Live broadcast of solar eclipse planned
The first total solar eclipse that can be seen from Japan in 46 years will occur on July 22. It will only be visible from such southern islands as Amami-Oshima, but efforts are under way to broadcast the celestial spectacle to other parts of the nation. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, blocking almost all of the sun from view. (Yomiuri)

5 years sought for ex-Nova president
Prosecutors on Friday demanded five years' imprisonment for Nozomu Sahashi, the former president of the failed language school chain Nova Corp., for professional embezzlement involving misuse of the reserve funds of an employees' mutual aid organization. According to the indictment, Sahashi, 57--acting in conspiracy with a 50-year-old Nova executive in charge of finance--had about 320 million yen transferred from the employee organization's funds to a bank account of a Nova affiliate in July 2007, so as to use the money to keep the firm afloat. (Yomiuri)

8 firms eye fuel-cell car energy supply network
Eight companies have agreed to launch a joint effort to develop equipment and facilities to supply hydrogen to fuel-cell vehicles, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned. Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are regarded as highly eco-friendly because they emit no carbon dioxide. The group aims to commercialize the supply of hydrogen to fuel battery-powered vehicles before 2015. (Yomiuri)

Japan lodges protest against N. Korea over missile launches
The Japanese government lodged a protest against North Korea through diplomatic channels in Beijing over its launching of multiple ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on Saturday, Japanese officials said. Japan is set to coordinate with countries such as the United States and South Korea in urging other members of the United Nations to steadily implement the measures in the U.N. Security Council's sanctions resolutions against Pyongyang as the country's actions are in violation of them, according to the officials. (AP)

High school student arrested over classmate's stabbing death
A high school student was arrested Saturday over the death of his classmate in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, after admitting to stabbing him, police said. The 17-year-old senior was apprehended at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder as he admitted to stabbing Tomoya Hamada, 18, on his abdomen and back at a train station shortly after 8 a.m., they said. Hamada was brought to a nearby hospital, at which he was pronounced dead around 90 minutes later. (AP)

Chinese with annual income over 250,000 yuan can tour Japan
Starting in July, Japan will issue tourist visas to Chinese individual tourists who meet specified conditions. Chinese tourists can enjoy "freely touring Japan" as early as July 8. The policy will initially be implemented in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, then following a one-year pilot implementation period it will expand throughout Chinese mainland. (People's Daily)

Knife law tough shuck for oysters
Be careful next time you're about to shuck a fresh oyster at a restaurant - you may be using a knife considered illegal under the Firearm and Sword Control Law. Possessing certain types of oyster knives will be punishable from Sunday, after the moratorium expires on a revision to the law that was implemented in January. (Japan Times)

Young adults turn to home sharing
Rather than forking out money to rent their own apartments, young people struggling during the economic downturn are increasingly moving in with friends or acquaintances as they try to make ends meet. Many of these young adults used to place priority on having a good time, but are now unemployed or working in low-paying jobs. They appear to be moving toward cheaper, shared accommodation, and with it, finding emotional support in these bleak times. (Yomiuri)

Japanese scientists to breed 'super tuna'
Japanese scientists will have bred a new "super-tuna" within a decade that will be stronger, more resistant to disease and taste better than the bluefin presently in the oceans. Stocks of tuna have declined by as much as 90 per cent in some waters and the World Wildlife Fund has warned that the Atlantic bluefin will have been wiped out within three years unless radical measures are taken to protect stocks. (telegraph.co.uk)

If Paul Krugman were Japanese
Narika Hama, a professor of economics at Doshisha University in Kyoto, is a sort of Japanese version of Paul Krugman -- if Paul Krugman were a woman with a purple rinse, pink jacket, funky blue jeans, black patent leather pumps, and a vague British accent. Hama, who lived in the United Kingdom as a child in the 1960s, is something of an intellectual celebrity in Japan. (NewsWeek)

Japan's 1st case of Tamiflu-resistant H1N1 influenza detected
The health ministry said Thursday it has detected a genetic mutation of the new H1N1 strain of influenza A that develops resistance to Tamiflu, marking the first case of the new influenza in Japan that did not respond to the anti-flu drug. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said the Tamiflu-resistant virus was detected in a woman in her 40s infected with the new influenza in Osaka Prefecture. (AP)

Japanese love hotels boom in the recession
In Japan, where the global financial meltdown has especially taken its toll, not all industries are languishing. In fact, one of the most notably resilient industries seems to be 'love hotels' (the kind where one may pay by the hour, rather than by the night), according to CNN. One such establishment, the Bonita Hotel in Isawa, currently enjoys a 257 percent occupancy rate. And the industry as a whole is estimated to take in $40 billion per year. (huffingtonpost.com)

NASA, Japan map most of planet
CNN's goinggreen blog has an entry today on the new digital topographical map created by NASA and Japan. It's the most complete map to date. The map was built from 1.3 million images taken by NASA's Terra satellite. CNN says the images were taken by a Japanese imaging instrument called the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer, or ASTER. (baltimoresun.com)

Reputations on line as Japan pulls out stops to win rail contracts
A global boom in infrastructure projects worth more than £200 billion has prompted Japan to launch its most expansive charm offensive in the international game of railway diplomacy. From Washington to Ho Chi Minh City, via Delhi and Dubai, Japan has embarked on an unprecedented frenzy of salesmanship. (timesonline.co.uk)

Japan claims disputed islands
Japan's parliament on Friday passed a law asserting sovereignty over four islands at the centre of a dispute with Russia, adding to tensions as the countries' leaders prepare to meet. A law calling the four Kuril islands an 'integral part' of Japan was unanimously passed by the opposition-controlled upper house after the lower house also approved it in May when the bill sparked a protest from Moscow. (Straits Times)

Japan may add noise to quiet hybrid cars for safety
Japan's near-silent hybrid cars have been called dangerous by the vision-impaired and some users, prompting a government review on whether to add a noise-making device, according to an official. The petrol-electric vehicles, which in recent months have become the country's top-selling autos, hum along almost soundlessly when they are switched from fuel to battery mode. (AFP)

Japan still a bridge too far on many fronts
The global economic landscape may see a milestone change this year, for China is widely regarded to replace Japan as the second largest economy in the next few months. But for that to happen China's economy has to grow by 6 to 8 percent, while Japan's has to contract further. Last year, China's GDP was $4.22 trillion against Japan's $4.84 trillion. And even though China's GDP may overtake Japan's, the two economies have major quantitative and qualitative differences. (China Daily)

