Tokyo organizers reach agreement on allocation of 2020 costs

TOKYO (AP) — Organizers of the Tokyo Olympics have reached a broad agreement on the allocation of costs for the 2020 Games with the metropolitan, national and local governments of the seven prefectures and four other cities hosting events. Governments ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo governor takes on old-boy network

TOKYO: Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike (pic) is challenging the old-boy network in the capital, where she thrashed a ruling party rival to win her post and now aims to lead reform-minded candidates to victory in a city-wide July election. A popular former TV ... ( read original story ...)

Japan’s ultra-low jobless rate masks grim reality

... lowest level in more than two decades and the labor market is tighter than it was during Japan’s booming bubble economy years. This should be great news for the world’s number three economy, but analysts are warning not to pop the champagne quite ... ( read original story ...)

Japan urges China to do more to pressure North Korea

TOKYO — Japan on Tuesday urged China to exert greater pressure on North Korea to stop its nuclear and missile development, saying Beijing's role in getting Pyongyang to abandon those efforts was "crucially important." Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio ... ( read original story ...)

Hybrid puffer fish could cause food confusion in Japan

A survey carried out by Japan's National Fisheries University found that over half of the puffers, or fugu, studied in a three-year programme were Spottyback-Shosai-fugu hybrids. The result, the Mainichi Daily News reports, is a hybrid species that is ... ( read original story ...)

Japan urges China to pressure North Korea

Japan on Tuesday urged China to exert greater pressure on North Korea to stop its nuclear and missile development, saying Beijing's role in getting Pyongyang to abandon those efforts was "crucially important." Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said ... ( read original story ...)

Japan vows to take action with US after North Korea missile test

The missile flew for six minutes until it landed in the Sea of Japan. US officials told Fox News a North Korean MiG fighter jet crashed near the launch site of the latest surface-to-air missile test. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the ... ( read original story ...)

New compound that can break down plastic waste developed

Researchers from Nagoya University in Japan developed a series of organometallic ruthenium catalysts to break down even the toughest amide bonds effectively under mild conditions. "Our previous catalysts could hydrogenate most amide bonds, but the ... ( read original story ...)