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July 16, 2024
 

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Kanako Takahara

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Kanako Takahara
Kanako Takahara is a staff writer who has covered national politics, diplomacy, business and the economy at The Japan Times. A graduate of Sophia University, she is currently a national news editor.
BUSINESS
Jun 29, 2007
TBS wins proxy fight to get takeover-defense measures
Tokyo Broadcasting System Inc. scored a victory in a proxy fight Thursday with Rakuten Inc. as its shareholders approved the broadcaster's plan to introduce takeover-defense measures that could foil the Internet mall operator's attempt to increase its stake in TBS to more than 20 percent.
BUSINESS
Jun 28, 2007
Skeptical shareholders get apology from Fujiya
Fujiya Co. President Yasufumi Sakurai apologized Wednesday to shareholders for the confectioner's food sanitation problems that forced the suspension of operations at nearly 900 retail outlets and restaurants.
BUSINESS
Jun 27, 2007
Pressure building for transparency in mobile fees
A government panel Tuesday urged mobile phone operators to introduce a new fee system by 2010 that clearly separates communications charges from the cost of handsets so consumers know what they're paying for.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 23, 2007
Windsor Hotel prepares for second wind
The Windsor Hotel Toya in western Hokkaido has a lot of things going for it.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 19, 2007
TBS' Rakuten snub reflects protected world
Hiroshi Inoue, president of Tokyo Broadcasting System Inc., does not hide his displeasure when he talks about online shopping mall operator Rakuten Inc.'s attempt to make the broadcaster its affiliate.
BUSINESS
Jun 16, 2007
Unknowns impeding rate hike: Fukui
The Bank of Japan will raise its benchmark interest rate only after it gains more confidence in its outlook for the Japanese and global economies, BOJ Gov. Toshihiko Fukui said Friday.
BUSINESS
Jun 12, 2007
FSA orders megabank BTMU to improve poor investment trust service
The Financial Services Agency ordered the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ on Monday to improve its business practices after a probe by authorities exposed poor treatment of investment trust services customers.
BUSINESS
Jun 7, 2007
Rakuten seeks disclosure order for TBS deals
Rakuten Inc. made another move to make Tokyo Broadcasting System Inc. its affiliate Wednesday when it petitioned the Tokyo District Court to order TBS to disclose its share transaction records.
BUSINESS
Jun 6, 2007
TBS affiliates say no to Rakuten
Local broadcasters affiliated with Tokyo Broadcasting System Inc. voiced strong opposition Tuesday to Internet mall operator Rakuten Inc.'s bid to make TBS an affiliate.
BUSINESS
Jun 1, 2007
Resona opens arms to foreign tieups
Foreign firms may be considered for business tieups as the Resona banking group seeks to shore up its banking operations, the newly appointed president of Resona Holdings Inc. said Thursday.
BUSINESS
May 31, 2007
Revenues tumble at major life insurers
Premium revenues for the nation's major life insurers dropped in business 2006, reflecting fallout from revelations of an industrywide failure to properly pay out benefits, according to their earnings reports released Wednesday.
BUSINESS
May 29, 2007
BTMU ties with Disney for online bank service
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and Walt Disney Japan launched a new online banking service Monday using Disney characters in its interface to attract female customers and families.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 29, 2007
Food prices rise as more crops go into producing biofuels
The increasing demand for biofuel, which is derived from biomass — usually plants — has taken a bite out of supplies of crops and other farm products worldwide. The redirection of crops from mouths to fuel tanks is reflected in the rise of prices of ordinary food items in Japan.
BUSINESS
May 25, 2007
Fujiya descends into 8 billion yen net loss
Fujiya Co. announced Thursday it posted a whopping net loss of 8 billion yen in the 2006 business year, down from a 1.8 billion yen loss the year before, after being hit by a sanitation scandal that forced the famous confectioner to suspend operations in about 890 shops and restaurants nationwide.
BUSINESS
May 24, 2007
Banks riding out consumer-lender woes
The nation's three major banking groups saw profits drop in 2006 because of losses at their consumer-finance affiliates, but analysts are growing optimistic that the banks have recovered enough to roll with the blows.
BUSINESS
May 23, 2007
Mizuho group profit falls 4.4% on Orient's losses
Mizuho Financial Group said Tuesday its group net profit dropped 4.4 percent to 621 billion yen in the business year to March on losses incurred by consumer lender Orient Corp., Mizuho's affiliate known for its Orico card.
BUSINESS
May 22, 2007
SMFG reports 35.7% drop in net profit
The Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, one of Japan's three largest banking groups, reported Monday that group net profit dropped 35.7 percent to 441.4 billion yen in 2006 because of losses from consumer lending affiliate Promise Co. and weak banking operations.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 19, 2007
Farm concession said key to U.S. FTA
Opening up Japan's politically sensitive agriculture market is the key to establishing a free-trade agreement between Japan and the United States, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's vice president for Asia.
BUSINESS
May 18, 2007
Rakuten refuses to limit TBS stake goal to 20%
Rakuten Inc. President Hiroshi Mikitani said Thursday that he won't limit his acquisition goal for shares of Tokyo Broadcasting System Inc. to 20 percent.
BUSINESS
May 17, 2007
Sony logs 68% slump in operating profit
Sony Corp. announced Wednesday that its operating profit plunged 68.3 percent to 71.75 billion yen in the 2006 business year because of price cuts on the PlayStation 3 and the cost of recalling lithium-ion batteries.
Who needs AI when you have Hatsune Miku?
Over the first six months of 2024, a handful of songs using Vocaloid singer Hatsune Miku’s voice have enjoyed widespread attention, underlining a global interest in the character and the technology she represents.
Bloodied Trump survives assassination attempt at political rally
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is surrounded and evacuated by Secret Service agents at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Trump was rushed off stage at the rally after shots rang out.
Shooter came within inches of killing Trump, but left few clues as to why
An aerial view shows the stage where Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump had been standing during an assassination attempt the day before, and the roof of a nearby building where a gunman was shot dead by law enforcement, in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Sunday.
Yen’s woes seem too big for even a BOJ hike this month to solve
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
After Trump shooting, U.S. presidential race might take a violent turn
United States Secret Service Counter Snipers stand guard on a rooftop during a campaign rally for U.S. President Donald Trump in Avoca, Pennsylvania, in 2020.
No AC this summer? No problem (for me).
Think air conditioning is a requirement for a Tokyo summer? Think again.
She’s paying ¥1 million to help behind the scenes at the Paris Olympics
Mai Tarumi, who previously volunteered at the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, has a travel budget of ¥1 million for her trip to volunteer at the Paris Games.

Podcast

You can often see generations of families enjoying performances together at Fuji Rock Festival.
Japan’s summer music festivals are feeling the heat in more ways than one

Longform

Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
By Tomoko Otake

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