A Japanese hotel chain has come under fire for its owner's claims that a World War Two massacre in the Chinese city of Nanjing did not take place. A book by Toshio Motoya, who owns APA Hotels, was found this week to be widely distributed in his outlets. ( read original story ...)
Forget World Cup heroics, says Japan coach Jamie Joseph
Japan coach Jamie Joseph wants to forget the country's astonishing 2015 World Cup run as he looks to create his own blueprint for the future. The former All Black had a baptism of fire after taking over the 'Brave Blossoms' last November and is under no ... ( read original story ...)
High-tech Japanese toilets to be more foreigner friendly
TOKYO - As more foreigners choose Japan as a holiday destination, the country's toilet manufacturers have joined forces to simplify the sometimes complicated business of washing and drying Japanese style. A 2014 survey found many foreigners have difficulty ... ( read original story ...)
Asian shares mixed, Japan's Nikkei gains on weaker yen
Japan's benchmark rose after the dollar slipped against the ... Brent crude, the international standard, rose 47 cents to $54.39 a barrel. AP Business writers Stan Choe and Marley Jay contributed to this report. ( read original story ...)
Nikkei rises as financials gain; Toshiba, Takata dive
TOKYO Jan 19 Japan's Nikkei share average rebounded from a six-week low on Thursday, with financial stocks cheered by the rise in U.S. bond yields after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen signalled a solid pace of interest rate hikes. The Nikkei rose 0.9 ... ( read original story ...)
Japan Inc. moving toward 4-day work week
TOKYO -- Three days off per week are increasingly common in Japan's workplaces as employers seek to improve the work-life balance in line with the government's push for labor reform. The shift from the traditional two days off per week is expected to ... ( read original story ...)
Yahoo Japan is refusing to stop the sale of ivory on its website
Ivory tusks are displayed after the official start of the destruction of confiscated ivory in Hong Kong. Yahoo Japan is refusing to stop the sale of ivory on its site, despite concerns that it is facilitating a business blamed for the illegal slaughter of ... ( read original story ...)
Japan to clear up confusion over high-tech toilets for increasing tourists
Japan's toilet chiefs say they have come up with a plan to stop tourists getting their knickers in a twist over the country's mind-bogglingly high-tech loos. Under new guidelines, manufacturers will use the same eight pictograms to tell users which button ... ( read original story ...)
Straits Trading to acquire Japan property for S$11.6m
Aerial view of Osaka, Japan. The Straits Trading Company on Wednesday (18 January) unveiled plans to acquire the rights to a freehold rental residential property in Osaka, Japan for 925 million yen (S$11.6 million). This comes as the investment firm agreed ... ( read original story ...)
Takata's remaining bidders to seek court-led turnaround in Japan: Nikkei
TOKYO Takata Corp's (7312.T) two remaining bidders plan to propose a court-mediated turnaround for the Japanese operations of the troubled auto parts maker, the Nikkei business daily reported on Thursday. The Tokyo Stock Exchange suspended trading in ... ( read original story ...)
Konta Passes Osaka Test In Melbourne
MELBOURNE, Australia - No.9 seed and Apia International Sydney champion Johanna Konta kept up her hopes of another deep run in Melbourne with a decisive 6-4, 6-2 win over Japan's Naomi Osaka to reach the third round of the Australian Open. Konta opened Day ... ( read original story ...)
2016 Yokohama Hot-Rod and Custom Show
Each December at the annual Yokohama Hot Rod & Custom Show. That it’s in Yokohama not Yorba Linda perhaps should not be surprising. For when Japanese wax nostalgic their imaginations often head out on a desert highway, into a mythical land they first ... ( read original story ...)
Businesses fear big losses with Tokyo Big Sight shutdown for 2020 Olympics
Two main halls at Tokyo Big Sight in the Odaiba waterfront district will ... It’s by far our most important business opportunity,” he said, adding that about 70 percent of his company’s sales are generated by clients established at the exhibitions. ( read original story ...)
Japan hotel deals hit US$3 billion
US$2.3 billion. The ANA deal was at the height of the pre-GFC property investment boom. Despite this, 2016 was a very strong year for hotel sales activity. In 2017, I expect Japan will witness another year of strong capital inflows. But unlike 2007 ... ( read original story ...)
Amazing images of Tokyo before it was a city
Plantation workers pick tea leaves in Tokyo, circa 1910s. Before Tokyo matured into the gleaming, dense city it is today, it was a small fishing village called Edo. Now home to over 13 million people, the Japanese capital has changed dramatically since ... ( read original story ...)
Japan's hi-tech toilets to get standardised symbols
Japanese toilets are set to become easier to use, after manufacturers agreed to standardise the symbols on the control panels. Japan's hi-tech toilets famously include features such as lid and seat controls, flush strength, front and back bidets, and air ... ( read original story ...)