Tag: Japan

Japan to resume commercial whaling after IWC withdrawal

by Shingo ITO / Miwa SUZUKI Agence France-Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan said Wednesday it is withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission and will resume commercial whaling next year, sparking criticism from activists and anti-whaling countries including Australia. The announcement comes after Japan failed earlier this year to convince the IWC to allow it to resume commercial whaling. Top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said the commercial hunts would be limited to Japan’s territorial waters. […]

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Japanese emperor stresses his peaceful reign ahead of abdication

In a rare emotional address ahead of his abdication next year, Japanese Emperor Akihito said he took “deep comfort” that his long reign had been one of peace as he remembered the “countless lives” lost in World War II. Akihito, in a pre-recorded speech to mark his 85th birthday Sunday, also paid tribute to the Japanese people and Empress Michiko, the first commoner to join the tradition-bound imperial family who has been at his side […]

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Ghosn’s detention extended by 10 days through Jan 1

Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn will be spending Christmas and the beginning of 2019 behind bars after a Tokyo court on Sunday extended his detention through to January 1. “Today, a decision was made to detain (Ghosn). The full term of the detention will expire on January 1,” the Tokyo District Court said in a statement to media. The move by the court comes as Tokyo prosecutors continue to grill the automobile tycoon over allegations […]

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Carlos Ghosn re-arrested over fresh allegations

by Kyoko HASEGAWA / Richard CARTER Agence France-Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japanese prosecutors re-arrested former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn over fresh allegations Friday, apparently dashing his hopes of being home for this coming holiday in the latest twist to a roller-coaster saga. The case of the once-revered 64-year-old tycoon has gripped Japan and the business world since he was arrested as he stepped off his private jet at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on November 19. […]

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Asia shares round out rough week with fresh losses

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Fresh political turbulence in Washington and renewed fears over US-China relations pushed Asian markets lower Friday, as a global slump sparked by unease over Fed policy showed no signs of easing. The resignation of US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis — seen as a moderating force on an often impulsive president — and the looming threat of a federal government shutdown alarmed investors as concern grows over weakening global growth. US […]

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Shares in SoftBank mobile unit open more than 7% down

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) – Shares in the mobile unit of Japanese technology giant SoftBank resumed steep declines Thursday on their second trading day after a bruising debut saw stocks close 14.5 percent lower. In early exchanges, shares in SoftBank Corp were down 7.6 percent at 1,183 yen as heavy selling dominated at the opening bell. The IPO price was 1,500 yen. The shares were 8.3 percent down at their lowest level before bouncing slightly. That […]

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Japan’s “most wanted fugitive” nabbed in PHL

(Eagle News) — Authorities nabbed on Wednesday, Dec. 20, Japan’s “most wanted fugitive” accused of running a major fraud ring in that country. The Bureau of Immigration said Misao Koyama, also known as Misao Kaminsukaso, 59, was arrested by immigration and Tokyo Interpol operatives on Gil Puyat Ave. Bobby Raquepo, head of the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit, said Japanese authorities sought their assistance for the arrest of Koyama, who they said leads an eight-member ring […]

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Tokyo stocks open lower ahead of Fed outcome

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Tokyo stocks opened lower on Wednesday as investors awaited the outcome of the US central bank policy meeting while the Japanese mobile unit of SoftBank Group flopped on its debut. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index slipped 0.23 percent or 48.63 points to 21,066.82 in early trade, while the broader Topix index was down 0.21 percent or 3.27 points at 1,559.24. “A wait-and-see mood will likely grow ahead of the outcome of […]

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North, South Korea join hands to win UNESCO status for wrestling

UNESCO (AFP)- North and South Korea marked a new step in their reconciliation efforts Monday as UNESCO accepted a joint bid for Korean wrestling to be recognized as one of the world’s most treasured cultural practices. The two Koreas had originally filed separate applications for their traditional form of wrestling to be recognized on the UN agency’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. “The fact that both Koreas accepted to join their respective applications is unprecedented,” UNESCO […]

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Powerful blast at Japan restaurant injures 42

  TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — A powerful blast ripped through a restaurant in northern Japan late Sunday, injuring 42 people, starting fires that took hours to bring under control and leading several neighbouring buildings to collapse, officials and reports said. Images from the scene showed large flames and plumes of smoke rising in the night air after the blast in the northern city of Sapporo. The cause of the blast was still under investigation, police […]

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Tokyo stocks close lower on profit-taking

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Tokyo stocks closed lower on Friday after two days of rallies as investors locked in profits while awaiting fresh global data for clues on growth in major economies. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index dropped 2.02 percent, or 441.36 points, to end at 21,374.83, while the broader Topix index lost 1.51 percent, or 24.49 points, to 1,592.16. “Trade lacks a sense of direction following mixed US stocks indexes and ahead of fresh […]

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Protests in Japan as work to relocate US base resumes

  TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan on Friday resumed work to relocate a controversial US military airbase in Okinawa, prompting protests and “strong anger” from the local governor. Okinawa residents have for years called for the relocation of a US base in a populated part of the southern island, but they want it moved elsewhere in the country, rather than to the remote site on Okinawa favored by the government. “I can’t help but feel […]

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