Japan's central bank isn't sweating 'hidden' bond losses

TOKYO -- The Bank of Japan's unrealized losses on negative-yielding government bonds have exceeded 10 trillion yen ($88.1 billion), but officials say there is nothing to fear, now that long-term interest rates are back above zero. The negative interest ... ( read original story ...)

Sugimoto & Mizunuma could be the stars of the new Cerezo Osaka

Yoichiro Kakitani and Hotaru Yamaguchi are known as Yoon Jung-Hwan's team's key players but two others could have equally important parts to play Cerezo Osaka’s pre-season began on January 12. They kicked off training at their home facilities in Maishima ... ( read original story ...)

Carlos Ghosn (21) Disaster strikes: Japan's March 11 earthquake

Like anyone who lives in Japan, or has a close connection with the country, March 11, 2011, is imprinted in my memory. I was in Paris to attend a Renault management conference. I received an email early in the morning with two foreboding sentences: "Big ... ( read original story ...)

Japan sees 1st trade surplus on cheaper oil, China rebound

TOKYO - Japan posted its first trade surplus in six years in 2016 thanks to a rebound in exports late in the year and persisting low oil prices, though uncertainties over U.S. policy and global growth are overshadowing the recovery. The 4.1 trillion yen ($ ... ( read original story ...)

Japan urged to tap young workforce ahead of 2030: report

The task force involves academics and members of the council, including Sadayuki Sakakibara, chairman of the Japan Business Federation, the country’s largest business lobby known as Keidanren. The report calls for improving the child-rearing and nursing ... ( read original story ...)

Japan reports 1st trade surplus in 6 years on cheaper oil

TOKYO: Japan reports that it posted a trade surplus in 2016, the first in six years, as lower oil prices pulled imports lower. The 4.1 trillion yen ($35.8 billion) surplus compared with a 2.8 trillion yen deficit in 2015. Exports fell 7.4 per cent from a ... ( read original story ...)

Japan sees first trade surplus in six years amid falling imports

Japan posted its first trade surplus in six years in 2016 as imports slumped on falling energy prices, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday. The surplus stood at ¥4.07 trillion ($35.76 billion). The value of imports tumbled 15.9 percent to ¥65.97 trillion ... ( read original story ...)

Deputy of Intellectual Property Dept held for theft in Japan

The ministry had instructed the Thai Trade Centre in Osaka to work closely with the Thai embassy in ... and the Facebook page of Department of Intellectual Property received a flood of comments, particularly about a photograph of the department's officials ... ( read original story ...)

Japan's Line swings to full-year profit on higher ad revenue

Line, Japan's most popular instant messaging service which went public in the world's biggest tech IPO of 2016, posted a net profit of 7.56 billion yen ($66.49 million) for the year ended Dec. 31, compared to a loss of 7.58 billion yen in the previous year. ( read original story ...)

Japan gets first sumo champion in 19 years

Japan has named its first home-grown sumo grand champion in almost two decades, in a boost to the traditional wrestling sport. Kisenosato, 30, was promoted to the top-most yokozuna rank after his win in the first tournament of the year. He is the first ... ( read original story ...)