Atsushi Kodera - The Japan Times

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Atsushi Kodera

Japan Times

BUSINESS

May 7, 2015

Japan's convenience stores catering more to elderly as demographics shift

The nation's convenience stores are changing with the times, shedding their image as places for young shoppers keen on fast food, concert tickets and comic books, and increasingly catering to older clientele.

Reference / Q&A

Apr 15, 2015

Is China-led bank a lost opportunity?

China's proposed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is causing a stir as the majority of Group of 20 leading economies sign on as founding members, while the U.S. and Japan remain on the sidelines.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Apr 14, 2015

Mount Zao may blow its top: agency

The Meteorological Agency warns that Mount Zao could soon erupt, threatening a popular ski resort in the Tohoku region.

Japan Times

BUSINESS / Economy / ABENOMICS — THE BOTTOM LINE

Apr 3, 2015

Inflation eludes, stock rise helps few, but yen's fall hurts many

As the second anniversary of the BOJ's radical deflation-busting program approaches, economists question the merits of “Abenomics” and whether frothy stocks and a weaker yen deserve praise.

JAPAN

Apr 1, 2015

Tokyo amends noise-pollution rules in bid to draw more nurseries

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government amended its rules on noise pollution on Wednesday in an effort to make it easier for nurseries to open in the capital, where the number of children yet to find a day care facility is the largest among all prefectures.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Mar 25, 2015

Foreigners urged to swap alien certificates for new cards by July deadline

The Immigration Bureau is calling on foreigners who have not done so to exchange their old-style Alien Registration Certificate cards for new Residence Cards before the transition period ends in July.

Japan Times

JAPAN / EXPLAINER

Mar 23, 2015

NHK beats commercial TV stations to simulcast punch

NHK's announcement earlier this month that it will start trial simultaneous broadcasts of its programming on the Internet signaled a new era in TV broadcasting.

Japan Times

JAPAN / 3/11 STILL BEING FELT

Mar 13, 2015

Tepco redress leaves lives in limbo

Until four years ago, Tetsuzo Tsuboi was an established shiitake grower in Miyakoji, part of the city of Tamura, Fukushima Prefecture, shipping 2 tons of fresh mushrooms and 800 kg of dried ones annually. He also sold oak logs, on which the fungi can be grown, to other farmers.

Japan Times

BUSINESS

Feb 3, 2015

Experts urge caution after hostage crisis

Japanese companies are apparently keeping calm following the Islamic State hostage crisis that resulted in the brutal murder of two nationals, but crisis management experts say businesses should nonetheless take this opportunity to review how prepared they are for such potential dangers.

JAPAN

Jan 28, 2015

Prisoner swap without pilot thought difficult, Jordanians say

As an apparent Wednesday evening deadline approached, in which extremists again threatened Kenji Goto with death, the freelance journalist's friends, relatives and many others nationwide listened for word of whether Amman would free Sajida al-Rishawi, the Iraqi woman the extremists named as the price...

Japan Times

JAPAN / DAVOS SPECIAL 2015

Jan 21, 2015

Forging better Japan through 'quiet revolution'

Entrepreneur Yoshito Hori has a strong sense of mission to guide Japan to become a better place as it undergoes what he calls a "quiet revolution," and he thinks his role is outside of politics.

BUSINESS / Economy / ANALYSIS

Jan 14, 2015

Budget was no easy feat amid ¥1.5 trillion tax revenue shortfall

The Abe administration faced a daunting task to make up for a revenue shortfall from a delay in the consumption tax hike, and amid a snowballing social security bill, analysts say.

Japan Times

JAPAN / EXPLAINER

Jan 12, 2015

Residences left empty posing problems across the nation

The population keeps aging and shrinking, but new housing keeps getting built even though Japan has a glut of unused dwellings.

Japan Times

BUSINESS / Economy

Jan 5, 2015

Only modest growth expected for Japan's economy in fiscal 2015

The still-faltering economy, hit hard by April's consumption tax hike as well as bad weather last summer, is forecast to grow only modestly in fiscal 2015 despite the Abe administration's latest economic stimulus package.

JAPAN

Dec 25, 2014

41% of Hello Work job ads are misleading, ministry probe finds

A labor ministry probe into wanted ads placed on the Hello Work employment network finds that many mislead job-seekers with false claims about hours and pay.

Japan Times

BUSINESS / Economy

Nov 19, 2014

BOJ leaves assessment, monetary policy unchanged despite recession

The Bank of Japan on Wednesday left its assessment of the economy largely unchanged despite the second-quarter gross domestic product data released Monday indicating Japan has slipped into a recession.

BUSINESS / Economy / ANALYSIS

Nov 14, 2014

Abe likely to delay tax hike; economists warn of future ramifications

Delaying a key measure to address Japan's enormous public debt would only lead to a larger fiscal problem down the road, economists warn.

Japan Times

JAPAN / Science & Health

Nov 12, 2014

Shimane retains title as home to most beautiful skin in Japan

Women in Shimane Prefecture have the most beautiful facial skin among the nation's 47 prefectures, while those in Gunma Prefecture are the least blessed in terms of skin condition, according to a major cosmetics manufacturer.

Japan Times

JAPAN / EXPLAINER

Nov 3, 2014

GPIF investment shift could bring either bonanza or bust

Friday's announcement of changes to the massive ¥127 trillion public pension fund's investment policy was headline news.

Japan Times

JAPAN / GENERATIONAL CHANGE

Nov 2, 2014

Crowdfunding leader wants others' dreams to come true

Bill Gates, the late Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg all hit the big time by persevering for years in the pursuit of their dreams. They continue to be an inspiration to entrepreneurs the world over who dream of one day growing their own companies into the next Microsoft Corp., Apple Inc. or Facebook Inc.,...

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

Rows of irises resemble a rice field at the Peter Walker-designed Toyota Municipal Museum of Art.

The 'outsiders' creating some of Japan's greenest spaces

By Stephen Mansfield

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