Temples enter matchmaking business in marriage-shy Japan

TOKYO - Traditionally seen as conductors of funerals or memorial services, some Buddhist monks in Japan are carving out a new niche as matchmakers for men and women looking for marriage partners. In a country where an increasing number of people are ... ( read original story ...)

Japan demands talks with U.K. government over Brexit strategy

“Japanese companies are not leaving, they like it here and they have been operating profitably in the U.K.,” the ambassador said. The two governments “should make certain there will be a business environment that will continue to allow them to make ... ( read original story ...)

3 Japanese Shipping Companies to Merge Container Businesses

“This is a big decision, since it will create what will be the only container-shipping company in Japan,” he said. “But with the European industry consolidating and the business becoming more of an oligopoly, we need the scale that being a single ... ( read original story ...)

Bank of Japan delays inflation goal in blow to 'Abenomics'

TOKYO: Japan's central bank on Tuesday (Nov 1) again pushed back the timeline for hitting its inflation goal, the latest policy change that has raised questions about attempts to revive the deflation-plagued economy. The Bank of Japan has for the past ... ( read original story ...)

Bank of Japan sits back for Clinton-Trump ride

The Bank of Japan is sitting back for the ride. The central bank kept policy unchanged on Nov. 1, even as it trimmed inflation forecasts. Adding extra stimulus weeks after introducing a new, yield-focused framework would look nervous. The BOJ also needs ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo stocks close up after BoJ meeting

Tokyo shares closed higher Tuesday ... accounting for roughly one-third of Japan's non-financial listings, the paper said. Energy firms tracked a plunge in oil prices Monday after OPEC's failure last week to hammer out details of an agreement to cut ... ( read original story ...)

Kurdish authorities detain Japanese journalist in Iraq

Japan's Kyodo News agency says that journalist Kosuke Tsuneoka (koh-soo-keh soo-neh-OH-ka) was reporting on the battle to recapture the city of Mosul from the Islamic State group. Kyodo reported he is being held by the Kurdish militia known as the peshmerga. ( read original story ...)

Tokyo panel details venue changes, cost cuts for 2020 Games

TOKYO -- The rowing and canoeing venue for the 2020 Olympics should either be moved to a site hundreds of kilometres away in northern Japan or downgraded to a temporary facility in Tokyo, a city government cost-cutting panel said Tuesday. The ... ( read original story ...)

Most Asian markets down, but Nikkei trades up

A man looks at price lists outside a store in Tokyo. Japan’s core consumer price index slipped 0.5% from a year earlier in September. The Nikkei was the bright spot Friday during a generally downbeat day for Asian markets, amid yen weakening and as gains ... ( read original story ...)

Japan shippers face stormy seas despite consolidation

Shipping of such goods as metals, crude oil and cars will be the main business of the three major Japanese ocean freight companies after the containership spinoff. But the outlook for these areas is dimming. Nippon Yusen and Kawasaki Kisen forecast pretax ... ( read original story ...)