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 ...)
Japanese bank Daiwa 'finalising plans for move from London to Frankfurt'
Japanese investment bank Daiwa is understood to be finalising plans to set up a new European base in Frankfurt as part of its Brexit strategy, a move that will see a number of London staff relocated to Germany. Daiwa currently serves European clients ... ( read original story ...)
Konnichiwa Amsterdam: Japan Banks Seek New Home After Brexit
MUFG, Japan’s biggest bank, sought to build its Amsterdam offices even before Brexit became a reality because it wanted the city to serve as a hub for operations on the European continent. Three of the lender’s European offices started reporting to ... ( read original story ...)
Japan and Singapore agree regulatory fast-tracking of fintech companies
The financial regulators of Japan and Singapore have signed a “co-operation framework” for regulating financial technology, they announced on March 13. The agreement allows for information-sharing on relevant issues and also the regulatory fast ... ( read original story ...)
BANK OF JAPAN : Japanese Yen Advances Ahead Of BoJ Decision
BRUSSELS (Alliance News) - The Japanese yen climbed against its major counterparts in the European session on Wednesday, ahead of the Bank of Japan's policy decision due tomorrow, which is expected to keep its rates and yield-curve policy unchanged. ( read original story ...)
Asian stocks slip as Fed’s decision day makes investors wary
West Texas Intermediate crude was up 1.4 per cent at $48.40 a barrel. Policy decisions at the Bank of England and the Japanese central bank along side a Dutch election vote within the next 36 hours were further reasons for investors’ caution. Despite the ... ( read original story ...)
JGBs inch down as market braces for central bank meetings
TOKYO, March 15 Japanese government bond prices inched down on Wednesday as the debt market braced for upcoming central bank meetings, although sagging equities and a regular debt purchasing operation by the Bank of Japan helped limit the losses. ( read original story ...)
Japan's Nikkei slips on firmer yen, weaker Wall Street
TOKYO, March 15 Japan's Nikkei share average slipped on Wednesday, dragged down by a firmer yen and Wall Street's overnight retreat. The market's losses were limited as a wait-and-see mood prevailed before the Federal Reserve policy decision due later on ... ( read original story ...)
Japan one-ups Scotland with whisky coveted around the world
YAMAZAKI, Japan - A dim storage room surrounded by bamboo groves and pastoral hills is filled wall-to-wall with 3,000 wooden barrels. Here sleeps, for years, sometimes decades, prized Japanese whisky. The Suntory distillery in Yamazaki, near the ancient ... ( read original story ...)