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April 01, 2025
 

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Yuka Obayashi
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 20, 2022
Japan sounds out refiners on buying Russian oil from Sakhalin-2, sources say
The Sakhalin Island complex, partly owned by Gazprom and Japanese companies, is vital to Japan's energy security as it accounts for 9% of the country's liquefied natural gas imports.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 25, 2022
Nippon Steel eyes more stakes in coking coal mines to secure stable supply
The steelmaker says sanctions on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine have squeezed an already-tight supply of commodities such as metallurgical coal.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 16, 2022
Japan to resume offshore wind auctions in December with revised rules
An auction in northern Japan was abruptly suspended in March after complaints from businesses about the lack of clarity around the bidding process.
BUSINESS
Aug 5, 2022
Japan government asks Sakhalin-2 stakeholders to 'think positively' about new entity
State gas company Gazprom will receive just over 50% of the entity replacing Sakhalin Energy, the current operator.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 15, 2022
Jera to start new coal-fired power plant to ease Japan's electricity crunch
The move represents a rare example of a new coal power plant being built in a developed country, as many industrialized nations have been shutting down coal plants for years.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 22, 2022
JERA prepares to revive a second aged power unit at Anegasaki plant
Japan's energy supply problems relate to various domestic issues, including the suspension of some plants after March earthquakes in Fukushima.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 25, 2022
Insurance is Russian oil's Achilles' heel
Insurers from Europe and the United States, which dominate the international marine market, are curtailing coverage for Russian oil tankers, industry sources say.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 20, 2022
Japanese refiner Eneos to buy alternative to Russian crude from Middle East
'For now, we intend to get alternatives from existing trading partners such as Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait,' Chairman Tsutomu Sugimori said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 11, 2022
Japan looks to top up LNG reserves as possible Russian gas cutoff looms
Utilities are scrambling for already stretched energy sources as resource-poor Japan joins the West in punishing Russia for its actions in Ukraine.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 7, 2022
Firms in Japan start to feel the heat over Russia ties as rivals shun Moscow
Executives say privately they are worried about reputational damage, a sign corporate Japan is — however reluctantly — becoming more responsive to pressure on social issues.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 2, 2022
Japanese utilities reel — some more than others — as sky-high fuel prices hit earnings
Regional utilities in Kyushu and Kansai fared better than most thanks to their ability to restart nuclear power plants.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Nov 9, 2021
Japan, once a leader on climate, under fire at COP26 over coal use
The country's refusal to sign a pact to phase out the fuel was short-sighted, critics have said.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Sep 14, 2021
Japan to open bidding for Akita area offshore wind farm
Thanks to laws introduced in 2019 to encourage wind farm development, the offshore wind power market in Japan is expected to grow.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 8, 2021
France overcomes ROC to win first men's volleyball gold
France beat the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) team in the men's volleyball final on Saturday in a sensational five-set match to grab their first Olympic gold medal in the sport.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Jul 3, 2021
China's 'Iron Hammer' ready to defend women's volleyball crown at Tokyo Olympics
Defending gold, however, will not be easy for China, even with Zhu Ting, the 26-year-old ace regarded as one of the best volleyball players of all time.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 24, 2019
How rare earth shocks lifted an upstart Australian mining company
Sprawled across a spent volcano on the remote edge of the Great Victoria Desert in Western Australia, the Mount Weld mine seems a world away from the U.S.-China trade war.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 9, 2018
India's aluminum producers increase sales to Japan amid industry shake-up
Indian aluminum producers including Hindalco Industries and Vedanta Ltd. are boosting sales to Japan as U.S. sanctions against Russia's Rusal and import tariffs shake up traditional supply routes.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 18, 2018
Japanese companies in driver's seat for Indian bullet train deals
Japanese steel and engineering companies are in the driver's seat to bag major supply contracts for a $17 billion (around ¥1.8 trillion) Indian bullet train, several sources said, undermining a key component of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's economic policy — a push to "Make in India."
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 16, 2018
Japan sees little chance of oil slick from stricken tanker reaching its coast
Japan sees little chance of the oil spill from a stricken Iranian tanker that sank on Sunday in the East China Sea reaching its shores, an official at the nation's Environment Ministry said on Tuesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 27, 2017
Fuel shortage looms as Japan fires up biomass energy
As the sun sets on Japan's solar energy boom, companies and investors are rushing into wood-burning biomass projects to lock in still-high government subsidies.
Japan's biggest beef bowl chain Sukiya to shut nearly 2,000 stores after rat and bug contamination
Zensho Holdings, operator of fast-food chain Sukiya, said it will close all of its stores in Japan, except for a small number in shopping centers, between Monday and Friday following recent contamination incidents.
Alert raised for volcano in southwestern Japan
Shinmoedake, a volcano located between Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures, in November 2019
Japan considers all possible options as Trump threatens new auto tariffs
Subaru cars awaiting export at a port in Yokohama on Thursday.
Nankai Trough earthquake could kill 298,000 people, government says
Residents participate in an evacuation drill held with West Japan Railway in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, in January 2024 to prepare for a Nankai Trough earthquake and a possible tsunami following the quake.
Japan, South Korea and China vow to strengthen trade ties amid looming U.S. tariffs
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto (left), South Korean Trade Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun (center) and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao during a trilateral meeting in Seoul on Sunday
A Canadian made a weekend trip to Costco a Japanese pastime
Under the watchful eye of Ken Theriault, Costco representative director and Japan country manager, the American membership-model wholesaler has flourished in Japan.
Tokyo tech failures lean into misfortune, mistakes and missteps
Tsuyoshi Domoto in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward on March 28. As an entrepreneur, Domoto experienced plenty of setbacks but maintains a positive attitude and continues to pursue his dreams.
Who among the opposition would join the ruling coalition?
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba enters his office in Tokyo on Friday.
Traveling the Three-Star Road, the tourist route made from thin air
Scenes like this snow-covered bridge leading to the village of Shirakawa-go are what make the Three-Star Road worth traveling — its name notwithstanding.
Recent spate of wildfires in Japan and South Korea linked to climate change
Smoke and flames rise from a wildfire in Andong, South Korea, on Tuesday.

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