Japan housewives to shun currency markets on new rule
A plan to increase restrictions on Japan's margin-trading market may drive individual investors away, paving the way for more volatile currency movements, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. Japan's Financial Services Agency, which regulates the nation's margin-trading industry, intends to cap the leverage permissible on currency trades at 50 times the amount of cash being committed starting in 2010, and reduce it to 25 times in 2011. (Bloomberg)

Japan may deploy troops near disputed islands
Japan's defence ministry is considering deploying troops on an island in the East China Sea near a group of islets that is claimed by Tokyo, Beijing and Taipei, according to a ministry spokesman. "We are studying (the deployment) so that it could be included in the planned year-end revision of the basic defence programme," the official said, confirming a news report on the plan to send an army unit to Yonaguni island. (AFP)

Japan students rush for English-language education
At 28,000 dollars a year, a popular English language cram school course in Japan doesn't come cheap, but its students hope the rewards will more than make up for the hefty tuition fee. The class is called "Route H" -- short for "Route to Harvard". Hundreds of schools like it have opened across Japan in recent years to prep a new generation of students who have their educational sights set far beyond Japan's shores, at the top universities of the West. (AFP)

Struggling Japanese PM turns to comedian for help
Taro Aso, the increasingly desperate Japanese prime minister, is appealing to a former stand-up comedian to join his cabinet and save the administration just weeks ahead of the general election. Hideo Higashikokubaru, recently elected governor of Miyazaki Prefecture, initially rebuffed an indirect approach from Mr Aso by saying he would only accept a portfolio if he was listed as the Liberal Democratic Party's candidate for prime minister in the election, which has to be held before Sept 10. (telegraph.co.uk)

Visa overstayers given too many breaks: rightist
Daisuke Arikado believes the government is too easy on foreigners overstaying their visa and this frustrates him. Arikado is a former member of an ultra-rightist group who founded and heads the 30-strong nonprofit organization Movement to Eradicate Crimes by Foreigners. (Japan Times)

Total ban on child porn sought / Diet debate starts on revision to close possession loophole in law
The Diet has begun debate on bills to revise the law banning child prostitution and child pornography, with discussions focused on whether to conform to international standards and completely prohibit the possession of child pornography. (Yomiuri)

Japan to generate solar power in outer space, then beam it to earth
This may sound ridiculous first time you hear it, but Japan is thinking about solar power from panels located in space to mother earth, or to be more exact, the nation of Nippon itself. According to the Nikkei, the government plans to ask local technology companies to participate in the endeavor as early as next month. (crunchgear.com)

At long last, Korea and Japan return to trade talks
After four years of stalled negotiations, Korea and Japan are ready to restart free trade agreement talks. Korea and Japan will hold their third working-level meeting on resuming negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement deal today in Tokyo, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade yesterday. (joins.com)

News On Japan
All the latest news on Japan

 

Japan backs dollar as reserve currency
Major countries should support the dollar as the key international currency, although emerging nations may discuss a new global reserve currency on the sidelines of the G8 summit next week, a Japanese official said on Friday.

Love hotel business zooms despite downturn
Even in the midst of Japan's deepest economic recession since World War II, the country's love hotel industry is thriving.

Ex-Yankee signs with Japan team
HIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) -- Former New York Yankees infielder Andy Phillips has signed a one-year contract worth $400,000 with the Hiroshima Carp of Japan's Central League.

Japan suspends Citi sales promotions
Japan ordered Citigroup to suspend sale promotions for a month at its retail bank for lax oversight against money laundering, in the struggling U.S. bank's second brush with Japanese regulators in five years.

Wild pitch hangs loss on Japan's knuckleball girl
KOBE, Japan (AP) -- Japan's first female professional baseball player struggled with her control and took her first loss.

Japan's 'herbivore men' -- less interested in sex, money
They are young, earn little and spend little, and take a keen interest in fashion and personal appearance -- meet the "herbivore men" of Japan.

Josh Gross: Is MMA in Japan sport or spoof?
There's no logic behind mixed martial arts events like last Tuesday's Dream 9 in Japan. None.

The cultural contributors to suicide in Asia
More than nuclear bomb tests, the suicide of former South Korean president Roh Moo-Hyun has stunned the South Korean public. While the news has shocked the nation, perhaps the level of surprise at the method wasn't as great.

Japan's GDP fell 4% last quarter
Japan's gross domestic product (GDP) fell 4% last quarter -- the fastest pace on record for the country, the government said Wednesday.

Commentary: Is stock rally for real?
Euphoria returns! Who could have guessed that Bank of America stock would rally 70 percent the week it learns the Feds are demanding new capital equal to nearly half the bank's market capitalization?

Japan destroyers set sail on anti-piracy mission
Two Japanese destroyers set sail Saturday on an anti-piracy mission off Somalia, the Japanese defense ministry said, marking the first policing action for the country's Maritime Self-Defense Force.

12 missing after Japanese boat capsizes
Twelve crew members were missing after a fishing boat capsized off southern Japan, the Japanese coast guard said Tuesday.

Schoolgirl told to choose: Country or parents
The clicking of dozens of news cameras drowned out the sobs of the 13-year-old girl, but her face explained what was happening in the departure hall of Japan's Narita International Airport.

Japan unveils $150 billion stimulus plan
Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso announced a historic $150 billion stimulus package Friday aimed to turn around the recession in the world's second-largest economy.

Security Council wrestles with N. Korea launch
The five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Japan met Monday for a second closed-door session to hammer out a response to North Korea's weekend rocket launch in defiance of international opposition.

Japan to extend N. Korea sanctions
Japan is expected to extend economic sanctions against North Korea at a cabinet meeting later this week, a spokesman for Prime Minister Taro Aso said Monday.

Japan, Sweden may offer economic recovery lessons
As President Obama discusses the economic crisis with world leaders at the G-20 summit this week, two nations' experiences wrestling with similar financial troubles in recent history could offer recovery lessons for the United States.

U.S., Japan mobilize for N. Korean launch
Japan is mobilizing its missile defense system, and U.S. Navy ships are deploying to the Sea of Japan, as North Korea prepares to launch a rocket that is expected next month, officials said.

