Hitachi Ltd. will start selling a color-coded radiation measuring device at the end of this month.
The device can incorporate results of gamma radiation measuring within 10 meters into a picture taken by a built-in camera.
The image can be checked connecting the device to a computer, Hitach said Sunday. (Japan Times)
Hitachi color-codes fallout gauge
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Wholesale prices up 0.6% on year
Wholesale prices stretched their gains to a 17th consecutive month in February by rising 0.6 percent year on year amid climbing crude oil prices, the Bank of Japan said Monday.
For the next few months, a BOJ official said that moves in the international commodities market and the yen's recent weakness are expected to help push up the corporate goods prices index. (Japan Times)
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Golf: Ishikawa finishes alone in second
Ryo Ishikawa gave himself a boost in his Masters preparation on Sunday, birdying the last two holes to finish alone in second at the Puerto Rico Open, his career-best U.S. PGA Tour result.
The 20-year-old star, playing on the first anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan's northeastern shores, closed with a 4-under 68 to finish at 14-under 274, two strokes behind George McNeill of the United States. (Japan Times)
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Convenience stores rebounding after the quake
The Japanese government has been getting a tongue-lashing for its slowness in rebuilding the battered northeast, a year after it was hit by a devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident.
For a contrasting tale of speedy post-March 11 rebound, look at Japan's hardy convenience stores, or konbini, as they're known here.
When last year's March 11 earthquake struck, the konbini were hit hard. Japan's three largest chains - Seven & i Holdings Co., the operator of Seven Eleven, Family Mart Co., and Lawson Inc. - had to close over 1,000 locations, at least temporarily. Even now, some remain shut, like those inside the irradiated no-entry zone surrounding the Fukushima plant that was the site of last year's accident. (Wall Street Journal)
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Japan tourism still suffering one year on from quake
Japan's tourism industry is still hurting a year after the tsunami and nuclear disaster, international industry officials said, warning business was only likely to get fully back on track next year.
Japan saw a 28 per cent fall in the number of visitors arriving in the country in 2011 compared with a year earlier, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) said, predicting a full recovery by mid-2012.
But, amid posters stating "Japan, Rising Again. Thank you for Your Support", Japanese travel industry representatives at the ITB Berlin tourism fair, one of the top industry gatherings, were more cautious. (The Australian)
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Nikkei cuts gains after BOJ holds off more easing
Japan's Nikkei share average eked out modest gains on Tuesday despite giving up an earlier increase to above the key 10,000 mark after the Bank of Japan held off on easing monetary policy following a two-day policy meeting.
"Investors were expecting so much (from the BOJ). That was why the market cut gains," said Hisao Matsuura, equity strategist at Nomura. "But we have not changed our view of the Japanese equity market. We may see some corrections but these will provide good opportunities to buy." (Reuters)
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Japanese volcano erupts for second day
Sakurajima continued its second day of violent eruptions on Tuesday, spewing hot rocks and ash, but there was no major damage in the vicinity, the Japanese Meteorological Agency said.
The agency said Monday's powerful eruption was the most forceful since 2009.
The volcano is located in the southern prefecture of Kagoshima.
The Meteorological Agency added that the volcano has been erupting steadily for the last two years, but the eruption on Monday turned violent, throwing 50-centimetre (1 foot 6 inches) rocks nearly 1.2 miles away, the furthest since 2009. (digtriad.com)
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EU, U.S., Japan launch rare earth WTO case against China
The United States, Europe and Japan joined forces on Tuesday against China's restrictions on exports of rare earth minerals that are critical to production of advanced technology and clean energy goods expected to provide the jobs of the future.
"We want our companies building those products right here in America. But to do that, American manufacturers need to have access to rare earth materials which China supplies," President Barack Obama said at the White House. (Reuters)
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Japan Inc ditches ties, casual in vogue
The words "Japanese salaryman" may evoke images of conservative business attire, but an increasing number of corporate warriors are ditching their neckties and embracing a more casual style, a survey showed.
Some 28 percent of men said they work without a tie year-round, not just during the summer "Cool Biz" season, according to the survey conducted by the Nikkei business daily and Macromill, a polling company. (Reuters)
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Japan mutual funds post record investment gains
Japanese mutual funds posted their highest ever monthly investment gains in February, helped by a strong recovery in global stock markets and the yen's fall, but equities funds continued to see net outflows for a fifth straight month.
Outflows from Japan domiciled equities mutual funds may have accelerated during the month as retail investors likely squared off their exposure to equities funds after seeing a strong recovery in prices, said Investment Trusts Association Vice-President Fumio Inui. (Reuters)
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Japan may open $96 billion drugs market further
The Japanese government might allow seriously ill patients to use medical treatments not yet approved in Japan under a compassionate use" system, adding to signs the country is opening the door further to foreign pharmaceutical companies.
