Japan’s business gift culture says it with orchids

In Japanese business celebrations, there’s one thing you’ll almost always see: orchids. Pots of the exotic flowers, which often sell for about ¥20,000 ($176), will be there in a newly appointed president’s office, at the entrance of a company that ... ( read original story ...)

Japan’s PM to meet Toyota president before Trump summit

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he would meet the head of Toyota Motor Corp on Friday, as Tokyo compiles a plan to ward off U.S. criticism of Japanese trade policy before a summit with President Donald Trump next week. Trump, who has pledged to put ... ( read original story ...)

Japan hits back at Trump’s devaluation claims

Japanese policy makers hit back at U.S. President Donald Trump ... the BOJ adopted a massive asset-buying program in 2013 praised for boosting exporters’ profits and brightening business sentiment through a weak yen. The yen has fallen 20 per cent ... ( read original story ...)

Toshiba to spin off flash memory unit to offset US nuke loss

A woman walks past the Logo of Toshiba in Kawasaki near Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. Toshiba Corp. says it will split its lucrative flash memory business to make up for losses from its troubled U.S. nuclear business and is looking for a third-party ... ( read original story ...)

Japan sees 1st trade surplus on cheaper oil, China rebound

TOKYO - Japan posted its first trade surplus in six years in 2016 thanks to a rebound in exports late in the year and persisting low oil prices, though uncertainties over U.S. policy and global growth are overshadowing the recovery. The 4.1 trillion yen ($ ... ( read original story ...)

Japan urged to tap young workforce ahead of 2030: report

The task force involves academics and members of the council, including Sadayuki Sakakibara, chairman of the Japan Business Federation, the country’s largest business lobby known as Keidanren. The report calls for improving the child-rearing and nursing ... ( read original story ...)

Japan reports 1st trade surplus in 6 years on cheaper oil

TOKYO: Japan reports that it posted a trade surplus in 2016, the first in six years, as lower oil prices pulled imports lower. The 4.1 trillion yen ($35.8 billion) surplus compared with a 2.8 trillion yen deficit in 2015. Exports fell 7.4 per cent from a ... ( read original story ...)

Japan sees first trade surplus in six years amid falling imports

Japan posted its first trade surplus in six years in 2016 as imports slumped on falling energy prices, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday. The surplus stood at ¥4.07 trillion ($35.76 billion). The value of imports tumbled 15.9 percent to ¥65.97 trillion ... ( read original story ...)