Tom Verducci: Japan's thrilling win a fitting final to second WBC
If you could hear yourself think at Dodger Stadium Monday -- and such an ordinary task became a downright challenge amid the 54,846 flag-waving, drum-beating, thunderstick-whacking, whistle-blowing, aisle-dancing zealots as Japan battled Korea in a final straight out of 1960s Americana -- what you understood was that the World Baseball Classic grew bigger and better in its second incarnation. An acquired taste for smug Americans, the party goes on in 2013 whether America wants to resist it or not, not unlike the soccer World Cup.

Deadly plane crash at Tokyo airport
The pilot and co-pilot aboard a FedEx cargo plane were killed when the plane burst into flames Monday while landing at Tokyo's Narita airport in Japan, airport and hospital officials said.

Tom Verducci: Japan gives USA lesson on WBC intensity, details
Five thoughts in the wake of Team USA's 9-4 loss to Japan in the World Baseball Classic semifinals.

Desperate Japanese head to 'suicide forest'
Aokigahara Forest is known for two things in Japan: breathtaking views of Mount Fuji and suicides. Also called the Sea of Trees, this destination for the desperate is a place where the suicidal disappear, often never to be found in the dense forest.

Japan threat to shoot down N. Korean satellite
Japan said Friday that it could shoot down the satellite that North Korean officials said they plan to launch.

Report: Japan to fight piracy off Africa
Japan's defense minister has ordered two destroyers to help fight piracy in the waters off Somalia, officials with the defense ministry told CNN.

Cliff Corcoran: Pool A rankings, notable names
Location: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan

Japan posts record trade deficit
Grappling with its worst economic crisis since World War II, Japan posted a record $10.1 billion trade deficit in January, the Ministry of Finance reported Wednesday.

Dice-K struggles in Japan's WBC tuneup
OSAKA, Japan (AP) -- Daisuke Matsuzaka struggled through 1 2/3 innings Wednesday but Japan recovered to defeat Australia 11-2 in a tuneup game for the World Baseball Classic.

Japan posts record trade gap
Grappling with its worst economic crisis since World War II, Japan posted a record $10.1 billion trade deficit in January, the Ministry of Finance reported Wednesday.

Dollar gains against euro
The dollar gained against the euro and the yen Monday as investors continued to worry about further danger for the economies of Europe and Japan.

Dawn of the dead banks
They walk among us. And they're a heck of a lot scarier than anything George A. Romero ever imagined.

Japan: Worst crisis since war's end
Japan is grappling with its worst economic crisis since the end of World War II, the nation's economic and fiscal policy minister said Monday.

Japan's economy 'worst since end of WWII'
Japan is grappling with its worst economic crisis since the end of World War II, the nation's economic and fiscal policy minister said Monday.

Japan's Mount Asama erupts
Japan's Mount Asama erupted early Monday, sending a plume of light ash more than a mile into the sky and prompting emergency officials to restrict travel near it.

Japan executes four convicted killers
Japan executed four convicted killers on death row Thursday, the government said, marking the first set of executions in the country since October 2008.

Japan executes four death-row inmates
Japan executed four convicted killers on death row on Thursday, the government said, marking the first set of executions in the country since October 2008.

Workers urged: Go home and multiply
Even before one reaches the front door of Canon's headquarters in Tokyo, one can sense the virtual stampede of employees pouring out of the building exactly at 5:30 p.m.

Japan launches satellite to eye greenhouse gases
The Japanese space agency launched a satellite Friday that will measure greenhouse gases from the earth's orbit.

Myths and truths about Japan's stimulus
As Barack Obama gets ready to sell his stimulus plan to the country, some critics are saying that massive government spending won't work. One big reason they're skeptical: Japan's experience in the 1990s, the country's so-called Lost Decade. But are they missing the real lessons?

Japan's industrial output sees record fall
Japan's government Friday released some key reports indicating the island nation's economy is suffering along with the rest of the world.

Japan's industry, employment weaker
Japan's government released some key reports Friday indicating the island nation's economy is suffering along with the rest of the world.

Japan mulls sending ships to Somalia to halt pirates
Japan is considering joining an international effort to protect ships from a growing threat of piracy in the Gulf of Aden near Somalia, a top official told reporters.

Report: More elderly Japanese turn to petty crime
Beset by economic worries and loneliness, elderly Japanese are turning to petty crime in increasing numbers, the nation's Justice Ministry reports.

Japan recession deepens
European markets slipped solidly into negative territory on Monday, following news of a deepening recession in Japan and slumping sales at Toyota.

Japan tries to avoid another lost decade
The 1990s are commonly known as Japan's "lost decade." Now, this decade isn't looking too good either.

Britney Spears Loves Japan for Its Tiny Cars
Spears takes time from touring to visit a Buddhist temple – and marvel at the miniature automobiles!

Japan extends Indian Ocean mission
Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean has been extended for another year by the country's parliament.

Oil ends at 21-month low
Oil fell on Monday and ended at a 21-month low as fears over the global economic slowdown accelerated on news that Japan officially fell into a recession.

Global stocks shaky amid economic woes
Global stocks wavered Monday on news that Japan's economy, the second largest in the world, had fallen into recession.

Japan - world's No. 2 economy - in recession
Japan -- the world's second-largest economy -- is in a recession, government officials announced Monday.

Pepsi Ice Cucumber, Anyone?
In Japan's snack and beverage market, the new new thing is already so last week

Japan fires military chief over WWII denial
A state-run Chinese newspaper expressed relief Monday that senior Japanese officials had dismissed the country's air force chief after he denied Japan's aggression before and during World War II.

Japanese girl born to Indian surrogate arrives home
A 3-month-old girl born to an Indian surrogate mother has flown to Japan to join her biological father after spending the first months of her life in legal limbo.

Japan Offers a Lifeline to Failing Businesses
Tokyo announces a $51 billion economic stimulus package as bankruptcy rates soar

Will the Fed's Rate Cut Help? The Japan Lesson
The Fed's latest rate cut may do little to help the economy. Just ask the Bank of Japan

Dollar rallies against the yen
The dollar bounced back against the yen Tuesday after global stock markets took a rest from their recent steep declines.

Controversial legal ivory sale raises $1.2M
The first officially sanctioned ivory auction in nearly a decade happened Tuesday in Namibia, with opinion split on whether the sale will help or hurt efforts to stop elephant poaching.

Strong yen is everybody's problem
What's the big major economic worry today? Japan, come on down! You're the next contestant on The Price Isn't Right!

Global stocks suffer again
Stock markets around the world took another heavy beating Monday, with shares in Japan falling to their lowest level in 26 years, as fears of a global recession continued to sweep markets.

