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Atsushi Kodera
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 7, 2015
Japan's convenience stores catering more to elderly as demographics shift
The nation's convenience stores are changing with the times, shedding their image as places for young shoppers keen on fast food, concert tickets and comic books, and increasingly catering to older clientele.
Reference / Q&A
Apr 15, 2015
Is China-led bank a lost opportunity?
China's proposed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is causing a stir as the majority of Group of 20 leading economies sign on as founding members, while the U.S. and Japan remain on the sidelines.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 14, 2015
Mount Zao may blow its top: agency
The Meteorological Agency warns that Mount Zao could soon erupt, threatening a popular ski resort in the Tohoku region.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy / ABENOMICS — THE BOTTOM LINE
Apr 3, 2015
Inflation eludes, stock rise helps few, but yen's fall hurts many
As the second anniversary of the BOJ's radical deflation-busting program approaches, economists question the merits of “Abenomics” and whether frothy stocks and a weaker yen deserve praise.
JAPAN
Apr 1, 2015
Tokyo amends noise-pollution rules in bid to draw more nurseries
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government amended its rules on noise pollution on Wednesday in an effort to make it easier for nurseries to open in the capital, where the number of children yet to find a day care facility is the largest among all prefectures.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 25, 2015
Foreigners urged to swap alien certificates for new cards by July deadline
The Immigration Bureau is calling on foreigners who have not done so to exchange their old-style Alien Registration Certificate cards for new Residence Cards before the transition period ends in July.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Mar 23, 2015
NHK beats commercial TV stations to simulcast punch
NHK's announcement earlier this month that it will start trial simultaneous broadcasts of its programming on the Internet signaled a new era in TV broadcasting.
Japan Times
JAPAN / 3/11 STILL BEING FELT
Mar 13, 2015
Tepco redress leaves lives in limbo
Until four years ago, Tetsuzo Tsuboi was an established shiitake grower in Miyakoji, part of the city of Tamura, Fukushima Prefecture, shipping 2 tons of fresh mushrooms and 800 kg of dried ones annually. He also sold oak logs, on which the fungi can be grown, to other farmers.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 3, 2015
Experts urge caution after hostage crisis
Japanese companies are apparently keeping calm following the Islamic State hostage crisis that resulted in the brutal murder of two nationals, but crisis management experts say businesses should nonetheless take this opportunity to review how prepared they are for such potential dangers.
JAPAN
Jan 28, 2015
Prisoner swap without pilot thought difficult, Jordanians say
As an apparent Wednesday evening deadline approached, in which extremists again threatened Kenji Goto with death, the freelance journalist's friends, relatives and many others nationwide listened for word of whether Amman would free Sajida al-Rishawi, the Iraqi woman the extremists named as the price...
Japan Times
JAPAN / DAVOS SPECIAL 2015
Jan 21, 2015
Forging better Japan through 'quiet revolution'
Entrepreneur Yoshito Hori has a strong sense of mission to guide Japan to become a better place as it undergoes what he calls a "quiet revolution," and he thinks his role is outside of politics.
BUSINESS / Economy / ANALYSIS
Jan 14, 2015
Budget was no easy feat amid ¥1.5 trillion tax revenue shortfall
The Abe administration faced a daunting task to make up for a revenue shortfall from a delay in the consumption tax hike, and amid a snowballing social security bill, analysts say.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jan 12, 2015
Residences left empty posing problems across the nation
The population keeps aging and shrinking, but new housing keeps getting built even though Japan has a glut of unused dwellings.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 5, 2015
Only modest growth expected for Japan's economy in fiscal 2015
The still-faltering economy, hit hard by April's consumption tax hike as well as bad weather last summer, is forecast to grow only modestly in fiscal 2015 despite the Abe administration's latest economic stimulus package.
JAPAN
Dec 25, 2014
41% of Hello Work job ads are misleading, ministry probe finds
A labor ministry probe into wanted ads placed on the Hello Work employment network finds that many mislead job-seekers with false claims about hours and pay.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 19, 2014
BOJ leaves assessment, monetary policy unchanged despite recession
The Bank of Japan on Wednesday left its assessment of the economy largely unchanged despite the second-quarter gross domestic product data released Monday indicating Japan has slipped into a recession.
BUSINESS / Economy / ANALYSIS
Nov 14, 2014
Abe likely to delay tax hike; economists warn of future ramifications
Delaying a key measure to address Japan's enormous public debt would only lead to a larger fiscal problem down the road, economists warn.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Nov 12, 2014
Shimane retains title as home to most beautiful skin in Japan
Women in Shimane Prefecture have the most beautiful facial skin among the nation's 47 prefectures, while those in Gunma Prefecture are the least blessed in terms of skin condition, according to a major cosmetics manufacturer.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Nov 3, 2014
GPIF investment shift could bring either bonanza or bust
Friday's announcement of changes to the massive ¥127 trillion public pension fund's investment policy was headline news.
Japan Times
JAPAN / GENERATIONAL CHANGE
Nov 2, 2014
Crowdfunding leader wants others' dreams to come true
Bill Gates, the late Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg all hit the big time by persevering for years in the pursuit of their dreams. They continue to be an inspiration to entrepreneurs the world over who dream of one day growing their own companies into the next Microsoft Corp., Apple Inc. or Facebook Inc.,...

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