Yokohama-Izu Peninsula tourist train begins service

YOKOHAMA >> The Royal Express tourist train, which connects Yokohama and the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, made its debut Friday. Izukyu Corp. and Tokyu Corp. are operating the train. The first train left JR Yokohama Station around noon. The trip ... ( read original story ...)

Dollar steadies after Fed skid, shares hit new highs

The Aussie duly climbed 0.6 percent to reach $0.8050. The dollar even fell back against the yen to 111.03, though the damage was somewhat limited by expectations the Bank of Japan would keep its super-easy policies in place longer than most other global ... ( read original story ...)

Japan: JBIC to offer syndicated loans to boost ship exports

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation plans to provide a total of $28.3 million in syndicated loans with French bank BNP Paribas to help a major Danish shipping operator’s unit buy cargo vessels to be built by leading Japanese shipbuilder Imabari ... ( read original story ...)

10 things you need to know in markets today

The Wall Street banking giant JP Morgan is drawing up plans to merge its ... MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan climbed 0.5% to heights not seen since January 2008. It has gained nearly 5% so far this month. 3. ( read original story ...)

Asia shares at highest in nearly a decade, dollar skids on Fed

The Aussie duly climbed 0.6 percent to reach $0.8050. The dollar even fell back against the yen to 111.03, though the damage was somewhat limited by expectations the Bank of Japan would keep its super-easy policies in place longer than most other global ... ( read original story ...)

Qantas to launch seasonal Sydney-Osaka flights

AusBT review: Qantas Airbus A330 Business Suite business class Qantas flight QF33 will depart Sydney at 9:30am on Thursdays and Saturdays to reach Osaka at 5:25pm, while on Mondays, passengers will leave Sydney at a more leisurely 1:25pm for a 9:20pm ... ( read original story ...)

‘Japan a long way from Rugby Champs inclusion’

Japan may one day be considered for inclusion in the Rugby Championship but the current focus is on improving the competitiveness of the Tokyo-based Sunwolves in Super Rugby, New Zealand's Steve Tew has said. With Japan hosting Asia's first World Cup in ... ( read original story ...)

Adtech space in Japan heats up after arrival of three companies

Last month, The New York Times also opened an office in Japan to lead all advertising in the region, including print, native, programmatic and events. Shawn Lim is a reporter at The Drum, covering industry news around the Asia Pacific region with a focus ... ( read original story ...)

Asia shares hit 2007 top, dollar skids on Fed inflation tweak

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan climbed 0.9 percent to heights not seen since December 2007. It has gained over 5 percent so far this month. South Korea and Japan's Nikkei both added 0.2 percent, while Australia put on 0.3 percent. ( read original story ...)

China releases four of six detained Japanese

Tokyo (AFP) - Four Japanese detained in China in March for alleged "illegal activities" have safely returned home, officials said Thursday, though two others are still being held. Tensions regularly mar Japan-China relations, with a maritime territorial ... ( read original story ...)