Japan Moves to Protect its Financial System
Resurrection of an expired law would allow the government to recapitalize smaller banks

Tainted Chinese beans pulled in Japan
Japanese health officials warned residents on Wednesday not to eat a variety of frozen green beans imported from China that are contaminated with an extremely high concentration of pesticides.

Bank of Japan: Short-term loans
Japan's central bank said Tuesday it had expanded the scope of its agreement with the U.S. Federal Reserve, allowing it to provide more cash to financial institutions to keep money markets operating smoothly.

Lessons From Asia's Last Meltdown: Act Fast
Lessons from Japan's "Lost Decade" and the Asian Financial Crisis may provide clues for easing the credit crunch

Do cartoon aliens show the way to riches from augmented reality?
In a new video game for cell phones set to launch in Japan, the point is simple: Roaming players must point their handsets in the right direction to score.

Three physicists share Nobel prize
An American physicist and two physicists from Japan will share this year's Nobel Prize in Physics, the Nobel Foundation announced Tuesday.

Japan to Dispense Billions in Foreign Aid
Once the world's biggest donor nation, Japan is stepping up efforts to boost its influence in resource-rich developing countries by creating a super agency

Aso confirmed as Japan's new PM
Taro Aso, an outspoken politician and a former foreign minister, became Japan's new prime minister Wednesday after the powerful lower house of parliament overruled the upper house's choice for a leader.

Clock Starts Running for Japan's Aso
Just one day into his leadership, Japan's new prime minister could be looking at the shortest run as prime minister in Japan's postwar history

Mystery Submarine Spotted Near Japan
Japan was searching Sunday for an unidentified foreign submarine detected in its territorial waters earlier in the day

Japan: One man dead, six hurt after stabbing spree
One person was killed and six others injured Saturday when a man went on a stabbing rampage in central Japan -- the latest in a series of such sprees in the country in the last few months.

Japan may withdraw military from Iraq
Japan may withdraw the last of its military mission in Iraq by the end of the year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.

Japan's Inflation Soars
Surging inflation in July dented Japanese consumer spending, lending support for the government's planned economic stimulus package, reportedly worth 1.8 trillion yen ($16.5 billion) and expected to be unveiled later Friday

61-Year-Old Woman Gives Birth in Japan
A 61-year-old Japanese woman gave birth to her own grandchild, using an egg donated by her daughter, a clinic said Thursday

Sumo wrestler suspended after drug arrest
For the first time that sumo wrestling's governing body can recall, one of its revered athletes has been nabbed for drug possession.

Powerful quake injures 102 in Japan
A strong earthquake injured 102 people and destroyed 31 buildings in northern Japan on Thursday, authorities said.

Japan's fishermen: 'We're dying'
Two hundred thousand boats sat idle in Japan, as fishermen across the nation took to the streets on Tuesday to protest skyrocketing fuel prices.

China and Japan: A Green Connection
China wants clean technology; Japan has it to sell. As G-8 begins, two traditional rivals have reasons to heal old wounds

Dollar continues its slide
The dollar declined Tuesday as stronger-than-expected economic reports from Japan and Germany strengthened overseas currencies, amid further concerns about write-offs in the financial sector in the United States.

Japan Inflation at 10-Year High
Soaring oil and commodity prices hit Japan's economy with a one-two punch in May, thrusting up inflation, driving consumers to tighten their pocketbooks and threatening to derail the country's modestly growing economy

Japan's Booming Sex Niche: Elder Porn
While Japanese sex life sags, the porn industry is healthier than ever -- even for septuagenarian stars

Japan executes serial killer
A serial killer convicted in the deaths of four girls was among three men executed in Japan on Tuesday.

Quake Toll in Northern Japan Rises
The death toll from a magnitude 7.2-earthquake in northern Japan rose to at least nine Sunday, with more than 200 injured

Japan rescuers search for quake missing
Rescue workers dug out three bodies from under mud and rock Sunday, bringing the death toll from Japan's 7.2 magnitude earthquake to nine.

Powerful earthquake strikes Japan
Six people were killed and at least 144 hurt Saturday morning when a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck northeastern Japan, Japanese officials said.

Strong earthquake rattles Japan
Three people were killed and at least 84 were injured Saturday morning when a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck northeastern Japan, Japanese officials said.

Report: Japan to lift some N. Korea sanctions
Japan plans to lift some sanctions that it has imposed on North Korea, the Kyodo news agency of Japan reported Friday.

Japan Reeling from Stabbing Spree
Despite having one of the lowest crime rates in the developed world, the country still sees spasms of stunningly brutal, often random killings

Japanese melon sells for more than $6,000
There's nothing better than a sweet, juicy watermelon on a hot summer's day, right?

Softbank to Offer iPhones in Japan
Japanese mobile carrier Softbank Corp. said Wednesday it has a deal with Apple Inc. to sell the iPhone later this year -- the first such agreement in Japan for the hit cell phone

Toxic fumes suicide forces evacuation in Japan
Police evacuated dozens of residents after poisonous fumes escaped from an apartment where a man killed himself by inhaling a detergent-laced gas, authorities said Wednesday.

Japan Confronts Africa's Hunger
Development plans depend on keeping Africa fed. But a key challenge lies in pressing industrialized countries to deliver on promised aid

Japan to lobby whaling commission to support hunts
Japan will lobby a dozen members of the International Whaling Commission at a meeting Monday to support its much-criticized Antarctic whaling program -- just three days before all members of the commission meet in London to discuss reaching an agreement on whale conservation rules.

Japan Urges Limiting Kids' Cell Phones
Japanese youngsters are getting so addicted to Internet-linking cell phones that the government is starting a program warning parents and schools to limit their use among children

54 ill as new toxic fume suicide hits Japan
Fifty-four people were sickened by toxic fumes at a hospital in southern Japan Wednesday when a man vomited after drinking pesticide to commit suicide.

Marine pleads guilty in Japan sex crime
A U.S. Marine pleaded guilty Friday to abusive sexual contact with a child under 16, bringing to a close a criminal case that stoked outrage in Japan, a Marine spokesman said.

3 dead in Japanese 'detergent suicide' pact
Police found three men dead in a car parked outside a spa Monday morning -- the latest in a string of suicides involving detergent, officials said.

Japan's Butter Meltdown
The country prided itself on its domestic dairy industry and protected it with tariffs and market-manipulation. Now, however, it has a shortage on its hands

Spate of 'detergent suicides' hits Japan
A 24-year-old Japanese man killed himself by mixing laundry detergent and cleaning fluids, releasing noxious fumes into the air and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people from their homes.

