SAPPORO – Sapporo kicked off its annual snow festival Monday with 200 sculptures made from snow and ice, including one of U.S. President Donald Trump. Over 2 million people are expected to visit the weeklong show, which is held at three sites in Hokkaido ... ( read original story ...)
Snow Joke: check out these snow sculptures at Sapporo snow festival
The Sapporo snow fest has started in Japan featuring its famous collection of snow sculptures! This year features many famous faces and locations from around the world. You may recognise Pikotaro who became an internet legend with his song 'Pen-Pineapple-Pen'. ( read original story ...)
North Korea’s team gets pass for Asian Winter Games in Sapporo
North Korean athletes and officials will be allowed to participate in the 2017 Sapporo Asian Winter Games later this month as an exception to the entry ban on North Korean citizens, government sources said. The punitive measure was put in place as part of ... ( read original story ...)
Tokyo's Catch of the Day: Flying Fish, Superior Margins (1)
His venture airfreights freshly caught fish from across Japan, processes them on the grounds of Tokyo’s Haneda airport, and distributes the produce to the city’s notoriously choosy eaters and restaurants across Asia - but Nomoto’s goal isn’t just ... ( read original story ...)
Japan Tobacco bets on e-cigarette's growth prospect, boosts annual dividend
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan Tobacco Inc said it was still confident about the prospect of its Ploom Tech tobacco-based electronic cigarettes, the launch of which has been delayed due to supply problems, and raised its dividend despite forecasting a ... ( read original story ...)
Tokyo stocks open higher on US economic hopes
Tokyo stocks opened higher on Monday with investor sentiment buoyed by solid US job gains and a move by President Donald Trump to roll back financial regulations. US non-farm payrolls for January came in above forecast at 227,000 new jobs on Friday ... ( read original story ...)
Saying it with orchids: Inside Japan's business gift culture
"This business is clearly tied to the economy," Tanaka says ... For Akiyoshi Takumori, chief economist at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management Co Ltd in Tokyo, orchid sales are an imperfect indicator of economic strength. "These things get sent even in ... ( read original story ...)
Japan must expand means to counter North Korean attacks
I have advocated for Japan to prepare several protective measures, including the development of nationwide evacuation procedures and capabilities to attack North Korea's missile bases directly. In a Nikkei Asian Review article dated Nov. 25, 2016 ... ( read original story ...)
Nikkei rises as banks advance on U.S. deregulation hopes
TOKYO, Feb 6 Japan's Nikkei share average rose on Monday morning as bank stocks soared following moves by U.S. President Donald Trump to reduce regulation in the financial sector, but a slightly stronger yen kept gains limited. The Nikkei rose 0.2 percent ... ( read original story ...)
Donald, who? Ivanka Trump is the star in Japan
Japan is warily welcoming Donald Trump as the U.S. president ... on a portrait that Trump had posted on Instagram. On Twitter, news announcer Mari Maeda posted a photo of Trump in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York. “Trump’s eldest daughter Ivanka ... ( read original story ...)
New Pentagon chief Mattis a hit in Japan, South Korea
... Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was effusive in his endorsement as the two shook hands Friday before a phalanx of Japanese and international news reporters and cameras. "I was very encouraged," Abe said, "to see someone like you who has substantial ... ( read original story ...)
Japan to let North Korea athletes attend Asian Winter Games: reports
TOKYO - Japan will allow North Korean athletes and officials to take part in the Sapporo Asian Winter Games this month despite sanctions against the reclusive state that bar North Koreans from entering the country, Kyodo news agency said. Japan has long ... ( read original story ...)
China ships sail near disputed isles after Mattis visit: Japan
TOKYO: Japan said Chinese coast guard vessels sailed Monday (Feb 6) into its territorial waters around disputed islands in the East China Sea, days after the new US defence chief vowed to defend Tokyo's control of them. Three ships entered the waters ... ( read original story ...)
Japan's Mr Yen says dollar could fall below 100 yen by end-2017
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's former currency czar Eisuke Sakakibara said the dollar could fall below 100 yen by year-end on U.S. President Donald Trump's perceived support for a weak dollar, but cautioned that any yen-selling intervention by Tokyo might be ... ( read original story ...)
Japan’s planes, trains, ships harnessing big data
Japan Airlines in December launched a system that analyzes engine temperature pressure on components in order to predict instrument anomalies. This program was developed with IBM Japan. Before the launch, the airline would schedule regular checks and ... ( read original story ...)
Eyeing India, Japan and US: China holds exercise with latest ballistic missiles
In July, a television news programme showed General Fan Changlong ... which is what the Chinese military calls the series of islands that stretch from Japan in the north to Taiwan and the Philippines to the south, the Daily report said. ( read original story ...)