SAPPORO (Bernama) -- The biting sub-zero temperatures of Hokkaido did little to subdue the sheer excitement I felt as I travelled to its capital city of Sapporo. It was, after all, my first winter experience, and I looked forward to enjoying it in Japan's ... ( read original story ...)
Japan minister agrees to share Toshiba case information with U.S.: Kyodo
Westinghouse Electric Co., Japan's Kyodo news agency reported. Toshiba Corp said on Tuesday it was 'actively considering' a sale and other strategic options for Westinghouse, as it expanded a probe into problems there that caused the parent group to miss ... ( read original story ...)
Osaka venture’s warranty app expands to cars, housing; flags future use of AI for appraisals
The Osaka-based venture behind a smartphone app that allows people to register warranty certificates and order repairs for appliances online has branched out to car and housing information while flagging the future use of artificial intelligence. ( read original story ...)
Japan factors foreigner safety into its disaster prep
TOKYO Japan is beefing up its anti-terrorism measures with a special focus on protecting foreign residents and visitors during the 2019 Rugby World Cup and 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. The Cabinet Secretariat recently held a counterterrorism drill ... ( read original story ...)
NTT DATA Selects Social Coin as Winner of Open Innovation Business Contest
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NTT DATA, a global IT service provider, announced today that it selected Barcelona-based Social Coin as the winner of the Open Innovation Business Contest 5.0 during the contest’s Grand Finale at NTT DATA headquarters in Toyosu ... ( read original story ...)
Japan Allows Home-Sharing In Time For AnimeJapan 2017? Airbnb For Anime Fans
Japan is expected to allow residential property owners in the country to rent their homes to tourists. The ability to rent out personal accommodations to foreigners may be extended to only legitimate owners of private and residential property. Moreover ... ( read original story ...)
Japan to Send Largest Warship to South China Sea: Reuters Sources
TOKYO — Japan plans to dispatch its largest warship on a three-month tour through the South China Sea beginning in May, Reuters cited three sources as saying on Monday. NBC News was not immediately able to verify the report but if confirmed it would be ... ( read original story ...)
Crucial questions over Osaka school operator, murky land deal remain unanswered
how the Osaka Prefectural Government's Private School Council concluded that Moritomo Gakuen should be permitted to open the elementary school; and whether there were any favors by politicians in relation to the school operator's purchase of the property ... ( read original story ...)
Japan braces for tough trade talks with old US hand
WASHINGTON -- The man expected to become America's next chief trade negotiator indicated Tuesday that the new U.S. administration will put heavy pressure on Japan to make concessions in agriculture imports on the way toward a bilateral free trade agreement. ( read original story ...)
Japan gathering forces to mine 'burning ice' energy
TOKYO -- About 50 Japanese companies are joining forces to support the commercialization of methane hydrate, a fuel anticipated in Japan as a next-generation energy source. Methane hydrate, also known as "burning ice" for its icelike form, releases methane ... ( read original story ...)
Japan makes a new name for itself — with world-class whisky
YAMAZAKI, JAPAN—A dim storage room surrounded by bamboo groves and ... who manages Nikka’s international business. Nikka Whisky From the Barrel, packaged in a sleek bottle, is doing especially well in Europe, she says. Sukhinder Singh, owner of London ... ( read original story ...)
Japan's central bank holds steady on interest rate, stimulus
TOKYO — Japan's central bank opted Thursday to keep its monetary policy steady, as the U.S. Federal Reserve tightens and European Central Bank edges in that direction. The Bank of Japan ended a policy meeting by keeping the minus 0.1 per cent benchmark ... ( read original story ...)
Sapporo releases special-edition beer can to support Kumamoto Castle recovery
With the anniversary of the earthquake quickly approaching, along with the beginning of cherry blossom season, Sapporo has found a crisp, refreshing way to continue supporting recovery with one of the best parts of sakura viewing: drinking beer. ( read original story ...)
From Osaka to Frankfurt, listless wages remain G-7 mystery
From York, U.K. to Montreal, and Osaka to Seattle, it’s a pretty good time to be ... the last year of expansion before the financial crisis. “I hate to say it but we may be in a new normal for wage growth,” said Omair Sharif, senior U.S. economist ... ( read original story ...)
Saskatoon swimmer finds freedom in quest for gold
Saskatoon's Shelby Newkirk is at the top of her game, swimming and competing internationally with her sights set clearly on the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Newkirk just returned from a swim meet in Denmark. "Believe in yourself and don't let anything ... ( read original story ...)
Robotic dinosaur receptionists are part of the staff at Tokyo ‘robot hotel’
Dinosaur receptionists were on standby on Wednesday as a second hotel staffed mostly by robots and automatons opened in Tokyo. Media were invited ahead of customers to check out the nine types of robots that help check guests in, clean the lobby ... ( read original story ...)