Torch relay kicks off in Japan
The Olympic flame relay through Nagano, Japan, kicked off with little incident on Saturday despite concerns over anti-China protests that have threatened the torch along its journey to host city Beijing.

U.S. Marine charged with rape in Japan
The U.S. military in Japan has charged a Marine with rape and other violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice in the alleged sexual assault of 14-year old girl in Okinawa.

Japanese temple withdraws from torch relay
Security concerns and sympathy toward Tibetans prompted a Buddhist temple in Nagano, Japan, to withdraw from participation in the Olympic torch relay next week, a temple official said on Friday.

Japan: News & Videos about Japan - CNN.com
Find stories, videos, and photos about Japan from CNN.com.

 

Citigroup Told to Stop Ads in Japan
Japanese regulators said the bank failed to monitor suspicious transactions, and had governance problems.

Departure
We lay my grandmother on a futon in her old bedroom, head north like the position of Buddha at his death.

Industry Slumps, but Prius Inspires Waiting List
The third generation of the gas-electric car was an instant hit in Japan, where plants are working 24 hours a day.

Japan Sets Emissions Targets, and No One Seems Pleased
Environmentalists say Japan’s goals are insufficient, but there are also protests from business leaders who say the economy is not strong enough to handle such changes yet.

Making a Living Handling Death
“Departures” is overlong, predictable in its plotting and utterly banal in its blending of comic whimsy and melodramatic pathos.

In Reporting a Scandal, the Media Are Accused of Just Listening
A highly publicized corruption investigation has weakened Japan’s opposition party, but many worry about the failure of the news media to press the prosecutors for answers.

Showing the Glimmer of Humanity Amid the Atrocities of War
Lu Chuan has received death threats following the release of his new film about the occupation of Nanjing that offers a sympathetic treatment of a Japanese soldier.

Flu Spreads, but Some Countries Ease Measures
Japan and Mexico City lifted restrictions aimed at controlling the spread of swine flu.

Spread of Swine Flu Puts Japan in Crisis Mode
The widening outbreak is a particular shock to this hygiene-obsessed country, which has been harder hit than any other country outside North America.

Japanese Fans Mobilize to Keep Valentine as Their Manager
Bobby Valentine’s contract has become too rich for the front office of the Chiba Lotte Marines, but fans have organized protests to keep him.

Japan’s Economic Slide in Quarter Sets Record
Japan’s economy shrank 4.0 percent in the first quarter, the biggest contraction on record, the government reported.

In Japan, Secure Jobs Have a Cost
Some are questioning the system, bolstered by government subsidies, that keeps otherwise idle workers occupied.

In U.S., Steps Toward Industrial Policy in Autos
Recent steps by the administration to address the problems in Detroit point to a policy approach used in Japan that had been shunned by the United States.

Japan Acts to Contain Swine Flu Outbreak
The increasing number of swine flu cases in Japan raises the likelihood that the World Health Organization will soon have to raise its pandemic alert level to 6.

Toyota, Challenging Honda, Offers Its New Prius in Japan
After a year of staggering losses, Toyota seeks to reassert its green credentials against Honda by introducing its third-generation hybrid.

NYT > Japan

Japan, with the world's second-largest economy, is now at a crossroads, re-evaluating its place in Asia and what course to take at home.

For close to five decades after World War II, Japan's economy grew steadily through policies that closely aligned government and large manufacturers. That formula reached its peak in the late 1980s, when many Americans worried about falling behind what seemed an unstoppable export machine.

But a real estate bust brought that growth to an end, and was followed by a long intractable slump that lasted through the 1990s. In 2001 newly elected Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi introduced policies meant to revive the economy through deregulation, privatization, spending cuts and tax breaks. Growth resumed in January 2002 and has turned into the longest economic expansion through the post-war era. But Mr. Koziumi's policies also have brought about a growing income gap in a rapidly aging country. The country's long-term outstanding debt has also grown, to the equivalent of 147% of annual gross domestic product.

In foreign policy, the rise of China and North Korea's nuclear ambitions led Japan to actively review long-held policies. After decades of sheltering under the American security umbrella, Japan has begun seeking a more assertive role in the region, even while strengthening ties to the U.S.

After the attacks of Sept.11, 2001, Japan dispatched its naval vessels to the Indian Ocean to supply fuel for warships of the coalition forces operating in Afghanistan, and send troops to Iraq for humanitarian assistance, along with planes to transport cargo and American troops.

The Japanese military, which has one of the largest budgets and most sophisticated weapons in the world, began developing their offensive capabilities. Japan also decided to join the U.S. in developing and financing missile defense shield and its defense agency was upgraded to a full ministry in 2007. Parliament also passed a bill calling for a referendum as early as 2010 to amend the U.S.-imposed "peace constitution."

Mr. Koizumi and his successor, Shinzo Abe, helped win approval of these changes by emphasizing nationalism. The country's neighbors were outraged by Mr. Koizumi's annual visits to Yasukuni shrine, which pays tribute to several war criminals, by Tokyo's recent approval of revisionist textbooks that whitewash Japan's wartime history and by Mr. Abe's refusal to fully acknowledge Japan's military's role in coercing women into sex slavery during the war. Mr. Abe, who gained popularity as a Cabinet minister by pursuing the issue of past abductions of Japanese citizens by North Korea, took a hawkish stance toward Pyongyang.

Mr. Abe did mend relations to an extent with China, which became Japan's largest trading partner in 2004, and with South Korea. Beijing had refused to hold summit meetings with Mr. Koizumi because of his visits to the shrine, but Mr. Abe remained ambiguous about his stance toward the issue and made a trip to Beijing and Seoul in October 2006, a few weeks after taking office.

Mr Abe abruptly stepped down in September 2007. His successor, Yasuo Fukuda, visited China in December 2007, seeking to further improve relations between the two Asian giants. On Sept. 1, 2008, Mr. Fukuda, whose popularity had sunk to Mr. Abe's levels, announced his own resignation in a similarly abrupt and unexpected manner.

Taro Aso, an outspoken conservative who campaigned with promises to stimulate Japan’s flagging economy, was chosen on Sept. 22, 2008, by the governing Liberal Democratic Party to become the next prime minister.

On Jan. 12, 2009, the global financial crisis prompted the leaders of South Korea and Japan to set aside their countries’ century of disputes and agree to cooperate to meet immediate economic challenges.

