humidity in Volgograd. However, Eiji Kawashima remains in goal. A huge day in Group H... TEAM NEWS (1/2) // #JPNPOL #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/3ti1MOX1O4 ... ( read original story ...)

The Bank of Japan owns my life

With Australia and Germany out, your editor’s interest in the World Cup has halved. But Japan and England play tonight. Yesterday, in anticipation of the game, I bought beer made by the Bank of Japan (BoJ). At a shopping centre owned by the BoJ. ( read original story ...)

Why The Nikkei 225 Has Shown No Growth This Year

In turn, growth on the Nikkei 225 has remained sluggish. The effects of the US-China trade dispute has the potential to spill over into Japan. I do not expect significant upside in the Nikkei 225 at this time. We see that the yen has been weakening ... ( read original story ...)

Japan lawmaker slammed for calling childless people selfish

TOKYO – A leader of Japan's ruling party has sparked an uproar by calling people without children selfish, in the latest in a series of comments by senior politicians urging women to have more babies. Toshihiro Nikai, secretary-general of the Liberal ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo Smoking Ban Could Shake Up Tobacco, Retail Markets

Tokyo’s smoke-filled pubs and coffee shops may soon be a thing of the past as the country readies to tighten regulations ahead of the 2020 Olympics. The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly passed an ordinance Wednesday that essentially bans smoking inside 84 ... ( read original story ...)

Japan’s IPO rush continues after Mercari debut

TOKYO -- Startups in Japan are going public in increasing numbers this year, with 21 initial public offerings in June and July alone, easily surpassing last year's 11 for the same period. Following the June 19 IPO of flea market app operator Mercari on the ... ( read original story ...)