Japan's consumers are still in a funk

GMO manages some 800 billion yen ($7 billion) worth of Japanese stocks. The benchmark Nikkei Stock Average rose faster after OPEC agreed to its first oil production cut in eight years on Nov. 30. Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities estimates that ... ( read original story ...)

Nissin plant feeds Japan's noodle habit, global ambitions

TOKYO -- Nissin Food Products is set to build its first Japanese plant in two decades, aiming to help satisfy the country's persistent appetite for instant noodles while pioneering technologies to enhance productivity at factories worldwide. The domestic ... ( read original story ...)

The Bank of Japan at the policy frontier

The Bank of Japan has recently implemented one of the largest central bank policy shifts in modern times, raising its inflation target explicitly to 2% and kicking off the most rapid balance sheet expansion among the leading central banks. This column ... ( read original story ...)

Japanese robotics startup ZMP to delay Tokyo listing

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese robotics startup ZMP Inc will delay its listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, originally set for Dec. 19, the company said on Thursday, after it found client information had leaked on to the Internet. The leaked information has ... ( read original story ...)

Japan Q3 growth slashed as capex, inventories shrink

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's economy grew much slower than initially estimated in the third quarter, revised data showed, as capital expenditure dried up and companies ran down inventories - renewing concerns about Japan's growth prospects. The Cabinet Office ... ( read original story ...)

Romantic Spots for Couples in Osaka

From famous spots such as Osaka Castle and Universal Studios, to local food specialties such as Okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake) and Takoyaki (octopus balls), Osaka has plenty to offer! Whether you’re first-time or returning visitors, Osaka will ... ( read original story ...)

Japan third quarter GDP slashed as capex, inventories shrink

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's economy grew much slower than initially estimated in the third quarter, revised data showed, as capital expenditure dried up and companies ran down inventories - renewing concerns about Japan's growth prospects. The Cabinet Office ... ( read original story ...)

Nagoya looks to turn adversity to advantage after dismal survey

Requests for interviews with Kawamura also grew in number, officials said. During a news conference Nov. 21, the mayor referred to his pet argument for restoring Nagoya Castle’s main keep to its original wooden structure as a powerful means for building ... ( read original story ...)

Zarif Wraps Up Asia Tour With Business Forum in Tokyo

Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida signed the pact with Iran’s visiting Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayyebnia during a ceremony at the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo. Tokyo lifted sanctions on Iran soon after the International Atomic ... ( read original story ...)

Automatic golf carts for Japanese elderly

A city in western Japan has introduced a free automated golf cart service for its elderly residents in a bid to stop a rising tide of traffic accidents. In the first such service on Japan's roads, the carts travel along a 3km (two mile) route around Wajima ... ( read original story ...)

Japan Inc warns of trade under Trump

Corporate Japan is bracing for a rocky ride under incoming US President Donald Trump, with a Reuters poll showing well over a third of firms seeing a contraction in global trade as concerns about a rise in US protectionism threaten to shatter a fragile ... ( read original story ...)