Japan Overall Bank Lending Rises 2.1% In February

The value of overall bank lending in Japan was up 2.1 percent on year in February, the Bank of Japan said on Thursday - coming in at 521.735 trillion yen. That follows the downwardly revised 2.3 percent increase in January (originally 2.4 percent). ( read original story ...)

Japan’s economy grew 1.6 percent in the last quarter of 2017

"Still, Japan's growth will hold firm at least until summer, led by exports and capital expenditure, with help from the solid U.S. economy." With inflation remaining distant from the 2 percent target, the Bank of Japan is widely expected to keep its ... ( read original story ...)

Sharapova upset by Osaka in 1st round at Indian Wells

Maria Sharapova's return to the BNP Paribas Open for the first time in three years ended in a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Naomi Osaka of Japan on Wednesday night. Sharapova's ranking of No. 41 in the world forced her to play a first-round match in the tournament she ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo: Girl, 17, earned ¥5 million at ‘JK’ parlors

TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have busted a so-called “JK” school girl business for allegedly employing an underage girl, who herself has ignored repeated warnings about such work, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Mar. 7). On January 19 ... ( read original story ...)

Japan penalizes several cryptocurrency exchanges after hack

TOKYO - The Japanese government is slapping penalties on several crypotocurrency exchanges in the country, after 58 billion yen ($530 million) of virtual coins were lost earlier this year from hacking. The Financial Services Agency, which has been checking ... ( read original story ...)

6 things Americans will find surprising about Tokyo

I do not know how these places stay in business without being seen from the ground level, but locals seem to find them just fine. Tokyo has the most Michelin stars of any city on earth, but it's not just the haute cuisine that will impress. Discerning ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo stocks turn lower on yen’s ascent

Stocks turned lower on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Wednesday, pressured by the yen’s rise against the dollar. The 225-issue Nikkei average fell 165.04 points, or 0.77 percent, to end at 21,252.72, after surging 375.67 points on Tuesday. The Topix index ... ( read original story ...)

Hotel Gracery to Open in Osaka

Construction is underway on Hotel Gracery Namba — the first Gracery property in Osaka. Leading Japanese hotelier Fujita Kanko Inc. announced plans to open the hotel in summer 2019, marking the 11 th hotel in the Gracery brand portfolio upon opening. ( read original story ...)