Japan rocket with manga art launches satellite into space

Japan's domestically developed mainstay rocket carried two pieces of manga artwork originally drawn by Chuya Koyama, known for his comic book on two brothers who dream about becoming astronauts. "We believe it's the first time in the world to launch a ... ( read original story ...)

Nikkei drops to more than 1-week low on U.S. election shivers

TOKYO, Nov 2 Japan's Nikkei share average dropped to more than a week low on Wednesday as worries over the U.S. presidential election prompted a recoil in global markets, with a stronger yen adding to the cautious mood. The Nikkei fell 1.0 percent to ... ( read original story ...)

Nikkei drops to 2-week low on U.S. election concerns

TOKYO Nov 2 Japan's Nikkei share average fell to a two-week low on Wednesday as worries over the U.S. presidential election prompted a recoil in global markets, with a stronger yen adding to the cautious mood. The Nikkei fell 1.8 percent to 17,134.68 ... ( read original story ...)

Japan, South Korea eye joint action on companies aiding North

TOKYO -- Japan and South Korea are joining the U.S. in punishing companies that have helped North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons development, starting with a Chinese trading company suspected of money laundering. Pyongyang conducted its second nuclear ... ( read original story ...)

Japan faces uphill battle in tackling excessive overtime

TOKYO -- Japan is making a renewed push to tackle the problem of karoshi, or death from overwork, after the work-related suicide of a young woman grabbed headlines and caused a public outcry. But changing a deeply entrenched corporate culture that takes ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo shares open lower on Trump surge

Tokyo shares opened lower on Wednesday, following global sell-offs sparked by a new poll that put Republican candidate Donald Trump slightly ahead of his Democratic rival in the US presidential race. "The Trump risk is in revival," said Chihiro Ohta, a ... ( read original story ...)

Bank of Japan Stands Pat, Trims Inflation Forecasts

TOKYO—The Bank of Japan has given up its starring role in Abenomics, for now. After refitting its tool kit in September, the central bank opted Tuesday to leave policy unchanged, despite sharply cutting its inflation forecasts. And the bank doesn’t ... ( read original story ...)

Bank of Japan sits back for Clinton-Trump ride

The Bank of Japan is sitting back for the ride. The central bank kept policy unchanged on Nov. 1, even as it trimmed inflation forecasts. Adding extra stimulus weeks after introducing a new, yield-focused framework would look nervous. The BOJ also needs ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo stocks close up after BoJ meeting

Tokyo shares closed higher Tuesday ... accounting for roughly one-third of Japan's non-financial listings, the paper said. Energy firms tracked a plunge in oil prices Monday after OPEC's failure last week to hammer out details of an agreement to cut ... ( read original story ...)

Most Asian markets down, but Nikkei trades up

A man looks at price lists outside a store in Tokyo. Japan’s core consumer price index slipped 0.5% from a year earlier in September. The Nikkei was the bright spot Friday during a generally downbeat day for Asian markets, amid yen weakening and as gains ... ( read original story ...)

Japan shippers face stormy seas despite consolidation

Shipping of such goods as metals, crude oil and cars will be the main business of the three major Japanese ocean freight companies after the containership spinoff. But the outlook for these areas is dimming. Nippon Yusen and Kawasaki Kisen forecast pretax ... ( read original story ...)

Japan-South Korea frictions may throw wrench into talks

TOKYO -- Some in the Japanese government are concerned that long-standing issues with South Korea will hamper progress at a three-way summit including China later this year. The Tokyo meeting will mark South Korean President Park Geun-hye's first visit to ... ( read original story ...)