Famous brands in Japan go offbeat to boost name recognition

If there is one thing fashionistas wear or carry that this Italian luxury brand would never sell, it is uchiwa, a common Japanese fan traditionally made of paper and bamboo. Right? Wrong. Gucci does offer its own uchiwa, with its name splashed on one side. ( read original story ...)

Japan index investors go with the flow

The Bank of Japan is another big user of the passive approach, every year purchasing 6 trillion yen ($55.2 billion) of exchange-traded funds that track the Topix index of all first section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Nikkei Stock Average. ( read original story ...)

Japan's hotels seek out foreign staff as customer base grows

OSAKA -- One day in early March, a 28-year-old woman from Canada was in the lobby of the Rihga Royal Hotel conversing with a guest in fluent Japanese. Rachael Buell has been working for the hotel in Osaka since last year in the guest relations group ... ( read original story ...)

Foreigners streaming into Japan at record pace

TOKYO -- The net inflow of foreign residents into Japan was the largest ever during the last statistical year, as the government pushes policies to attract foreign workers to lessen the economic repercussions from a declining and graying population. ( read original story ...)

Japan looks to revive moribund TPP, sans US

TOKYO -- Japan is mobilizing the remaining members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact to resurrect the agreement without the United States, seeking a path forward for free trade in Asia with Tokyo as the senior partner. President Donald Trump ... ( read original story ...)

Nikkei slumps amid dollar selloff in Asia

Japan’s Kei Nishikori drops a point. Japan’s Nikkei index dropped more than 200 points early Thursday. President Donald Trump’s comments on the U.S. dollar sent the currency lower against its Asian counterparts, prompting a selloff in key regional ... ( read original story ...)

Japan, US to widen scope of talks on North Korea strike

TOKYO -- Japan and the U.S. plan to conduct prior consultations on any military action by the latter against North Korea, broadening a decades-old framework to include operations by American forces other than those stationed here. The U.S. agreed in 1960 ... ( read original story ...)