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July 05, 2025
 

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Kanako Takahara

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Kanako Takahara
Kanako Takahara is a staff writer who has covered national politics, diplomacy, business and the economy at The Japan Times. A graduate of Sophia University, she is currently a national news editor.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 14, 2007
Fujiya warns of 6.7 billion yen net loss from safety scandal
Scandal-tainted confectioner Fujiya Co. said Tuesday it expects to post a group net loss of 6.7 billion yen for the business year ending this month, reversing its initial forecast of an 800 million yen net profit, due to food safety problems that forced it to shut down production.
BUSINESS
Mar 14, 2007
Citigroup to raise offer in bid for Nikko
U.S. financial services giant Citigroup Inc., in the hunt to acquire Nikko Cordial Corp., said Tuesday it intends to raise its purchasing price to 1,700 yen per share from its initial offer of 1,350 yen.
BUSINESS
Mar 13, 2007
TSE rules out delisting of Nikko stock
The Tokyo Stock Exchange will not delist scandal-tainted Nikko Cordial Corp. because it cannot confirm whether the brokerage falsified its financial statements in a systematic manner, TSE President Taizo Nishimuro announced Monday.
JAPAN
Mar 8, 2007
Aussie skiers spark land boom in Niseko
"When I started the business, people told me 'Ben, you're crazy, it's too expensive,' " he said. "But our buyers were saying the opposite: 'Ben, you're crazy. Why is it so cheap?' " suggesting properties in the area are still underpriced compared with overseas ski resorts.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 7, 2007
Bankrupt Yubari embarks on plan to dig itself out of hole
The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry designated the city of Yubari, Hokkaido, officially bankrupt Tuesday, canceling its autonomy and paving the way for rehabilitation under central government control.
BUSINESS
Mar 6, 2007
Fujiya plans to sell Osaka branch
Scandal-tainted confectioner Fujiya Co. said Monday it will sell its Osaka branch to Atrium Co., a real estate investment fund, in an apparent effort to offset losses from its production shutdown.
JAPAN / Q&A
Mar 1, 2007
Ministry takes charge of bankrupt city
This month, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry is expected to designate Yubari, Hokkaido, as a "municipality under rehabilitation." Following are questions and answers outlining what that means for the city:
Japan Times
JAPAN / WHEN A CITY GOES BUST
Mar 1, 2007
Yubari tries downsizing to solve fiscal crisis
The announcement in June that Yubari, Hokkaido, has effectively gone bankrupt rolled like an earthquake across Japan, jolting numerous local governments suffering their own financial problems. This two-part series examines the situation in Yubari and in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, which also is in dire...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 1, 2007
A doctor comes to Yubari with the courage to dream
YUBARI, Hokkaido -- Since Yubari's financial collapse came to light last June, many residents have decided to jump from the sinking ship and seek more prosperous environs elsewhere.
BUSINESS
Mar 1, 2007
BOJ's rate hike insane, economy expert says
The Bank of Japan was "insane" to raise its key interest rate to 0.5 percent last week because the economy is still fragile, Bill Emmott, author of several books on the Japanese economy, said Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Feb 27, 2007
McDonald's, DoCoMo team up on marketing
McDonald's Holding Co. announced Monday it will form a joint venture with NTT DoCoMo Inc. to use the cell phone company's services to distribute e-coupons and gather customer information for marketing.
BUSINESS / Q&A
Feb 22, 2007
Rate hike means both pain and gain
The Bank of Japan's Policy Board on Wednesday raised the key short-term interest rate by a quarter point to 0.5 percent. Following are some explanations on how the interest rate hike will impact the Japanese economy:
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 9, 2007
Miyazaki outlet sees chicken sell out after governor blessing
Despite the bird-flu outbreaks last month on farms in Miyazaki Prefecture, the famous chicken from the prefecture is flying off the shelves at least one Tokyo store.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 8, 2007
Good bosses key to more career women: speaker
Training both men and women to be better managers is the key to encouraging women to pursue lifelong working careers, according to Victoria Bolam, head of a Tokyo-based corporate personnel training firm.
BUSINESS
Feb 2, 2007
Matsushita net profit up 60% in quarter
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. said Thursday its net profit jumped 59.7 percent to 78.7 billion yen in the three months to December, thanks to vigorous sales of its plasma display TVs.
BUSINESS
Jan 31, 2007
Sony sees 15% fall in profit for quarter
Sony Corp. said Tuesday its group operating profit in the October-December period plunged 14.9 percent from 2005 to 178.9 billion yen due to the cost of launching the PlayStation 3 in November.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jan 30, 2007
Press clubs: Exclusive access to, pipelines for info
Because "kisha" press clubs provide easy access to information provided by the central and local governments and business associations, membership is considered essential for mainstream news organizations.
BUSINESS
Jan 24, 2007
Some BOJ policymakers wanted hike in January
Several members of the Bank of Japan Policy Board said in their December meeting the benchmark short-term interest rate should be raised when they met in January, according to minutes of last month's gathering unveiled Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Jan 23, 2007
Economic outlook still rosy: Cabinet
Despite weak indicators for private consumption, the economy continues to recover thanks to brisk business activity and capital investment, the Cabinet Office said Monday in its monthly economic report for January.
BUSINESS
Jan 19, 2007
Widely awaited BOJ rate hike a no-show
The Bank of Japan held its key short-term interest rate steady Thursday, confounding predictions of a rate hike by market-watchers and avoiding an expected clash with lawmakers.
A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
Magnitude 5.5 earthquake jars Tokara Islands amid flurry of seismic activity
A strong quake struck off the Tokara Islands on Thursday afternoon, with the island chain having recorded around 1,000 earthquakes since a burst of seismic activity first began on June 21.
Japan to require flight passengers to keep power banks within sight
The transport ministry has announced new regulations requiring flight passengers to keep power banks within sight to mitigate fire risks while on board planes.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Residents of Tokara Islands begin evacuation as seismic swarm continues
Details about evacuations from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecture, is seen written on a whiteboard in the city of Kagoshima on Thursday.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai’s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on Japanese culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
As Southeast Asia heats up, a Japanese cooling giant sees a major opportunity
An employee of Daikin Cambodia explains the use of different tools during an air conditioner installation training session in Phnom Penh. Daikin is one of Japan’s oldest air conditioning companies, but as Japan’s population falls, the firm is keying in on overseas growth.

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One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
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