How effective are earthquake early warning systems?

A lot of baby earthquakes don't grow up to become big earthquakes," she added. Earthquake early warning systems have been in place in Mexico and Japan for years. Now, a system called ShakeAlert is being developed for the west coast of North America. ( read original story ...)

Pawnshop Sou launches IPO to tap Japan’s luxury item boom

The resale of Hermes bags, brand-name jewelry and other luxury items is a thriving industry in Japan, with one critical bottleneck: Building inventory is tough. Sou Inc. offers a solution: pawnshops dedicated only to buying up secondhand merchandise. ( read original story ...)

Trump’s tariff snub clouds US relations with Japan

TOKYO -- Japan has crafted its diplomatic and economic strategy around the close relationship Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has forged with U.S. President Donald Trump, but it appears those bonds are becoming frayed by trade frictions. "I'll talk to Prime ... ( read original story ...)

Japan flooded with refugee filings by tourists and trainees

TOKYO -- A host of tourists and work trainees in Japan sought refugee status in Japan last year, fueling a jump in applications. The applicant count rose about 80% on the year to 19,629 in Ministry of Justice statistics released Friday -- a record high in ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo’s Nikkei plunges 3% on trade war fears

Tokyo stocks plunged Friday morning, with the benchmark Nikkei 225 index falling three percent on revived trade war fears as US President Donald Trump unveiled tariffs on Chinese imports. Investors were also cautious after Trump sacked his national ... ( read original story ...)

Osaka sends Serena packing in first round of Miami Open

Serena Williams' stay at the Miami Open lasted just 77 minutes. Japan's Naomi Osaka overpowered Williams and posted a 6-3, 6-2 victory at Key Biscayne, Fla., in Wednesday's first round of the event that Williams has won eight times. Osaka recorded seven ... ( read original story ...)

Japan maglev contractors formally charged in bid rigging

TOKYO – Prosecutors have formally charged four of Japan's biggest construction companies for allegedly colluding on bids for a multibillion dollar high-speed maglev train line connecting Tokyo and central Japan. The Tokyo District Prosecutors Office said ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo’s envoy urges free and fair elections in Cambodia

A Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman says Sonoura told Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn of Tokyo's desire to see a free and fair election. The spokesman says Sonoura expressed no wish to interfere in Cambodia's internal affairs while he wants to see ... ( read original story ...)