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.
Business Topics
Business | notebook Oct 1, 2013
Major water summit; Two-day ASEAN festival; Anniversary confections
EVENTS Major water summit The Budapest Water Summit will be held in the Hungarian capital from Oct. 8 to 11. The summit, organized by the Hungarian government in cooperation with the U.N. System and the World Water Council, will be one of the major ...
Economy Oct 1, 2013
Unemployment rate rises to 4.1%
The unemployment rate rose to 4.1 percent in August from 3.8 percent in July, the first increase in six months, as more people began looking for jobs amid increasing signs of economic recovery, the government announced Tuesday. Separate data showed job availability improved for ...
Corporate Oct 1, 2013
Yoshinoya to grow rice in Fukushima
Yoshinoya Holdings Co. said Tuesday it will grow rice and vegetables in Fukushima Prefecture through a joint venture with local farmers. The move is aimed at building a stable supply of agricultural products at lower prices for Yoshinoya’s chain of “gyudon” beef-on-rice restaurants and ...
Corporate Oct 1, 2013
Osaka Gas to enter U.K. tap water industry
Osaka Gas Co. said Monday it will buy a big stake in a utility supplying tap water to London and surrounding areas from Sumitomo Corp. By acquiring a 50 percent stake in Summit Water U.K. Ltd., the parent of Sutton and East Surrey Water ...
Corporate Oct 1, 2013
Full electric future still far off, says Toyota chair
Toyota Chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada rode his pioneering work on the Prius hybrid to the top of the world’s biggest car company. But that doesn’t mean he is a zealot when it comes to the growing expectations for electric vehicle technology. The technical barriers to ...
Business Oct 1, 2013
JAL- ANA fight over Haneda slots draws in U.S. carriers
Japan Airlines Co. and ANA Holdings Inc.’s fight over additional slots at Tokyo’s Haneda airport is widening to include global airline partnerships seeking access to fly businesspeople right into the heart of the capital. Haneda, Asia’s second-busiest airport, is set to gain about 40 ...
Tech Oct 1, 2013
Ratings soar for 'Breaking Bad' finale
The much-anticipated final episode of “Breaking Bad” drew the cult TV show’s largest ever audience — 10.3 million viewers — but there were also more than 500,000 illegal downloads, figures showed Monday. The series, centered around once humble chemistry teacher turned drug lord Walter ...
Financial Markets Oct 1, 2013
Trusty 'tankan' coaxes limp Nikkei back to life
The benchmark Nikkei bounced back Tuesday, bolstered by the yen’s weakening and an improvement in domestic business confidence. The Nikkei 225 closed up 28.92 points, or 0.20 percent, at 14,484.72. The Topix index edged down 0.66 point, or 0.06 percent, to end at 1,193.44. ...
Financial Markets Oct 1, 2013
Dollar stays steady at around ¥98
The dollar erased early gains to trade slightly below ¥98 in late Tokyo trading Tuesday, pressured by a partial shutdown of the U.S. government after Congress failed to pass an emergency budget bill by midnight Monday. At 5 p.m., the dollar stood at ¥97.91-93, ...
Financial Markets Oct 1, 2013
Investors worldwide duck for cover
U.S. stocks sank Monday ahead of the government’s partial shutdown, which could lead to an event far worse for the economy — a failure to raise the nation’s borrowing limit. There is a simple reason why the budget battle — and, more importantly, an ...
Business Sep 30, 2013
Seven Bank acquires ATM unit of Global Axcess
Kyodo Seven & i Holdings Co.’s banking unit Seven Bank said Monday it has acquired the automated teller machine business owned by Global Axcess Corp. of the United Sates for about $11 million (about ¥1.07 billion) to strengthen its ATM business in the country. ...
Business Sep 30, 2013
Japan and U.S. open second round of trade talks in parallel with TPP
Japan and the United States on Monday began a second round of bilateral talks on automobiles and trade barriers in parallel with the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, with Tokyo calling for “maximum flexibility” in the discussions. During the two-day session in Tokyo, which preceded a ...