News On Japan

From the post-World War 2 era until the late eighties, Japan stood unrivaled as the premier electronics and automobile exporter in the world. From Sony to Toyota, the quality and reliability of Japanese products set a standard to which many western manufacturers still aspire. (The Vista)

Winter bonuses at major companies fell for the first time in three years, according to a survey by the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren). (Yomiuri)

After winning reelection, U.S. President Barack Obama phoned the leaders of 12 countries Thursday to express his desire to continue close cooperation, but Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda was not among them. (Yomiuri)

Japan's first air terminal dedicated to low-cost carriers (LCCs) and aiming to become Asia's most environment-friendly terminal, opened last month at Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Osaka Prefecture, western Japan. (nzweek.com)

Japan's government debt registered a record-high 983.30 trillion yen (about $12.4 trillion) at the end of September mainly due to spending on reconstruction following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, Finance Ministry data showed Friday. (China Daily)

Sales of Japanese passenger cars in China slumped 59.4 percent on-year in October, a Chinese industry group said Friday, as a territorial row between the countries pummelled demand. (AFP)

Japan's Toyota Motor Corp and Mazda Motor Corp said on Friday that Mazda will produce Toyota vehicles for the North American market at its new plant in Mexico. (Reuters)

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is considering dissolving the House of Representatives within the year, but only after officially declaring Japan will participate in negotiations over a wide-ranging free trade pact, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned. (Yomiuri)

Iwate and Miyagi prefectural police have scaled down their search operations for the more than 2,500 people still missing from the March 11, 2011, tsunami. (Yomiuri)

Four Japanese tourists, a Chinese tour conductor and a Chinese guide were caught in a blizzard while trekking on a mountain overlooking the Great Wall outside Beijing on Nov. 3. Apparently Amuse-Travel Co., which organized the trekking tour, relied on its Chinese partner to ensure the safety of the party and never sent staff to assess the route. (Japan Times)

Major social game site operators, including Gree Inc. and DeNA Co., have formed a self-regulatory body to improve the way services are provided amid growing concern about child users incurring exorbitant charges. (Japan Times)

A man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death in Japan learned her new married name and the area where she lived from police officers who arrested him for stalking her, media reported Friday. (Japan Today)

The body of a man was found in a river in Tokyo's Koto Ward on Friday morning. Police said there was 400,000 yen in his pocket, TV Asahi reported. (Japan Today)

A Japanese maitre d' was crowned world's best in an international competition to find the top high-end server. (The Australian)

Japan and North Korea are to meet in Mongolia next week, a Japanese government spokesman said Friday, with talks among very senior bureaucrats a sign of progress between the long-time foes. (The Nation)

A man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death in Japan learned her new married name and where she lived from the police officers who arrested him for stalking her, media reported Friday. (AFP)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Friday announced the arrest of a former Nippon Pro Baseball player for offering sexual services without a proper license at a massage club in the Otsuka entertainment area. (Tokyo Reporter)

The standoff between Japan and China over the Senkaku Islands has now spilled over to the world of sports. (Asahi)

Police said Saturday that several members of a gang of youths arrested over an attempted robbery in Osaka may be responsible for beating to death a homeless man last month and attacking other homeless men in the area. (Japan Today)

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Saturday that Japan's participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks will be included in the Democratic Party of Japan's platform for the next general election. (Japan Times)

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