Economy | ANALYSIS
Households to take hit from tax hike
by Tomoko Otake
The consumption tax increase will hit every household in Japan hard, with many people’s financial future hanging on whether their wages rise enough to offset the hike's impact.
Economy | 'SUMMER DAVOS' SPECIAL Sep 10, 2013
Abe hoping to prove to the world that Japan truly is back
by Jun Hongo
Tokyo’s victory for the right to host the 2020 Olympic Games is a reassurance to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s recent go-to catchphrase, “Japan is Back,” with the slogan having appeared as the subtitle of the government’s growth strategy and even as the title in ...
Economy | 'SUMMER DAVOS' SPECIAL Sep 10, 2013
Advising visitors to truly see Japan with their own eyes
by Jun Hongo
Last summer at age 66, Seiichi Kondo climbed Mount Fuji for the first time in his life. Friends warned it wouldn’t be an easy expedition, and it wasn’t. But conquering Japan’s highest mountain was essential for what he was about to do next. “There ...
Economy | 'SUMMER DAVOS' SPECIAL Sep 10, 2013
Seeking to change men's mind-sets to spur on prosperity for all Japanese
by Ayako Mie
When Upper House lawmaker Masako Mori became a state minister for measures for declining birthrate, gender equality and consumer affairs and food safety last December, one of the first things she did was to announce that she would promote male staff within her ministries ...
Economy | 'SUMMER DAVOS' SPECIAL Sep 10, 2013
Japan hopes to blow ahead in renewables with floating wind farm
by Minoru Matsutani
The renewable energy sector plays a key part in Japan’s growth strategy. Among options such as solar and geothermal, wind power may be the most suitable for Japan as it is surrounded by the ocean. Winds are strong and stable at the ocean due ...
Economy | 'SUMMER DAVOS' SPECIAL Sep 10, 2013
Young entrepreneurs go forward in 'New Japan'; deregulation can aid economy
by Minoru Matsutani
Tokyo is becoming an incubator of venture businesses as many young people — seeing the success of other entrepreneurs, who in turn have created a network of mentors and investors — are taking on the challenge of having their own business, aided by an ...
Economy | 'SUMMER DAVOS' SPECIAL Sep 10, 2013
Education helps bring the taste of sake to the world
by Shizuka Wakashita
(Publicity) The remainder of this year is poised to be a busy time for sake producers as a wave of promotional events sweeps across Japan — and the rest of the world. On Oct. 2, following an awards ceremony in Kyoto, the country’s first ...