In November 2023 Ishikawa Prefecture held a nuclear disaster drill, recalls science writer Takashi Soeda for the magazine Tsuhan Seikatsu (Sept-Oct). It supposed an earthquake of magnitude upper 6 ... ( read original story ...)
Japan’s truckers stifled by new rules
Fujio Uemura has to rest after driving fish all night to Tokyo under new rules that trucking firms and experts say are crippling Japan's logistics sector and risk pushing up prices for consumers. ( read original story ...)
Gyms in Japan offer laundry, karaoke and hair-removal machines
An increasingly popular gym franchise in Japan is charging its users around $20 a month, offering teeth whitening, photo booths and — almost as an afterthought — exercise equipment. ( read original story ...)
New rules drive Japanese trucking sector to the brink
Fujio Uemura has to rest after driving fish all night to Tokyo, under new rules that trucking firms and experts say are crippling Japan's logistics sector and risk pushing up prices for consumers. ( read original story ...)
Quake-induced undersea landslides linked to poor catches in Toyama Bay
Researchers say this year's record poor catches of shrimp and crabs in Toyama Bay could be due to undersea landslides triggered by the powerful earthquake that struck central Japan on New Year's Day. ( read original story ...)
5.0 earthquake off Oregon coast triggers memories of destructive tsunamis
Some may remember the Japan tsunami that struck the coast of Oregon in 2011.Dozens of boats were found smashed up against each other while other boats sank into the ocean. Then, a six-foot-tall dock, ... ( read original story ...)
Japan pressed by U.S. lawmakers to strengthen chip curbs on China
China remains a crucial and lucrative market for all chip toolmakers, and officials in Tokyo and the Hague are cautious about imposing more restrictions. ( read original story ...)
PM Ishiba’s drastic wage hike push may hurt small firms in Japan
Takayuki Okuyama, president of a plastic parts company with nine employees, questions whether Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's pledge ... ( read original story ...)
Exclusive-Tokio Marine pauses sale of $1 billion Southeast Asia life insurance business, sources say
Japanese insurer Tokio Marine has paused the sale of its $1 billion Southeast Asia life insurance business, partly due to a dispute with a Malaysian partner over an expiring products distribution ... ( read original story ...)
S. Korean, Japanese biz leaders vow for enhanced bilateral cooperation
Business leaders of South Korea and Japan on Friday urged forward-looking and mutually beneficial relations as both nations prepare to mark the 60th anniversary of normalized diplomatic ties next year ... ( read original story ...)
5.4-magnitude quake hits Volcano Islands, Japan Region — GFZ
HONG KONG, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.4 jolted Volcano Islands, Japan Region at 0918 GMT on Friday, the GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences said. The epicenter, ... ( read original story ...)
With mandatory name change an election issue, married Japanese woman tells of unease
After the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) stated its support in June for the early introduction of a separate surname system for married couples in the country, the issue became a major point of ... ( read original story ...)
Uber + Expedia, Japan’s Record and Cathay’s New Suite
Today's podcast looks at hypothetical Uber acquisition of Expedia, a record-breaking year for Japan, and Cathay Pacific's much-anticipated new cabin. ( read original story ...)
Japan’s biggest union group targets 5% wage hikes next year
Japan’s largest labour union group said on Friday (Oct 18) it will seek wage hikes of at least 5 per cent in 2025, similar to this year’s hefty increase, but economists doubt that another such bump is ... ( read original story ...)
5.1-magnitude quake hits 48 km ENE of Noda, Japan — USGS
BEIJING, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 jolted 48 km ENE of Noda, Japan at 0438GMT on Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The epicenter, with a depth of 63.4 km, was ... ( read original story ...)
Tokyo inflation likely to miss BOJ target for first time in five months: Reuters poll
Consumer inflation in Tokyo for October likely undershot the central bank's price target for the first time in five months, a Reuters poll showed on Friday.The core consumer price index (CPI) in Tokyo ... ( read original story ...)