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April 19, 2024
 

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Finbarr Flynn
For Finbarr Flynn's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol (left), U.S. President Joe Biden (center) and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hold a joint news conference following a trilateral summit at Camp David near Thurmont, Maryland, on Aug. 18.
BUSINESS
Sep 4, 2023
South Korea kicks off historic 'samurai bond' sale in Japan
The historic debt offering comes as part of broad-based improvement in ties between Seoul and Tokyo.
Investors have scooped up yen debt from issuers outside Japan, fueling the busiest July since 2018.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jul 24, 2023
Global yen bond market emerges as oasis amid Japan volatility
Investors have scooped up yen debt from issuers outside Japan, fueling the busiest July since 2018.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Mar 23, 2022
Global bond market losses mean the worst drawdown on record for global fixed income
The Bloomberg Global Aggregate Index, a benchmark for government and corporate debt total returns, has fallen 11% from a high in January 2021.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 2, 2021
SoftBank gets over $7 billion in jumbo offshore bond deal
The Japanese technology giant sold $3.85 billion of dollar-denominated debt and u20ac2.95 billion ($3.5 billion) of notes on Wednesday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 19, 2021
SoftBank plans ¥405 billion bond sale after record profit
SoftBank has long tapped individual investors in Japan rather than institutions for most of its yen funding from the local bond market, taking advantage of its strong brand recognition.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 1, 2017
Housewife who saved Toyoko hotel chain puts focus on female managers
Maiko Kuroda isn't new to challenges. She was a housewife when her father's hotel chain was embroiled in scandal, forcing her to return to the business almost a decade ago. Having boosted profit tenfold, she's now eyeing markets in Europe and North America.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Aug 29, 2016
Marilyn Monroe's Tokyo honeymoon spot frets over impact of yen rise
Tokyo's Imperial Hotel, the luxury inn that counts Marilyn Monroe among past guests, raised room rates last year to levels it last charged before the bubble economy imploded in the early 1990s. A surging yen now threatens those gains.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 29, 2016
In quake-prone Japan, Kumamoto temblors stir worry of 'Tokyo X Day'
There's nothing comical about this manga: office building windows shatter, trains derail and cars plunge from buckling bridges. It all happens at 4:35 p.m. on a day dubbed "Tokyo's X Day."
BUSINESS / Markets
Mar 22, 2016
Hedge fund's computer says sell Japan debt after 19% gain
For Kyo Yamamoto, leaving investment choices to a computer rather than making his own calls has been the best strategy as unorthodox global monetary policies only worsen market volatility. Right now, the machine says sell Japan government bonds.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 25, 2016
BOJ-fueled Tokyo property boom pricing average earners out of housing market
Rich buyers taking advantage of record low borrowing costs have pushed prices in Tokyo beyond the reach of many ordinary buyers, taking the wind out of property sales.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 14, 2015
Online broker chases Japan's day traders to close gap with peers
Monex Group Inc. is seeking more business from Japan's growing ranks of day traders in a bid to catch up with other online brokerages.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 2, 2015
Trump's 'Japan Is back' rhetoric signals campaign focus on alleged currency manipulation
Donald Trump's claim that "Japan is back" isn't the dominant view among economists. Apparently, the Bank of Japan agrees with his assessment.
BUSINESS
Sep 29, 2015
Japan's cheap debt, aging population prompt ex-banker to shift focus
Saburo Nishiura is using Japan's record-low borrowing costs to turn the nation's shrinking population to his advantage.
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 24, 2015
To Nomura, Fannie and Freddie are bright spot in struggle abroad
Nomura Holdings Inc. is doggedly expanding in a U.S. bond market that pays fees as low as 0.003 percent, even as it slashes its number of employees in London and one of its biggest shareholders says to get out of unprofitable overseas businesses.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Aug 6, 2015
Mizuho's Wall Street itch revealed in huge Actavis deal
When Actavis was preparing to buy Allergan, it gave Mizuho Financial Group Inc. a weekend to decide if it wanted to help come up with $46 billion in loans to back the deal, which had been code-named Project Fruit Basket.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 9, 2015
SMBC Nikko aims to hire rare experts to manage riskier bank debt
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. is seeking as many as six new hires for a team specializing in underwriting bonds issued by banks that would insulate taxpayers from costs if the lenders later fail.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS
Jul 7, 2015
Sharp's future relies on Apple after Japan banks extend lifeline
Sharp Corp. forked over some of its equity to banks last week after defaulting on debt to the lenders, winning a new lease on life that leaves it dependent on their goodwill and the support of Apple Inc., its biggest customer.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Jul 2, 2015
Mega-banks plan riskier bond sales up to ¥4 trillion
Mizuho Financial Group Inc. and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. plan to bolster their balance sheets by introducing bonds that offer investors enhanced returns at greater risk.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 13, 2015
Toshiba default risk surges most in Japan on accounting probe
An accounting probe of Toshiba Corp.'s infrastructure and energy projects caused its default risk to jump the most in Japan, just as the creditworthiness of Sharp Corp. and Sony Corp. had been improving.
BUSINESS / Markets
Apr 30, 2015
Investors seek out risky U.S. loans in throwback to pre-crisis days
Japanese investors are plowing back into the same types of risky U.S. corporate-loan investments that caused them losses during the 2008 financial crisis.
No link to Nankai Trough quake seen after temblor in Shikoku
Satoshi Harada from the Meteorological Agency explains about the magnitude 6.6 earthquake during a news conference early Thursday.
Thousands evacuated as Indonesia volcano erupts
Indonesia's Mount Ruang spews hot lava and smoke as seen from Sitaro, North Sulawesi, on Wednesday.
Why hasn't Japan moved to prop up the weak yen?
Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Snake on a train: Discovery of serpent delays Tokyo-Nagoya shinkansen
A Tokaido shinkansen. It is unclear whether the snake was venomous or how it ended up on the train, and there was no injury or panic among passengers.
Sex differences could be key to the successful treatment of long COVID
A new study has found that women with long COVID had significantly lower levels of testosterone compared to those who had recovered from their infection.
'House of the Owl' brings Hollywood values to Japanese TV
In the new Disney+ series “House of the Owl,” Min Tanaka (left) plays a powerful political fixer, or “kuromaku,” who has a troubled relationship with his adult children, particularly his idealistic son, played by Mackenyu.
Benefits and risks: AUKUS looks to take gamble on Japan
U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British leader Rishi Sunak deliver remarks on the AUKUS partnership, after a trilateral meeting, at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego in March last year.
Kyoto’s demon night parade lives to haunt another day
In a Kyoto long past, the "hyakki yagyō" (100 demon night parade) haunted a sleepy corner of Kyoto. Now, one enterprising monster enthusiast has won a small batttle to keep the march alive.
U.S. deploys midrange missile system in Indo-Pacific for first time
A U.S. Army Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Launcher arrives as part of the capability’s first deployment into theater on Northern Luzon, Philippines, April 8.
Unpacking the chaotic by-election in a scandal-hit Tokyo district
People listen to a campaign speech in Tokyo's Koto Ward on Tuesday.

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

Historically, kabuki was considered the entertainment of the merchant and peasant classes, a far cry from how it is regarded today.
For Japan's oldest kabuki theater, the show must go on
By Lance Henderstein

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

A young restaurant leads the way in Karuizawa
A young restaurant leads the way in Karuizawa

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