OSAKA – Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui announced Monday that a second referendum on whether to merge Osaka’s wards might held during the nationwide local elections in April 2019, six months later than the governor and his supporters originally hoped for ... ( read original story ...)
Japan’s PM to meet with Donald Trump ahead of North Korea summits
TOKYO – Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday he plans to visit the U.S. this month to discuss North Korea with U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of expected summits between the North and the U.S. and South Korea. Abe said he will travel to the ... ( read original story ...)
Rare Japanese unicorn Mercari to targets rapid U.S. expansion
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese flea market app operator Mercari Inc targets rapid expansion in the United States, its founder and chief executive told Reuters on Monday, after a recent funding round boosted its value beyond $2 billion. Mercari offers an online ... ( read original story ...)
Japan survey shows corporate sentiment is worsening
A quarterly business outlook survey by Japan's central bank shows corporate sentiment has worsened for the first time in two years. The Bank of Japan's "tankan" index for large manufacturers, released Monday, was 24 in March, down two points from December. ( read original story ...)
Polls show about half of Japanese voters don’t support PM Abe’s Cabinet
opinion polls by Japanese media showed. The Yomiuri newspaper’s survey issued on Monday showed that the disapproval rating for Abe’s Cabinet rose to 50 percent from early March, compared with 47.5 percent in the Kyodo news agency’s survey published ... ( read original story ...)
Japan contributes $4.5m for Explosive Hazard Clearance
Japan’s USD 4.5 million contribution for emergency response extends support for explosive hazard clearance in Iraq The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) welcomes the contribution of USD 4.5 million from the Government of Japan to support the ... ( read original story ...)
Japan’s business sentiment index falls
a Bank of Japan quarterly survey shows. The Tankan index fell from plus 26 in December to plus 24 in March, slightly less than the estimated level of plus 25 forecast by analysts surveyed by Kyodo News agency. The index for large non-manufacturers was also ... ( read original story ...)
Japan March Final Manufacturing PMI Cools Slightly, Overall Economy Still Solid
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese manufacturing activity expanded at a slightly slower pace in March, revised data from a survey showed on Monday, as growth in new orders and output moderated slightly though the economy overall remained in solid shape. ( read original story ...)
Japanese whalers return from Antarctica with huge catch
Three Japanese whaling vessels have returned to port from a controversial trip to Antarctica after catching 333 whales. Tokyo claims the slaughter is for scientific purposes. Three ships from a Japanese whale-hunting fleet returned to their home port of ... ( read original story ...)
Osaka municipal subway system goes private with launch of Osaka Metro
Osaka’s municipal subway system was privatized Sunday with the launch of Osaka Metro Co., marking the first privatization of a public subway in Japan. Hideaki Kawai, 63, a former executive of electronics giant Panasonic Corp., will be the first president ... ( read original story ...)
Out of this world: Inside Japan’s space colony centre
Tucked away in high-tech laboratories at the Tokyo University of Science, a team of 30 researchers directed by Chiaki Mukai are studying new ways to keep humans alive on a potential moon or Mars colony. "It's in our nature to explore. The Earth is too ... ( read original story ...)
Japan Display to raise $518 million as search for partners drags on
TOKYO (Reuters) - Embattled liquid crystal display (LCD) maker Japan Display Inc said it would raise $518 million through a new share issue and an asset sale, in a stop-gap measure to shore up its finances as it struggles to find partners for a ... ( read original story ...)
Lillehammer 2030?
At least five serious bids are likely to be on the table: Calgary, Canada; Stockholm, Sweden; Sapporo, Japan; Sion, Switzerland; and Milan-Turin, Italy. Interest might also come from Austria and Turkey. The Italian Olympic Committee announced on Thursday ... ( read original story ...)
Lillehammer backs out of 2026 Winter Olympics
At least five serious bids are likely to be on the table: Calgary, Canada; Stockholm, Sweden; Sapporo, Japan; Sion, Switzerland; and Milan-Turin, Italy. Interest might also come from Austria and Turkey. The Italian Olympic Committee announced on Thursday ... ( read original story ...)
IOC president says Kim committed to Tokyo, Beijing Olympics
(Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP ... said he received a commitment from the county's National Olympic Committee to participate in Tokyo in 2020 and Beijing in 2022, along with competing in the respective youth Olympic Games. ( read original story ...)
Tokyo’s textbook rules spark protest from South Korea
Seoul condemns requirement for schools to teach that disputed islands belong to Japan SEOUL • South Korea has summoned Tokyo's ambassador to protest against new educational guidelines requiring high school students to be taught that disputed islands ... ( read original story ...)