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 ...)

A portrait of the tattooist as a nice young man

When Hori Benny moved into his brand new business premises in 2014 near Nipponbashi in downtown Osaka, there was an unwelcoming committee waiting for him. A neighboring business owner had gathered over 1,000 signatories for a petition to get him to move ... ( 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 ...)

'Lucky chicken' finds fame in Japan

The male chicken, named Masahiro, has become something of a local celebrity in Osaka, even serving as an honorary "chief" of the local traffic police last month, the Kyodo news agency reports. Masahiro was meant to become raccoon food at the city's Tennoji ... ( read original story ...)

Japanese all-girls band under fire for Nazi-like outfits

TOKYO -- A popular teenage all-girls band in Japan is under fire for performing in outfits resembling Nazi-era German military uniforms. The members of Keyakizaka46 appeared recently in black knee-length dresses that look like military overcoats ... ( read original story ...)

Halloween all the rage in Japan

Enthusiasm among young Japanese for Halloween continues to grow year by year, not only as a day to enjoy "cosplay" but as a time to spend on goodies like nobody's business. Observed in many countries as a time dedicated to remembering the dead, the ... ( read original story ...)

Temples enter matchmaking business in marriage-shy Japan

TOKYO - Traditionally seen as conductors of funerals or memorial services, some Buddhist monks in Japan are carving out a new niche as matchmakers for men and women looking for marriage partners. In a country where an increasing number of people are ... ( read original story ...)

Japan demands talks with U.K. government over Brexit strategy

“Japanese companies are not leaving, they like it here and they have been operating profitably in the U.K.,” the ambassador said. The two governments “should make certain there will be a business environment that will continue to allow them to make ... ( read original story ...)

3 Japanese Shipping Companies to Merge Container Businesses

“This is a big decision, since it will create what will be the only container-shipping company in Japan,” he said. “But with the European industry consolidating and the business becoming more of an oligopoly, we need the scale that being a single ... ( read original story ...)

Bank of Japan delays inflation goal in blow to 'Abenomics'

TOKYO: Japan's central bank on Tuesday (Nov 1) again pushed back the timeline for hitting its inflation goal, the latest policy change that has raised questions about attempts to revive the deflation-plagued economy. The Bank of Japan has for the past ... ( 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 ...)