Japan’s export-dependent economy has been hit especially hard by the downturn in the United States and Europe because those economies are key markets for corporate giants like Panasonic, Nissan and Toyota.

Data on industrial output, unemployment and deflation added to the bleak picture and highlighted how difficult it would be for Japan to extricate itself from the recession in 2009.--Chieko Tsuneoka, Jan. 6, 2008; updated Jan. 17, 2009

 

Japan stocks decline as recession dents demand for materials
Japan stocks slumped as prospects for a prolonged recession dimmed the earnings outlook for manufacturers and commodities producers.

Aso’s latest stimulus worth ¥23 trillion
Prime Minister Taro Aso unveiled a ¥23 trillion stimulus package Friday that will allow up to ¥12 trillion in public funds to be injected into financial institutions, far more than the ¥2 trillion initially planned.

Job-reneging firms’ names to be released
Aiming to embarrass companies into better behavior, the labor ministry plans to publish the names of those that withdrew job offers made to graduating students in an attempt to discourage unilateral cancellations, sources said.

Bill to redress uninsured children to be enacted
A bill to redress the issue of children without health insurance is likely to be enacted at the current Diet session as the Liberal Democratic Party and the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan agreed Wednesday to hold talks over the bill jointly proposed by three opposition parties, parliamentary sources said.

Nippon Oil, Nippon Mining to integrate business
Nippon Oil Corp., the largest oil distributor in Japan, and major distributor Nippon Mining Holdings Inc., will integrate their business by establishing a holding company, possibly in the fall of 2009, sources familiar with the plan said Thursday.

Mental test to be conducted on alleged attacker of ex-official, kin
Police decided Wednesday to conduct a mental examination on a man who is believed to have been involved in the murder of a former vice health minister and his wife, and the assault of the wife of another former vice health minister, investigative sources said.

Gov’t to effectively halt spending cut policy to bolster economy
The government is set to effectively halt its spending cut policy in compiling the budget for fiscal 2009 starting in April, in a bid to prioritize stimulus measures over efforts to improve the nation’s fiscal health, government and ruling party sources said Wednesday.

List of 719 cases of harassment at Waseda University leaked from computer
A list of 719 cases of harassment that allegedly occurred at Waseda University in Tokyo has leaked on the Internet, university officials said.

Government panel deems 37% of spending by NPO’s wasteful
A government panel tasked with studying ways to eliminate wasteful use of taxpayers’ money has proposed a 37 percent cut, worth about 350 billion yen, in funding for government-authorized nonprofit organizations in fiscal 2009 compared with the corresponding figure in fiscal 2006.

US policy adviser predicts dollar slipping below 90 yen
Lawrence Lindsey, a former economic policy adviser to U.S. President George W. Bush, told Japanese lawmakers in Tokyo on Wednesday the U.S. dollar could slip below 90 yen, the lawmakers said.

Japan News Review
The Japanese News, in English

 

Those pestiferous donations
Irregularities over political donations continue to annoy main political parties. The Democratic Party of Japan was rattled by the arrest in March of then party leader Ichiro Ozawa's chief secretary on suspicion of illegally handling political donations from two political bodies linked to Nishimatsu Construction Co. Mr. Ozawa resigned as party leader in May. Now the current DPJ leader, Yukio Hatoyama, is in hot water. But irregularities involving Liberal Democratic Party politicians also have surfaced. The situation is putting a drag on Japanese politics. Mr. Hatoyama has admitted that his office used the names of dead people and those who did not make donations in statements for a...

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Dwindling ability to lead
The mini-reshuffle of the Cabinet this week shows that Prime Minister Taro Aso's power to lead his Liberal Democratic Party in a direction he desires has dwindled. He had sought a substantial reshuffle of both the Cabinet and the party leadership to buoy his administration's sagging approval rate. But resistance from within the LDP left him leeway only to fill two Cabinet posts concurrently held by other ministers. Mr. Aso picked two LDP legislators to fill the posts of fiscal and economic policy minister and chairman of the National Public Safety Commission. This decision has lightened the load of Mr. Kaoru Yosano, who has played a triple role as finance minister, financial services...

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Osaka fails to report swine flu mutation
An Osaka health official found a genetic mutation of swine flu that is resistant to Tamiflu on June 18 — nearly two weeks before the "first" finding was reported in Denmark — but failed to disclose it, the health ministry said Thursday. The mutation, found in a woman in her 40s in Toyonaka who caught the H1N1 influenza A virus in May, is the first reported case of Tamiflu-resistant swine flu in Japan.

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Amano voted in as first Asian head of IAEA in sixth round of ballots
VIENNA (Kyodo) Yukiya Amano, Japan's ambassador to the Permanent Mission to the International Organizations in Vienna, was elected the next director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency on Thursday. Amano, 62, won against South Africa's Abdul Samad Minty after six rounds of voting, making him the first IAEA chief from Asia.

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Aso fate rides on Tokyo showdown
The election campaign for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly that kicked off Friday is the preliminary battle for the looming Lower House election and could determine the fate of Prime Minister Taro Aso and his Cabinet, analysts said. Voting for the assembly will take place July 12, while the other ongoing political showdown, the Shizuoka gubernatorial election, will be decided Sunday. Victory is vital for Aso in both elections, said Etsushi Tanifuji, a political science professor at Waseda University.

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Tobacco Cafe an oasis for smokers
Salaried workers feeling cornered by the ever-expanding ban on smoking in Tokyo can rest easy at a recently opened cafe in the Shinbashi district that caters exclusively to smokers. At Cafe Tobacco, smoking is allowed on all three floors, according to its operator, Towa Food Service Co.

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Recession pinches G8 Africa aid
Africa shared top billing with climate change at last year's Group of Eight summit, but the global financial crisis has since undermined developed nations' efforts to meet the financial commitments they made to the continent. Advocacy groups say assistance from the G8 is needed more than ever. Africa has been badly affected by the financial meltdown, with economies dragged down by high food and fuel prices, as well as declines in private capital and remittances from overseas.

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Foreign students struggling: survey
Public schools are accommodating an unprecedented number of foreign students struggling to learn Japanese, while nearly 30,000 of them have been found to require constant help in learning the language, an education ministry survey showed Friday. Publicly run elementary, junior high and high schools nationwide reported a record 28,575 students who they thought need to learn Japanese to keep up with classes or communicate in daily life as of last September, up 13 percent from a year earlier, according to the survey results.