Japan has been traditionally slow to approve new treatments developed overseas for its $96 billion drug market, the world's second largest, due in part to safety concerns.
But the government has recently taken steps to speed up the approval process and gain access to better treatment as it seeks to cut healthcare costs for its rapidly aging society, creating business opportunities for western drugmakers. (Reuters)
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Japanese tick for Jetstar
Jetstar boss Bruce Buchanan believes the conga line of 100 Japanese companies keen to take a stake in Jetstar Japan is a ringing endorsement of the brand and augurs well for its joint-venture strategy.
Japanese giant Century Tokyo Leasing took the prize from a swathe of contenders representing sectors such as transportation, travel, retail, financial services, private equity and venture capital. There was also interest from high-net-worth individuals. (The Australian)
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Baruto dominates in victory over Myogiryu
Baruto dropped the sledgehammer on rank-and-filer Myogiryu in another blitzkrieg Tuesday, continuing his brilliant form on the third day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.
Baruto, who won the New Year meet in January and is making a bid at promotion to yokozuna, sits in a group of eight wrestlers sharing the lead, including lone yokozuna Hakuho, in the early going at 3-0. (Japan Times)
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Basketball: Evessa's Washington arrested in drug case
Osaka Evessa power forward Lynn Washington, the most famous player in bj-league history, was arrested at 10:20 a.m on Tuesday for alleged involvement in the importation of between 1 kg and 1.5 kg of marijuana, media reports stated the same day.
Washington was booked by Osaka Prefectural Police on Tuesday, according to published reports. His 32-year-old wife, Dana, was arrested last month, it was reported.
In November, Washington's wife's name was on a package that allegedly contained marijuana and was shipped to Osaka from the United States. (Japan Times)
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Tokyo ranks sixth in competitiveness
New York ranked first and Tokyo sixth among 120 major cities in the world in terms of competitiveness, according to a survey report released Monday by Citigroup Inc. and the research arm of The Economist magazine.
London and Singapore came in second and third, followed by Paris and Hong Kong tied for fourth place.
The report ranks cities in eight categories of competitiveness, including economic strength, human capital, institutional effectiveness, social and cultural character, and environment and natural hazards. (Japan Times)
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Another year to be tacked on North Korea sanctions
The government will extend the sanctions against North Korea for another year after deciding there has been no tangible progress on resolving the abductions of Japanese nationals, according to sources.
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's Cabinet plans to approve the extension on March 30 or April 3, about two weeks ahead of the expiration of the current measures, which include a ban on North Korean vessels making port calls in Japan, the sources said Monday.
(Japan Times)
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109-year-old fine following appendectomy
A 109-year-old woman in Takatsuki, Osaka Prefecture, has undergone a successful appendectomy, likely becoming the oldest patient to have such surgery in Japan, the attending physician said Tuesday.
Ai Onishi was diagnosed with acute appendicitis Feb. 22 at the No. 1 Towakai Hospital in Takatsuki, according to surgeon Atsushi Okita. Because noninvasive therapy would not have been sufficient, he decided to remove her appendix during emergency surgery. (Japan Times)
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Niigata slide wrecks 11 houses
The landslide that began in the Kokugawa district of Itakura Ward, Joetsu, in Niigata Prefecture on March 7 destroyed 11 houses and workshops by Tuesday, the Niigata prefectural government said.
The landslide, which continues to move, has grown to about 750 meters in length and 150 meters in width, it said.
The prefectural government made a makeshift three-meter-high, 240-meter-long wall out of sandbags during overnight work Monday to protect houses in the district.
(Yomiuri)
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No damage reported after quake in north Japan; 50 cm tsunami warning issued
There were no immediate reports of damage after northern Japan was hit by an earthquake which the Japan Meteorological Agency said had a preliminary magnitude of 6.8.
The epicenter of the quake was in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of northern Japan, the agency said, adding that a tsunami warning for a wave with an estimated height of 50 cm had been issued. (Reuters)
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Soccer: Japan eye only victory vs Bahrain in deciding Olympic qualifier
The Japanese men's team hope to join the Nadeshiko at the London Olympics with victory over Bahrain at the National Stadium on Wednesday night.
While Japan can qualify for the Summer Games with just a draw against the Bahrainis, Takashi Sekizuka's side is eyeing only a win before the home crowd to top Group C.
Japan have appeared at the last four Olympics. Only the three group winners automatically qualify.
(Mainichi)
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