Noahpinion: Do property rights increase freedom? (Japan edition)

Walking around urban Japan, I feel like I am seeing a society that is several steps closer to that ideal than the United States. You may have heard that Japan is a government-directed society, and in many ways it is. But in terms of the constituents of ... ( read original story ...)

Corporate Japan tames forex risk, reaps record profits

TOKYO -- Even with the yen gaining significant muscle, combined net profit at Japan's major listed companies is set to soar to a record level for the year ended March 2017. Driving the growth are manufacturers, which have cushioned much of the impact of ... ( read original story ...)

Asian lending bank assesses growing inequality at meeting

The Asian Development Bank is holding its annual meeting in Japan, where bankers and leaders are assessing how they can support growth as income inequality grows in both rich and poor countries. The ADB has worked for a half-century to fight poverty and ... ( read original story ...)

American detained in Japan in alleged air-rage incident

An American has been detained in Tokyo for allegedly assaulting an airline employee after a fight on a plane bound for Los Angeles, police said on Wednesday, in the latest bout of plane rage to go viral on social media. All Nippon Airways Flight 6 was ... ( read original story ...)

Cost fears as Tokyo toughens tobacco laws

A battle over an anti-smoking law in Tokyo is becoming increasingly intense as the city prepares to host the Olympics. As Laura Frykberg reports, bars and restaurants are worried about their businesses and a ban could cut into government tax revenues ... ( read original story ...)

2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami

[68] The hypocentral region of this earthquake extended from offshore Iwate Prefecture to offshore Ibaraki Prefecture. [69] The Japanese Meteorological Agency said that the earthquake may have ruptured the fault zone from Iwate to Ibaraki with a length of ... ( read original story ...)

Osaka mayor says gay foster parents should not be an issue

Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura said the fact that a LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) couple are foster parents shouldn't even be in the news. “The fostering program is necessary not for childless people, but for children,” said Yoshimura. ( read original story ...)

Sapporo Breweries names new US president

just-drinks gives you the widest beverage market coverage. Paid just-drinks members have unlimited access to all our exclusive content - including 17 years of archives. I am so confident you will love complete access to our content that today I can offer ... ( read original story ...)

Taking a Toll: How Japan Post's big global bet unraveled

TOKYO/SYDNEY In February 2015, bankers working on Japan's biggest IPO in three decades woke to news that left them shaken. Their client had just closed a multi-billion dollar deal - but had kept them firmly out of the loop. Just months ahead of its listing ... ( read original story ...)