Geisha-Loans Bank Outshines Japan’s Behemoth Lenders

Lending is based on borrower’s personality rather than metrics Kikuno Kashima, a Tokyo geisha, couldn’t get a bank loan to open a club for her patrons and select guests until a tiny credit union agreed to lend her the money. Now she’s part of a ... ( read original story ...)

Japan: How foreign workers help, and hurt, economy

And that presents a clash between Japan’s short-term and long-term goals — trying to raise wages to help spur spending and growth while expanding the workforce. Business leaders and economists in Japan have called for more immigration, saying it is the ... ( read original story ...)

Scandal-hit Japan automakers eye return to ‘golden age’

Repeated quality scandals, stiff foreign competition and lagging technology have knocked Japan's auto giants off pole position but analysts say the once world-beating sector could yet steer itself to a comeback. Toyota, Nissan and small-car maker Suzuki ... ( read original story ...)

City of Tokyo Announces Blockchain Startup Accelerator

Announced this week, Tokyo Metropolitan Government is working with Japanese think tank Nomura Research Institute (NRI) on the "Blockchain Business Camp Tokyo," the third iteration of a series of accelerator programs that have focused on emerging technologies. ( read original story ...)

Global shares push higher as Nikkei boosted by weaker yen

Global shares were mostly higher on Friday after Japan's Nikkei 225 index jumped 1.2 percent as the U.S. dollar strengthened against the yen. Chinese markets were lifted by a report of higher corporate profits. Looking ahead, investors are watching for U.S ... ( read original story ...)

Sapporo apartment fire claims two infant brothers

SAPPORO – Two infants died Thursday in an apartment fire in Sapporo, police said. The brothers, Hibiki Kimura, 2, and Ibuki Kimura, 3, were taken to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead, the police said. Their mother, Ruka Kimura, 22, was treated ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo with Kids Made Easy

We weren’t successful at upgrading on the way to Tokyo but we were moved to Business on the way back. We took taxis between the airport and hotel. We stayed at the Park Hyatt Tokyo, which has been on my travel wish list since I saw Lost in Translation ... ( read original story ...)

Ursnif Banking Trojan Spreading In Japan

Attackers behind the pervasive banking Trojan Ursnif have made Japan one of their top targets, delivering the malware via spam campaigns that began last month. For years, Ursnif (or Gozi) has targeted Japan along with North America, Europe and Australia. ( read original story ...)