Kim Jong-nam reportedly fell out of favor with his father, the late Kim Jong-il, in 2001, when he was caught trying to enter Japan on a false passport to visit Tokyo Disneyland. ( read original story ...)
Japan's core inflation rises for 1st time in over a year
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's core consumer prices rose for the first time in over a year in January due to a pickup in energy costs and private consumption, offering some hope for the central bank's efforts in accelerating inflation to its 2 percent target. ( read original story ...)
Japanese Bank Consortium Will Commercialize Ripple Technology Later This Year
It is not surprising to find out a Japanese bank consortium is looking to integrate blockchain technology. What is somewhat surprising is how the group wants to use Ripple’s blockchain to improve their payment infrastructures. The plan is to use this ... ( read original story ...)
Japan bank consortium plans blockchain payments push using Google-backed Ripple tech
A consortium of Japanese banks is planning to use distributed ledger technology — better known as blockchain — from a Google-backed fintech start-up to make domestic and international payments. This follows a successful implementation of a pilot ... ( read original story ...)
Tokyo stocks build on global Trump..
TOKYO: Tokyo stocks hit a two-month high Thursday ... was "very serious" about bidding for the troubled Japanese company's prized microchip business. Nintendo, whose new Switch games console will hit stores Friday, fell 1.76 percent to 22,875 yen. ( read original story ...)
Golf venue must allow women ahead of Tokyo 2020: IOC VP
TOKYO -- The club that is set to host the 2020 Olympic golf tournament must change its policy of excluding women as full members or the event will go elsewhere, IOC vice-president John Coates said Thursday. Coates, in Tokyo for a two-day co-ordination ... ( read original story ...)
Owl cafes in Japan draw ire of animal safety activists
Owls fluff up their feathers and preen beneath the stroking fingers of customers at Owl Village, one of many owl cafes that have popped up around Japan amid the nation’s pet cafe boom. Here children can play and pet the eight owls, while adults take ... ( read original story ...)
Tokyo overtakes Hong Kong to become most expensive business travel location
Tokyo becomes the most expensive location in the Asia-Pacific region for business travel in 2016, while Hong Kong has fallen to the second place, a survey from consulting firm ECA International showed. The London-based company released its latest Daily ... ( read original story ...)
Nikkei hits 14-month high as yen weakens and Wall Street soars
TOKYO, March 2 Japan's Nikkei share average hit a 14-month peak on Thursday as the yen weakened against the dollar on heightened expectations for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates this month and after Wall Street soared to record highs. ( read original story ...)
Japan bolstering emergency support system for foreigners
TOKYO -- The Japanese government is developing a new framework for helping foreigners who need emergency medical or other assistance. The move, spearheaded by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, comes at a time when record numbers of ... ( read original story ...)
Nikkei hits 14-month high on rising expectations for US rate hike
TOKYO, March 2 Japan's Nikkei share average hit a 14-month high on Thursday after Wall Street soared and the dollar gained on rising expectations the U.S. Federal Reserve will hike interest rates in March. The Nikkei gained 1.1 percent to 19,605.85 points ... ( read original story ...)
G20 finance heads seen keeping FX language intact – Japan ex-FX diplomat
TOKYO (Reuters) - Group of 20 finance leaders will likely refrain from making big changes to their commitment to resist currency wars at this month's meeting in Germany, despite U.S. President Donald Trump's rhetoric on exchange-rate policy, Japan's former ... ( read original story ...)
Japan hit by earthquake, Fukushima said to be unaffected
An earthquake of magnitude 5.6 has struck near the Japanese city of Fukushima, in the north east of the country. The nearby nuclear plant is not said to have been affected. The ‘quake’s epicentre was some 50 kilometres below the surface, in Fukushima ... ( read original story ...)
Sapporo mayor interested in hosting 2026 Winter Olympics
Last week, Sapporo staged the Asian Winter Games for the third time, and by most accounts it was a success, bringing in more athletes, coaches and officials than the city’s landmark 1972 Olympics. Akimoto recently told Kyodo News about the decision to ... ( read original story ...)
Japan bank consortium plan to use blockchain technology from Google-backed Ripple to make payments
A consortium of Japanese banks is planning to use distributed ledger technology — better known as blockchain — from a Google-backed fintech start-up to make domestic and international payments. Getty Images This follows a successful implementation of a ... ( read original story ...)
Which property markets are Asian investors bullish on?
Kiran Patel, global CIO of Savills Investment Management, says he's bullish on the Tokyo and Osaka property markets. The Wall Street Journal. ( read original story ...)