Japan posted its first goods trade deficit in five months in January, logging red ink of ¥1.09 trillion ($9.7 billion) as imports increased more than exports on rising commodity prices, the government said Monday. Imports marked their first gain in 25 ... ( read original story ...)
Bare cheek as Japan men strip off for naked festival
Okayama, Japan: With only a skimpy loincloth to protect their modesty, thousands of men brave freezing temperatures to fight for lucky charms thrown by a priest at Japan’s annual Naked Man Festival. A writhing mass of sweaty worshippers wrestled for ... ( read original story ...)
Turning Japanese
Japanese investment in the Thai property market is gathering pace, with several of Japan's leading developers tapping Thailand's rapid urbanisation, growing mass transit system and regional integration. Thai-Japanese joint ventures in condominium ... ( read original story ...)
Japan export growth slows, Trump's trade policies cloud outlook
Exports rose in January due to higher shipments of fuel, car parts and steel, but a decline in auto exports contributed to the slower pace of growth, finance ministry data showed on Monday. Japan's exports to the U.S. fell 6.6 percent in January from a ... ( read original story ...)
Japan returns to trade deficit in January
Japan logged its first trade deficit in five months in January, official data showed Monday, as higher energy prices overwhelmed slower growth in exports due to the lunar new year. The country routinely falls into deficit in January due to the lunar new ... ( read original story ...)
Tokyo Steel keeps product prices unchanged for March delivery
"We have decided to maintain prices for March so that local market prices would come in line with our revised prices," Tokyo Steel's managing director Kiyoshi Imamura told a news conference on Monday. "Export demand is improving as China reduces its ... ( read original story ...)
Tokyo stocks retreat in morning as firm yen dents exporters
TOKYO, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks retreated Monday morning as the Japanese yen's strength against the U.S dollar hurt exporters and dragged down the broader market. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average shed 27.32 points, or 0.14 percent, from Friday to ... ( read original story ...)
Finance bureau sells property for school far below appraised value
OSAKA--A Finance Ministry local bureau here sold a state-owned parcel to a private school operator connected to the wife of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at a fraction of the price of an adjacent similar-sized state-owned lot. Akie Abe will be the honorary ... ( read original story ...)
Nagoya junior high trio hold cancer event to share concerns
The first event, called cancer philosophy cafe, was held on Feb. 11 at a medical facility in Mizuho Ward in Nagoya and the three students plan to hold the gathering once every three months. The event was organized by 14-year-old cancer patient Kodai ... ( read original story ...)
Yokohama to Introduce New OTR Tire
The MYX S01 will be part of the company’s range of OTR and commercial tire offerings at ConExpo. Yokohama will be rolling out a new off-the-road (OTR) radial all-weather tire – the MYX S01 – at ConExpo in Las Vegas, March 7-11. In total, the company ... ( read original story ...)
Bun fight! Thousands of men in loincloths take part in a NAKED festival in Japan where they battle it out for a pair of blessed sticks
Dressed in only white loincloths, 10,000 men gathered at a Japanese temple over the weekend to scramble for a pair of lucky sticks. The men were taking part in Hadaka Matsuri - or the Naked Man Festival - which takes place every year at the Saidaiji Kannon ... ( read original story ...)
Asian Games: Largest Asian Winter Games open in Sapporo
"I declare open the eighth Asian Winter Games which are being held in Sapporo and Obihiro," the crown prince said of the games, which will run until next Sunday. Australia and New Zealand are attending as non-medal participants in their Asian Winter Games ... ( read original story ...)
Japan’s buckling health care system at a crossroads
The inauguration last month of Donald Trump as U.S. president and his plan to repeal the 2010 Affordable Care Act, known as “Obamacare,” has left many people here wondering: How does Japan compare? In Japan, health care has long been likened to air and ... ( read original story ...)
Japan posts bigger-than-expected trade deficit in January
Japan's merchandise trade balance with the rest of the world came to a Y1.087 trillion deficit. Economists polled by the Nikkei had forecast a Y629.3 billion deficit. Overall imports climbed 8.5% in January to Y6.509 trillion for the first rise in 25 months. ( read original story ...)
Nintendo lowers price of development kits to entice indie game makers
Developing games for the Nintendo Switch just got way more affordable. At the Game Creators Conference 2017 in Osaka, Japan, Nintendo announced that Switch development kits would only cost 50,000 yen, or roughly $450. More: Nintendo’s Switch is one ... ( read original story ...)
DIARY-Top Economic Events to March 29
... to speak on "Looking Back on 10 Years at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta" before the 2017 Banking Outlook Conference - 1335 GMT. YAMANASHI, Japan - Bank of Japan policy board member, Takahide Kiuchi, to meet with business leaders. MONDAY, FEBRUARY ... ( read original story ...)