Shares in Tokyo slipped as the yen held gains against the dollar before the Bank of Japan’s monetary policy meeting on Friday. Financial shares and exporters slid, weighing most on the benchmark Topix index. Defensive stocks including builders ... ( read original story ...)
Swimming robot to study damage at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant
Japan hopes to locate and start removing the fuel after Tokyo's 2020 Olympics. The biggest challenge is removing hundreds of tons of melted nuclear fuel and debris from the plant's three wrecked reactors. Earlier, snake and scorpion-shaped robots became ... ( read original story ...)
Japan approves contentious bill against planning crimes
The law applies to organized criminal groups of two or more people that have engaged in specific preparations for a crime, such as scouting a location, according to Japan's Kyodo News service. A sizeable crowd protested outside parliament as upper house ... ( read original story ...)
Japan passes controversial anti-terror conspiracy law
Japan's lawmakers have passed a controversial bill allowing authorities to target terror conspiracies. PM Shinzo Abe's ruling bloc pushed it through the upper house early on Thursday, despite vocal opposition. The government argues the law is needed to ... ( read original story ...)
Shhh…The Bank of Japan Is Buying Fewer Bonds
Don’t look now, but Japan’s central bank is slowing its vast bond-buying exercise. The Bank of Japan bought just ¥7.89 trillion ($71.6 billion) worth of Japanese government debt last month, according to J.P. Morgan. While that sounds like a lot, it is ... ( read original story ...)
Robotics startup ZMP partners with Tokyo taxi firm for 2020 self-driving car plans
It hopes to test autonomous cars without a driver this year. Taniguchi declined to comment on ZMP's IPO plans. He had said in February that ZMP hoped to list in Tokyo in the coming months, after a delay last year due to client information being leaked on ... ( read original story ...)
500 Startups closes $35M Japan fund with the backing of the Japanese government
“[Cool Japan’s involvement] is symbolic in a way because there ... who in the past would push for an exit via IPO as a risk-averse way to ensure a return on investment. “Historically if you wanted to do a $20 million-$30 million round you didn ... ( read original story ...)
U.S. Pension Giant Eyes Japan Property in Economic ‘Sweet Spot’
U.S. pension giant TIAA is setting its sights on Japanese real estate, betting Abenomics has the economy well placed to grow in coming years. The near 100-year-old firm, known for offering retirement products to teachers, plans to invest about $1 billion ... ( read original story ...)
Japan to tidy up scattered property records
TOKYO -- Japan intends to make its sprawling government real estate databases more useful by consolidating data to clarify ownership, particularly of the growing number of vacant homes and lots, and encourage sales and redevelopment. The justice and land ... ( read original story ...)
Japan technology helps stars shine brighter at Manila planetarium
MANILA – At a quaint property in the heart of Manila lies a state-owned planetarium that has been attracting a growing number of visitors thanks to more spectacular shows made possible by newly acquired projectors from Japan. Since February, thousands of ... ( read original story ...)
Japanese expats lure developers
The government's bold plans for the Eastern Economic Corridor have opened up opportunities for property developers and investors, with Sri Racha in Chon Buri province being the brightest spot. Japanese nationals are the largest group of expatriates in ... ( read original story ...)
Japan ruling bloc pushes through anti-conspiracy bill despite privacy concerns
and the legislation has been compared to Japan's "thought police", who before and during World War Two had broad powers to investigate political groups seen as a threat to public order. A Kyodo news agency survey last month showed voters are split over the ... ( read original story ...)
Japan’s crown prince ready to take over
"I would like to give my whole heart and soul to every duty, including official duties I have already inherited from the emperor," the 57-year-old crown prince told a news conference on Tuesday. The Japanese parliament on Friday enacted a one-time law to ... ( read original story ...)
Correction: Japan-Defense story
In a story June 14 about Japanese military equipment sales, The Associated Press omitted the name of a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries official quoted in the story. It was Shoji Sato. A corrected version of the story is below: Japan seeks to expand arms deals ... ( read original story ...)
World Cup qualifiers: Socceroos given new lease on life after leaders Japan held by Iraq
THE Socceroos’ bid for direct World Cup qualification has been boosted by Asian rivals Japan being held to a 1-1 draw against Iraq in Tehran. Group B leaders Japan’s failure to take full points has them on 17 points, with Australia one point behind ... ( read original story ...)
Japan crown prince says will devote himself ‘body and soul’ to job as emperor
Japan's parliament on Friday enacted a law that will allow Akihito to step down and be succeeded by Naruhito, 57, which news reports say will take place late in 2018 or early in 2019. Akihito, the first emperor to never have been considered divine ... ( read original story ...)