“They went through every molecule of our operation,” said Tommy Kullberg, president of Ikea’s Japanese business at the time. A deflationary environment has punished most of the country’s traditional retailers, driving department-store sales down ... ( read original story ...)
Japan’s Factory Output in April Rose at Its Fastest Pace
A member of Japan automotive manufacturing staff working on the production line at the Sunderland Plant in Sunderland, North East England (Photo: AFP). Metrotvnews.com, Tokyo: Japan's factory output in April rose at its fastest pace in six years ... ( read original story ...)
Japan’s industrial output rose 4.0% on month in April
On Tuesday, data from Japan’s eight major automakers showed their combined ... buoyed by a pickup in private consumption. Eleven out of 15 business sectors saw industrial production rise. Information and technology as well as paper and pulp sectors ... ( read original story ...)
How a tattoo can get you banned from enjoying a Japanese spa
Tattoos may have become a big part of mainstream culture, but not every culture shares the same view of body art. In Japan, our love of tattoos could actually get us banned from certain places, including the hugely popular onsens — the Japanese hot ... ( read original story ...)
Japan lender SMFG eyeing M&A in asset management, banking for growth
TOKYO Japanese lender Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) (8316.T) is looking to acquire asset management firms at home and abroad as well as commercial banks in emerging Asia to boost growth amid falling loan income and stricter bank regulation, its ... ( read original story ...)
Tokyo organizers reach agreement on allocation of 2020 Olympics costs
TOKYO -- Organizers of the Tokyo Olympics reached a broad agreement Wednesday on the allocation of costs for the 2020 Games with the metropolitan, national and local governments of the seven prefectures and four other cities hosting events. Governments ... ( read original story ...)
New catalyst shown to be able to break down ‘toughest’ amide bonds
A research team at Japan’s Nagoya University has developed a series of new catalysts can hydrogenate ‘difficult substrates’, such as amide bonds under much milder conditions than was previously possible. The scientists recently published a study ... ( read original story ...)