TOKYO -- If you go out for drinks with your colleagues in Japan, chances are that you end up doing warikan at the end of the night. And the warikan, or the splitting of the bill evenly, is most likely done in cash despite almost everyone having plastic and ... ( read original story ...)
Japan succession crisis could rip links out of auto supply chain
TOKYO -- Japanese automakers and major parts manufacturers are dealing with one headache after another. "The chief of a supplier has grown old and is less motivated, leading to product quality problems," one industry insider lamented. Another complained of ... ( read original story ...)
Bitcoin: Big in Japan
Known as "Miss Bitcoin" on Japanese social media, Mai Fujimoto says she invests all of her savings in the virtual currency that has proved a huge hit in Japan. "I convert all my disposable income into cryptocurrency," the 32-year-old tells AFP. ( read original story ...)
Japan’s Abe urges central bank’s Kuroda to keep up efforts on economy
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday called on central bank governor Haruhiko Kuroda to keep up efforts to reflate the economy, but added he was undecided on whether to reappoint Kuroda for another five-year term. Kuroda was ... ( read original story ...)
QE Party Over, even by the Bank of Japan
Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda keeps saying that the BOJ would “patiently” maintain its ultra-easy monetary policy, so too in his first speech of 2018 in Tokyo, on January 3, when he said the BOJ must continue “patiently” with this monetary ... ( read original story ...)
Bank of Japan joins Facebook, readies itself for emoticon flurry
The Bank of Japan may be "Liked" in 2018. It may also be "Loved." It may get a few "Laughs." And it may even stir up some "Anger." The central bank set up its Facebook account at the end of 2017 and is expecting the varied feedback that is part and parcel ... ( read ...
PharmaIN and Shionogi Announce Collaboration and $17M Securities Purchase Agreements
BOTHELL, Wash. and OSAKA, Japan, Jan. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- PharmaIN Corporation and Shionogi & Co., LTD announced today that they entered into a Collaboration Agreement with an exclusive two-year Option to negotiate a License for the collaboration product. ( read original story ...)
Japan ETFs Already Looking Very Bullish In 2018 (DXJ)
From Zacks: Japan’s manufacturing activity in December expanded at its fastest pace since February 2014, per the Nikkei Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI). Strong global recovery provided support to Japanese manufacturing activity. ( read original story ...)
New Logo and Slogan Promoting Tokyo’s Charms Abroad; “Tokyo Tokyo Old meets New” Campaign Ongoing in South Korea As Well
TOKYO, Jan. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is holding a campaign to promote Tokyo's charms overseas and also in a broad scope in South Korea using the logo and slogan "Tokyo Tokyo Old meets New." (Logo: http://prw.kyodonews.jp ... ( read original story ...)
Squat thrust: Japan on Olympic drive to get rid of ‘squat’ toilets
Tokyo (AFP) - Japan has launched a campaign to convert unpopular Asian-style squat toilets into sit-on "western" models, as the nation prepares to welcome tens of millions of foreign tourists in the run-up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The high-tech country ... ( read original story ...)
Japan Inflation Ticks Up: ETFs in Focus
Japan’s core consumer prices ticked up in November owing to a rise in prices of gasoline and utilities. However, it is still lagging Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) target rate. Economic Scenario Japan’s core consumer prices, which exclude prices of fresh food ... ( read original story ...)
Japan leads Asia’s New Year stock rally, hits a 26-year high
TOKYO -- Stock markets across Asia have started 2018 on a strong note, with Japan's benchmark Nikkei Stock Average advancing 3.26% Thursday on the back of rosy economic indicators coming from the U.S. and China. The Nikkei average topped 23,500 for the ... ( read original story ...)
BITCOIN LATEST: Japan throws weight behind cryptocurrency as it believes fear is OVER
Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) developed clear and fair laws to regulate digital currency exchanges. Although there is still a lot of mystery surrounding the fabled inventor Satoshi Nakamoto, it is a Japanese name. It origins may be unsure but ... ( read original story ...)
AirAsia plans Manila-Osaka flights by 2nd half
“We have [entitlements] for Osaka, around second semester ... Philippines AirAsia is planning to launch its initial public offering (IPO) by the second half of this year. The company expects to raise up to $250 million from the IPO, which will be ... ( read original story ...)
Abenomics faces year of reckoning with Japanese public
"Japan's economy is marching steadily away from the deflation ... Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told The Nikkei in December, indicating that the bank's goal of stable 2% price growth should be reached before a drawdown begins. ( read original story ...)
Nikkei soars on its first trading day of 2018, hits 26-year high
Asian equities continued to strengthen Thursday, with Japanese stocks surging on their first trading day of 2018 after U.S. indexes rose to fresh records overnight. The Nikkei Stock Average NIK, +3.26% closed up 3.3%, hitting a fresh 26-year high and ... ( read original story ...)