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Toyota mulls using NUMMI for Prius
NAGOYA (Kyodo) Toyota Motor Corp. may operate the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant in California on its own to produce the Prius hybrid after General Motors Corp. withdrew from the joint venture, a senior company official said Thursday. "We've upgraded the facilities during the past five to six years, so it would be physically possible to manufacture the Prius," the official said.

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Amano signals goal is to fight proliferation
VIENNA (AP) The International Atomic Energy Agency picked Yukiya Amano as its next chief, ending a months-long succession battle to replace Nobel Peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei for the watchdog's top post. After the agency's 35-nation board made its decision Thursday, Amano touched on the devastation that U.S. atomic bombs wreaked on his country in pledging to do his utmost to prevent the spread of nuclear arms.

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Net bonus income down ¥100,000
The net bonus income of households headed by corporate employees fell by an average of ¥100,000 this year amid the recession, a survey by a life insurance firm showed Thursday. The survey of 500 housewives conducted in mid-June by Sompo Japan DIY Life Insurance Co. found that the after-tax bonus income of 53.6 percent of the households had fallen from a year earlier, almost two times more than in last year's survey. On average, net bonus income fell by ¥98,000 to ¥655,000.

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SriLankan Air chief beats tourism drum
The end of a 30-year-old civil war will be an uplifting factor in attracting foreign tourists to Sri Lanka, the visiting chairman of the island nation's flagship airline said Friday in Tokyo. "Under the impact of the global economic setback, the downtrend in foreign tourists visiting Sri Lanka will prevail till the yearend," said SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe. "But we are witnessing signs of an upturn for the next year."

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Five years sought for Nova founder
OSAKA (Kyodo) Prosecutors demanded five years in prison Friday for former Nova Corp. President Nozomu Sahashi, who stands charged with embezzling ¥320 million in funds for employment benefits shortly before the giant language school chain went bankrupt in 2007. "I deeply apologize. Everything falls under my responsibility," Sahashi, 57, said as his Osaka District Court trial opened.

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Emperor, Empress begin trip to Canada, Hawaii
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko embarked Friday on a 15-day visit to Canada and Hawaii to promote good will and friendship as well as to interact with people of Japanese ancestry there. The couple's official visit to Canada, the first since the Emperor ascended the throne in 1989, will mark the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Canada. It is their first overseas trip since a European tour in May 2007 that covered Sweden, Britain and three Baltic states.

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Tamaki to become face of Japanese finance on July 14
Rintaro Tamaki, head of the Finance Ministry's International Bureau, will become Japan's next top financial diplomat in charge of international affairs and currency issues, the ministry said Friday. Tamaki, 55, will take up the post of vice minister for international affairs on July 14, succeeding Naoyuki Shinohara, the ministry said.

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Returned to sender: 472,000 cash handouts
As of June 26, 471,567 applications for the government's pump-priming cash handout program had been returned to municipalities, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry said Friday, citing incorrect addresses for the failed deliveries. The ministry said it will step up its publicity efforts to call on households that have not received the cash benefits of up to ¥20,000 per person to file their applications.

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New Minamata redress bill swiftly clears Lower House
A new law offering relief to Minamata disease patients cleared the Lower House Friday, a day after the ruling and opposition camps officially agreed to loosen the eligibility requirements for patients seeking compensation. The bill broadens the scope for the first time since 1995, when the government decided to compensate over 10,000 formerly unacknowledged patients. It will now be sent to the Upper House to be officially enacted as early as next week.

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Party chiefs spar as metro race kicks off
Official campaigning began Friday for the July 12 Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election, widely seen as a bellwether for the general election that must be held by October. The focus is on whether the Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling bloc will retain its majority or if the Democratic Party of Japan becomes the leading party, boosting expectations that it will win the national election and achieve a change of government.

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Japanese buys into English soccer club
PLYMOUTH, England (AP) A Japanese businessman has become the majority shareholder at English second-tier soccer club Plymouth. Yasuaki Kagami has increased his stake from 20 percent to 38 percent in the New World consortium, which now owns 51 percent of the club.

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NEC seeks chip ally in Toshiba or Panasonic
NEC Electronics Corp., which has inked an integration contract with fellow chip maker Renesas Technology Corp., is eyeing either Toshiba Corp. or Panasonic Corp. as its partner in developing an advanced semiconductor system, President Junshi Yamaguchi indicated Thursday. "We are set to hold discussions on how to consolidate the process development after inking the contract for our integration, since it would be odd to have two kinds of development," Yamaguchi said in an interview.

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Post offices face '17 cold-shoulder
Japan Post Holdings Inc.'s two financial units could unilaterally stop consigning work to its mail service unit in 2017, dealing a blow to post offices nationwide, sources said Thursday. Although the two financial companies — Japan Post Bank Co. and Japan Post Insurance Co. — have their own outlets, they use some 24,000 post offices run by the mailing service, Japan Post Network Co., to operate their banking and insurance businesses.

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Coins to mark 20th anniversary of Emperor's enthronement
Japan will issue 100,000 ¥10,000 gold coins and 10 million ¥500 nickel-brass coins later this year to mark the 20th anniversary of Emperor Akihito's enthronement, the Finance Ministry said Friday. The pure-gold coin will depict a phoenix and the Imperial Palace's Nijubashi double-arched bridge on the front and the chrysanthemum seal on the reverse. It will weigh 20 grams and measure 28 mm in diameter.

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Iraq oil minister may visit for investment talks
Iraq's oil minister may visit Tokyo next week and discuss the prospect of Japanese investment as the Middle Eastern nation plans to increase petroleum production. Hussain al-Shahristani has been invited to a Japan-Iraq investment seminar on July 10 organized by the trade ministry, said Kiyoshi Mori, director at the ministry's Middle East-Africa division.

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South Korean talent agent sought over starlet's suicide deported
A former talent agency chief linked to the suicide of South Korean actress Jang Ja Yeon was deported back to South Korea on Friday from Narita airport near Tokyo. Kim Jong Seoung, 39, formerly the head of Jang's management agency, was arrested in Tokyo last week for overstaying his legal permit to stay until June 2. In April, South Korean police issued an arrest warrant for Kim and others over various crimes in connection with Jang's suicide in March, including forcible molestation and defamation.

