and it’s Abe’s task to break the news gently to the Japanese people. During a heated discussion on the web news service DemocraTV, former Lower House lawmaker Hiroshi Kawauchi stated that the government “has never had a solution” to the Northern ... ( read original story ...)
Berkshire Hathaway to bet on earthquake insurance in Japan
TOKYO -- An insurance company under Berkshire Hathaway of the U.S. is considering making a foray into Japan, betting on the potential of the country's earthquake insurance market. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance plans to operate as a reinsurer ... ( read original story ...)
Why Japan is hell-bent on saving the Trans-Pacific Partnership
When Japan recently rushed to become the first country to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership, it did so in part to pressure fence-sitters such as Canada to fall in line. “Even though the prospects of the deal coming into effect have become unclear ... ( read original story ...)
Japan seeks to win Thai air defense radar contract – sources
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan is seeking to win a contract to supply Thailand with an air defense radar system built by Mitsubishi Electric Corp, as it looks to counter growing Chinese influence in the Southeast Asian nation, according to four Japanese ... ( read original story ...)
Japan emperor celebrates birthday, thanks public over abdication wish
TOKYO - Japan's Emperor Akihito marked his 83rd birthday Friday, thanking the people for their concern and effort to accommodate his apparent abdication wish. "I am profoundly grateful that many people have lent an ear to my words and are giving sincere ... ( read original story ...)
Light earthquake: M4.4 quake has struck near Namie in Japan
A light earthquake with magnitude 4.4 (ml/mb) was detected on Wednesday, 57 kilometers (35 miles) from Namie in Japan. The 4.4-magnitude earthquake has occurred at 23:46:58 / 11:46 pm (local time epicenter). The earthquake was roughly at a depth of 35.9 km ... ( read original story ...)
Japanese banks grapple with ultra-low interest rates
BANKS the world over are wrestling with low interest rates. Nowhere have they grappled for longer than in Japan. Although the Bank of Japan (BoJ) introduced negative rates only in January, almost 20 months after the European Central Bank, its rates have ... ( read original story ...)
Tokyo Olympics estimated to cost up to $15 billion
TOKYO — Organizers of the Tokyo Olympics estimate the total cost of hosting the 2020 Games will be between 1.6 and 1.8 trillion yen ($13 to $15 billion). The official cost estimate announced Dec. 21 was below the promised 2 trillion ($17 billion) cap ... ( read original story ...)
Japan's huge sex problem just hit a 117-year low
Ever since 1899 when Japan began collecting data on how many babies are born each year, the total has never fallen below 1 million. Until 2016. With a week left in the year, officials predict only 981,000 babies will have been born — a dip of 25,000 from ... ( read original story ...)
BRIEF-Toyobo to merge finance unit in Osaka
Dec 22 Toyobo Co Ltd : * Says it plans to merge its wholly owned finance unit, based in Osaka * Says effective April 1, 2017 Source text in Japanese:goo.gl/JiApRA Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News) Next In Consumer Goods and Retail ( read original story ...)
Japan in record military spending amid Chinese tensions
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has signed off a record defence budget in the face of territorial disputes with China and North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. Spending on fighter jets and submarines are partly behind the increase of 1.4% to 5.13tn ... ( read original story ...)
Fire that spread to 140 buildings under control in Japan
The ramen shop was in a shopping arcade northwest of the city's main train station, the area crowded with old wooden houses, according to Kyodo News. Itoigawa is on the Japan Sea coast in Niigata prefecture, about 260 kilometres northwest of Tokyo. ( read original story ...)
Sapporo to join other cities in recognizing same-sex partnerships as marriages
SAPPORP – Sapporo aims to become the latest city in Japan to recognize same-sex partnerships as equivalent to marriage to address discrimination against sexual minorities, local officials said Thursday. The capital of Hokkaido plans to draw up guidelines ... ( read original story ...)
Thirty Australians selected for Sapporo 2017 Asian Winter Games
AOC: A team of thirty athletes have been selected to become Australia’s first event competitors at an Asian Winter Games when they hit the ice and snow in Sapporo in February. The team, which features some of the nation’s brightest winter prospects ... ( read original story ...)
Fire engulfs 140 houses on Japan's west coast
A fire engulfed about 140 houses, shops and other buildings in a Japanese coastal city northwest of Tokyo on Thursday, with early reports of just two people suffering injuries. The military was called in to help battle the blaze which started mid-morning ... ( read original story ...)
At least 140 buildings on fire in wind-swept blaze in Japan
TOKYO -- A restaurant fire whipped by high winds spread to at least 140 buildings Thursday in a small Japanese city on the Japan Sea coast. The blaze started in the morning at a ramen shop in Itoigawa city, Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency said. ( read original story ...)