We are operating in a tight financial envelope, and have responsibilities to both develop the system underpinning our best athletes as well as the sports and athletes themselves, and sadly our investment won't stretch to these sports for the Tokyo 2020 cycle.' ( read original story ...)
Japan logs first trade deficit in five months in January at ¥1.09 trillion
Japan posted its first goods trade deficit in five months in January, logging red ink of ¥1.09 trillion ($9.7 billion) as imports increased more than exports on rising commodity prices, the government said Monday. Imports marked their first gain in 25 ... ( read original story ...)
Bare cheek as Japan men strip off for naked festival
Okayama, Japan: With only a skimpy loincloth to protect their modesty, thousands of men brave freezing temperatures to fight for lucky charms thrown by a priest at Japan’s annual Naked Man Festival. A writhing mass of sweaty worshippers wrestled for ... ( read original story ...)
Tokyo Steel keeps product prices unchanged for March delivery
"We have decided to maintain prices for March so that local market prices would come in line with our revised prices," Tokyo Steel's managing director Kiyoshi Imamura told a news conference on Monday. "Export demand is improving as China reduces its ... ( read original story ...)
Tokyo stocks retreat in morning as firm yen dents exporters
TOKYO, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks retreated Monday morning as the Japanese yen's strength against the U.S dollar hurt exporters and dragged down the broader market. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average shed 27.32 points, or 0.14 percent, from Friday to ... ( read original story ...)
Nagoya junior high trio hold cancer event to share concerns
The first event, called cancer philosophy cafe, was held on Feb. 11 at a medical facility in Mizuho Ward in Nagoya and the three students plan to hold the gathering once every three months. The event was organized by 14-year-old cancer patient Kodai ... ( read original story ...)
Yokohama to Introduce New OTR Tire
The MYX S01 will be part of the company’s range of OTR and commercial tire offerings at ConExpo. Yokohama will be rolling out a new off-the-road (OTR) radial all-weather tire – the MYX S01 – at ConExpo in Las Vegas, March 7-11. In total, the company ... ( read original story ...)
Bun fight! Thousands of men in loincloths take part in a NAKED festival in Japan where they battle it out for a pair of blessed sticks
Dressed in only white loincloths, 10,000 men gathered at a Japanese temple over the weekend to scramble for a pair of lucky sticks. The men were taking part in Hadaka Matsuri - or the Naked Man Festival - which takes place every year at the Saidaiji Kannon ... ( read original story ...)
Asian Games: Largest Asian Winter Games open in Sapporo
"I declare open the eighth Asian Winter Games which are being held in Sapporo and Obihiro," the crown prince said of the games, which will run until next Sunday. Australia and New Zealand are attending as non-medal participants in their Asian Winter Games ... ( read original story ...)
Japan’s buckling health care system at a crossroads
The inauguration last month of Donald Trump as U.S. president and his plan to repeal the 2010 Affordable Care Act, known as “Obamacare,” has left many people here wondering: How does Japan compare? In Japan, health care has long been likened to air and ... ( read original story ...)
Insider Podcast: Osaka Relives Fed Cup Debut, Outlines Social Media Master Plan In Dubai
DUBAI, UAE - Starting her second full season on the WTA tour, Naomi Osaka is slowly getting comfortable with her surroundings - as much off the court as on. The Japanese teenager unleashes unbridled aggression to help her win matches, and her reservedly ... ( read original story ...)
Nationalist Osaka preschool draws heat for distributing slurs against Koreans and Chinese
according to the Osaka Prefectural Government. The letter, however, is apparently just one of many incidents pointing to the pair’s nationalist and even racist leanings. A separate pamphlet distributed to parents in December and obtained by Kyodo News ... ( read original story ...)
Japan Inc signals boost to domestic capex but less keen on the U.S. – Reuters poll
TOKYO (Reuters) - One third of Japanese firms are looking to lift business investment at home in the next financial year, but companies are less bullish about capital spending in the United States due to uncertainty over the Trump administration's policies ... ( read original story ...)
5.4-magnitude quake jolts Japan's Chiba area
TOKYO, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.4 jolted the Chiba Prefecture region of Japan, east of Tokyo on Sunday, the weather agency said. No tsunami warning was issued as a result of the temblor. The quake, which measured ... ( read original story ...)
Report: Tokyo doctors accused in multiple gang rapes used well-furnished room
A separate report from Nippon News Network (Feb. 19) reveals that the door of the ... He is suspected of raping seven women in Tokyo and Kanagawa and Saitama prefectures between April and October of 2016. He allegedly filmed the sexual assaults with ... ( read original story ...)
Winter Asian Games kick off with opening ceremony in Sapporo
"These games will show the potential of Asia to the world," Katsuhiro Akimoto, head of Sapporo's organizing committee, said. "We have great expectations for the spectacular athletic performances of over 2,000 athletes." Among the dignitaries at Sapporo ... ( read original story ...)