author

 
Menu
Search
 
November 22, 2024
 

Today's print edition

Home Delivery
Subscribe for more access

Meta

Takahiro Fukada
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Dec 9, 2008
Shinkansen about more than speed
Shinkansen stand as global symbols of Japanese technological innovation. Debuting just in time for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the bullet trains continue to carry people across the nation at record speed.
BUSINESS
Dec 4, 2008
Aso to break with Koizumi reforms
With the economy in recession and public approval ratings low, Prime Minister Taro Aso signaled Wednesday that Japan must depart from the reformist fiscal policies pursued by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his successors.
BUSINESS
Dec 3, 2008
BOJ takes steps to thaw credit crunch
In an extraordinary monetary policy meeting Tuesday, the Bank of Japan said it would help companies get operating funds toward the yearend by accepting lower-rated corporate debt from banks as collateral for loans.
BUSINESS
Nov 29, 2008
Tax Commission pressures Aso to clarify timing of sales tax hike
The government's Tax Commission on Friday urged Prime Minister Taro Aso to clarify when the 5 percent consumption tax would be hiked to deal with the country's ballooning social security costs.
BUSINESS
Nov 27, 2008
Major life insurers' core profits tumble in first half
Six major life insurers saw their core business profits fall in the six months to September amid the ongoing global turmoil, according to earnings reports released Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Nov 22, 2008
BOJ leaves key interest rate unchanged at 0.3%
The Bank of Japan left the key interest rate unchanged Friday at 0.3 percent, as widely expected, amid a stagnating domestic economy, a decelerating global economy and financial turmoil.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 20, 2008
No bonds, at least for now
Despite growing calls for the government to spend more to stimulate the economy, Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa reiterated Wednesday his ministry currently has no plans to issue deficit-covering bonds. But he also indicated the tax revenue situation may make them necessary.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 19, 2008
Profits nosedive at major banking groups
Net profit at the three major banking groups fell in the six months to September amid the ongoing global economic turmoil, according to their earnings results for the first business half.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 18, 2008
Japan slides into recession
The economy shrank at an annualized pace of 0.4 percent in the three months through September, posting its second consecutive quarter of negative growth amid the global financial crisis and indicating Japan has entered a recession for the first time since 2001.
BUSINESS
Nov 15, 2008
SMFG's group net profit plunges 51%
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. said Friday its consolidated net profit plunged 51.2 percent from a year ago to ¥83.3 billion in the April-September half amid the ongoing global financial turmoil.
BUSINESS
Nov 14, 2008
Capital-hungry Mizuho to issue preferred shares
Mizuho Financial Group Inc. said Thursday it will issue preferred stock to up the group's capital base amid the ongoing global financial turmoil.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 11, 2008
In tough economic times, tourism boss finds visitor boost a tall order
Japan's ailing regional economies can be revitalized by tapping the sightseeing potential of growing Asian countries, according to Japan Tourism Agency Commissioner Yoshiaki Hompo.
BUSINESS
Nov 6, 2008
Great Depression different
In a bid to stabilize financial markets, Bank of Japan Gov. Masaaki Shirakawa denied Wednesday that the current global economic crisis is similar to the Great Depression of the 1930s.
BUSINESS
Nov 6, 2008
Obama victory to boost Japan, experts predict
At least in the short run, the Japanese economy is likely to benefit from Democratic Sen. Barack Obama's victory in the U.S. presidential election, as large-scale economic stimulus packages loom, economists said Wednesday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 1, 2008
BOJ lowers its key lending rate to 0.3%
The Bank of Japan cut its benchmark interest rate Friday to 0.3 percent from 0.5 percent, joining other central banks in moving to limit further damage from the global financial crisis.
BUSINESS
Oct 31, 2008
Aso unveils ¥27 trillion stimulus package
Prime Minister Taro Aso unveiled a fresh stimulus package Thursday that includes about ¥2 trillion in benefits payments to households, expressway toll cuts and record tax breaks on home loans.
BUSINESS
Oct 29, 2008
Nomura posts loss but expects gains via Lehman acquisitions
Nomura Holdings Inc. said Tuesday its group net loss widened to ¥72.9 billion in the quarter that ended in September due to losses related to the global financial turmoil.
BUSINESS
Oct 28, 2008
Aso's call for action fails to buoy Nikkei
Tokyo stocks renewed their plunge on Monday, with the key Nikkei index falling 6 percent to a fresh 26-year low despite Prime Minister Taro Aso's call earlier in the day for emergency measures to help stabilize the market.
JAPAN
Oct 18, 2008
Cigarette price of ¥1,000 a pack would save 190,000 lives, health studies say
Cigarettes should cost at least ¥1,000 to discourage young people from smoking — a price that would also help sharply reduce deaths caused by the public nuisance, according to two research groups funded by the health ministry.
BUSINESS
Oct 11, 2008
Yamato Life customers to get help
Yamato Life Insurance Co.'s decision to file for bankruptcy protection sent shock waves throughout the industry Friday as it became the first major victim in Japan of the global financial crisis.
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Russia launched intercontinental ballistic missile during attack on Ukraine, Kyiv says
A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile is launched during a test from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in Northern Arkhangelsk region of Russia, in this still image captured from video released on Oct. 29.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?
By Kathryn Wortley

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

SWCC keeps changing with keyword ‘new challenges’
SWCC keeps changing with keyword ‘new challenges’

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS note

Read more

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER