Thursday 30 April 2015

Nearly half of Japanese oppose new joint defense guidelines with U.S.: poll

A new telephone survey by Kyodo News found that 47.9 percent of respondents said they were against the revised defense guidelines, while 35.5 percent supported ...

Sticker used to catch gropers red-handed is a hit with female commuters

A sticker created by Saitama Prefectural Police to deter gropers on trains has proved so popular among women that stocks have almost run out. The ...

BOJ cuts price outlook, pushes back timeline to reach inflation goal

The Bank of Japan on Thursday revised down its inflation outlook for this fiscal year through next March, saying it now expects consumer prices to ...

Ex-Aum Shinrikyo member Katsuya Takahashi gets life in prison over 1995 sarin attack

The Tokyo District Court has sentenced former Aum Shinrikyo member Katsuya Takahashi to life in prison for his role in the doomsday cult's 1995 sarin ...

Government proposes greenhouse gas emissions cut of 26% from 2013 level

Critics said the new reduction goal is weaker than targets proposed by other major industrialized countries and urged Japan, the world's fifth-largest greenhouse gas emitter, ...

Abe on message, but regional tensions remain

analysis Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may have done a relatively good job in delivering one message Wednesday to the joint session of the U.S. Congress: ...

AIIB and global governance

If Western leaders really do believe in innovation, competition and meritocracy, they should welcome the AIIB.

Scrutinize health insurance reform

The national government needs to provide sufficient support to prefectural governments, which will be tasked to play a larger role in maintaining the nation's health ...

Is low growth the global economy’s new norm?

While no one should expect a return to the pre-crisis boom years, the right government incentives encourage more robust economic growth.

Forty years on, a middle class emerges in Vietnam

Four decades after the reunification of Vietnam under a communist regime, an emerging middle class is reinforcing the country's re-orientation toward a market economy.

Versace makes return to Tokyo

It is a fashion house that has long been the sartorial antithesis of subtle — as reflected in its bold designs, sexy silhouettes, splashes of ...

Azaleas await at Hotel de Yama; Capitol Tokyu welcomes chef Martin; ‘Yoga & Beauty Cuisine’ plan

Azaleas await at Hotel de Yama The Odakyu Hotel de Yama, in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, re-opened on April 21 after renovations and is pleased to ...

Model-turned-actress Tao Okamoto gets ready for her closeup after landing roles in ‘Hannibal’ and ‘Batman v Superman’

From renowned photographers and major fashion labels to famous Hollywood directors; it seems everyone wants a piece of Tao Okamoto these days. The model-turned-actress, who ...

SoftBank launches America’s Cup team

The Kansai Yacht Club has announced its challenge for the 2017 America’s Cup. The club, backed by the telecommunications company SoftBank Group, announced Thursday that ...

Murata stays hot at plate as Giants defeat Dragons

The Yomiuri Giants may have a new power-hitting third baseman on the way, but Shuichi Murata wants to show everyone the old model is still ...

Sendai’s Johnson named MVP; Kyoto’s Hamaguchi nabs coaching award

Since he made his debut in the fall, star guard Kejuan Johnson has excelled for the Sendai 89ers, leading the team to its best-ever regular ...

Sixteen teams ready to battle for title in expanded playoffs

The playoff format was expanded to 16 teams for the bj-league’s 10th season. There are five 40-win teams in this season’s postseason tournament: Kyoto (44-8), ...

Mayweather, Pacquiao set to cash in

His middle name is Money, or at least it used to be before Floyd Mayweather Jr. stopped flashing $100,000 wads of cash every time he ...

Orioles win in empty stadium

The cheers from the small group of Orioles fans gathered outside the locked gates beyond center field echoed throughout an empty Camden Yards every time ...