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Old army maps find peacetime role
SENDAI (Kyodo) Environmental research and disaster-prevention are among peaceful goals Japanese researchers are striving for as they peruse thousands of topographic maps of the Asia-Pacific region produced secretly by the Imperial Japanese Army. Sendai-based Tohoku University has posted about 6,000 of the military maps, called "gaihozu" (maps of foreign countries), on its Gaihozu Digital Archive Web site (dbs.library.tohoku.ac.jp/gaihozu/).

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Antarctic team gets 'veggie factory'
A "vegetable factory" that enables plants to be grown indoors under fluorescent lights free of agrochemicals is proving a welcome addition for the Japanese research expedition in the Antarctic. The factory used technology based on the Green Room plant created in 2006 by Mirai Co. of Tokyo on the ground floor of a three-story building in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture.

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NEETs on rise among young adults
The number of NEETs, or people not involved in employment, education or training, is rising among those in their mid-20s and older, a government white paper said Friday. The 2009 white paper on youths said NEETs aged between 15 and 24 stood at 260,000 in 2008, down 30,000 from 2002, and that the population of NEETs aged between 25 and 34 rose by 30,000 to 380,000 over the same period.

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KHI puts new dock in China on hold
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.'s shipbuilding venture in China will delay construction of a second dock in Dalian by three years as the global recession dries up demand. The plan will be postponed until 2015 instead of early 2012, said Tomokazu Taniguchi, president of Kobe-based Kawasaki's shipbuilding unit. Taniguchi declined to provide details of the funding, which will be shared between the Kawasaki group and partner China Ocean Shipping Group Co., or Cosco. Kawasaki will also offer technical assistance, he said.

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Tanabata - Japanese Star Festival
Tanabata is a Japanese summer festival celebrated on July 7th or August 8th, depending on regions. People traditionally write their wishes on tanzaku papers and hang them on colorfully decorated...

It's Shopping Time
Although the weather is gloomy, it's a great time to shop in Japan. Most department stores and shopping complexes are having summer clearance sales until late July. Also, a number...

Campgrounds in Japan
As camping has become a popular leisure activity among Japanese, thousands of campgrounds have been built all over the country. Find a nice campground in Japan to enjoy being in...

Poll: What's Your Favorite Destination in Japan?
If you have traveled to Japan, what's your favorite place? Even though you have never been to Japan, where would you like to visit if you go? Vote on your...

Japanese Wedding
It's the wedding season. Although traditional Japanese wedding ceremonies are held at shrines in Shinto style, a variety of wedding styles are observed in Japan. Find out what Japanese weddings...

Kyoto Gion Matsuri
The Gion Matsuri is held from July 1 to 31 in Kyoto every year. The city is in a summer festive mood during the period, and you see many...

Free Cafes in Japan
There are nice cafes where you can have a plate of rice crackers and drinks, such as coffee, tea, Japanese tea, and juice for free in Japan. The cafes are...

Mt. Fuji Climbing Season to Begin
Mt. Fuji is one of the best attractions in Japan. It's said about 300,000 people from around the world try to climb the mountain every year. The official climbing season...

Tokyo Model Train Bars
Bar Ginza Panorama have been popular places for Japanese railway fans and opened a new branch in Tokyo Shibuya last month. In the nice counter bars, customers can watch model...

Best Arts and Crafts Destinations
Where do you think is the best place in Japan to enjoy arts? A traveler to Japan wants your suggestions. "I am planning a trip mid-October to Japan and because...

About Japan Travel
Japan Travel

 

Largest Treasury Bond Caper in History?
Is someone anonymously dumping treasuries, or is it just the work of a bold counterfeiter?

Happy Memorial Day. I Have a Nuclear Bomb.
An update on the “post-American world” courtesy of Kim Jong Il

American Gold? No Thanks!
The Chinese and Japanese are falling out of love with the dollar.

Japan Warming to the Idea of Nukes
Tokyo has a unique perspective on the horror of using nuclear weapons, but that perspective is changing.

Tensions Mount in Asia
An update on North Korea

North Korea Raises Its Ugly Head
Once again, North Korea is clamoring for attention.

Japanese Opposition Wants American Troops Out of Japan

Japan to Make "Clear Shift" Away From U.S.
How much longer is Japan going to be a U.S. ally?

Is Japan Turning Its Back on Its Pacifist Constitution?
Japan moves another step away from post-World War II remorse and a step closer to a world-class military.

America Calls on Japan to Reinterpret Its Pacifist Constitution
But should Japan oblige, it would not strengthen America’s position on the world scene.

Tokyo Trying to Expand Naval Power
Japan moves another step away from post-World War II remorse and a step closer to a world-class military.

How This Recession Could Change the World
The falling price of oil, China’s stimulus plan, and a developing U.S. bond market massacre. Say goodbye to America’s high standard of living.

What the Fannie and Freddie Nationalization Means
The Fannie and Freddie takeover shows the banking crisis is getting worse. What are the implications?

Russia Constructs Its First Oil Pipeline to Asia
Moscow is likely to become a chief energy supplier for both Tokyo and Beijing.

China Becomes Japan's Largest Trade Partner
What do Japan’s strengthening trade relations with Beijing portend about its alliance with America?

America Exhorts Japan to Increase Military Spending
But should Japan oblige, it would not strengthen America’s position on the world scene.

Can Australia Defend Itself?
Is change coming in defense and security cooperation between Washington and Canberra?

A Military Love Triangle: America, China and Japan
Both America and China want to be Japan’s military partner. Japan will have to choose between them.

Japan Furious at U.S. Military Misconduct
Could the actions of a few irresponsible U.S. soldiers further crack the Japan-American military alliance?

Stock Markets Plunge Around the World
Fears of an oncoming American recession have sent global share prices sliding.

Fukuda Focuses Japan on Asian Unity
Japan’s prime minister is strengthening ties with China. What will happen to the Japanese-American alliance?

Chinese Warship Injects New Vigor Into Sino-Japanese Relations
China sent a naval destroyer to Japan to prove to Japan and the world that these two nations have nothing to fear from each other.

Chrysler Cuts Jobs in U.S.
As Toyota celebrates the 50th anniversary of its entry into the U.S. market, the American manufacturing industry absorbs yet another blow.

Japan Ends Support for Afghan War
Japan will no longer provide logistical support for coalition forces in the Indian Ocean. This development shows the disengagement of Tokyo from Washington.

Japanese Corporations Pay for Iranian Oil With Yen
Iran and Japan have taken another step in making the dollar’s dominance a thing of the past.

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