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BUSINESS
May 12, 2012

Tepco asks for permission to hike household rates 10.3% from July 1

Tepco submitted an application Friday to the industry ministry to hike household electricity rates by an average of 10.28 percent from July in its Kanto service area, the first such move in 32 years.
BUSINESS
May 12, 2012

Analysts wary of carmakers' projections

Although Japanese automakers foresee a strong earnings rebound for the business year ending next March, experts remain cautious about extended gains amid intensifying global competition and persistent strength in the yen.
BUSINESS
May 9, 2012

Sticker price of Toyota's electric RAV4 to be twice as much as gas version

Toyota Motor Corp., the biggest maker of hybrid autos, said its electric RAV4 sport utility vehicle with batteries and motor from Tesla Motors Inc. will cost more than twice as much as the gasoline version.
BUSINESS
May 2, 2012

BOJ stimulus pleases debt holders

Holders of Japanese government debt got what they wanted from the Bank of Japan's stimulus last week, while Nissan Motor Co. Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn had little reason for cheer as the yen continued to rise.
COMMENTARY
Apr 30, 2012

The international path toward self-destruction

The latest report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows that, after allowing for some data uncertainties, world military spending in 2011 as essentially unchanged from that in 2012. This breaks a 13-year-long run of continuous military spending increases. It might be a...
EDITORIALS
Apr 30, 2012

Sorting out bills for careful debate

A special committee was set up in the Lower House on April 26 to mainly discuss tax and social welfare reform bills, including a bill to raise the consumption tax. The political parties should have careful discussions in the committee because the bills will directly affect people's lives.
BUSINESS
Apr 26, 2012

Development 'challenges' postpone maiden voyage, first deliveries of MRJ by at least a year

Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. has pushed back the maiden flight and delivery schedule of its Mitsubishi Regional Jet by at least a year, citing delays in the development schedule.
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2012

JAL may use 787s to fly to Madrid, Berlin after Boston debut

Japan Airlines Co., which began Boston services Sunday with its new Boeing Co. 787, may also use the fuel-efficient plane on routes to Spain and Germany as it bolsters services to smaller cities.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 22, 2012

Mekong states get ¥600 billion in ODA

Japan will provide ¥600 billion in official development assistance within three years to the Mekong region countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam to bolster their development, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda declared Saturday.
MORE SPORTS
Apr 21, 2012

Takahashi dazzles as Japan increases lead at World Team Trophy

Powered by another stellar performance by Daisuke Takahashi, Japan opened up an eight-point lead over the United States on the second day of the World Team Trophy on Friday.
COMMENTARY
Apr 19, 2012

Afghan lies mirror deception of Vietnam War

In the midst of the Taliban attacks in central Kabul on Sunday, a journalist called the British embassy for a comment. "I really don't know why they are doing this," said the exasperated diplomat who answered the phone. "We'll be out of here in two years' time. All they have to do is wait."
EDITORIALS
Apr 18, 2012

Make way for low-cost carriers

Low-cost carriers will likely occupy a prominent place in Japan's aviation industry from now on as major airlines enter the LCC market. Peach Aviation, in which All Nippon Airways has invested, started domestic flights in March and will begin international flights in May to and from Kansai airport. Jetstar...
EDITORIALS
Apr 17, 2012

Mr. Noda's taxing problem

One-on-one Diet debates between Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and opposition leaders held on April 11 primarily concerned Mr. Noda's plan to raise the consumption tax from April 2014. The prime minister has stated that he will stake his political life on the tax hike plan, and added that he will tackle...
BUSINESS
Apr 17, 2012

Twitter to hire more Japan staff

Twitter Inc. will "aggressively" add sales staff in Japan to attract more advertisers as local user growth exceeds the company's global expansion, Chief Executive Officer Dick Costolo said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 17, 2012

Toyota takes fight to VW on home turf

Toyota Motor Corp., which was overtaken by Volkswagen in sales last year, is striking back on the German automaker's home turf.
COMMENTARY / World / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
Apr 16, 2012

U.S. digs in to hold Futenma

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has asserted that a Japan-U.S. agreement struck in February will help resolve the issue of relocating U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, which now sits in the middle of densely populated Ginowan City in the central part of Okinawa Island.
EDITORIALS
Apr 12, 2012

Ill-advised hiring cuts

The Noda administration has decided to reduce the number of recruits by government ministries and agencies for fiscal 2013 by 56 percent from the fiscal 2009's level — that is lower than the 70 percent average reduction Deputy Prime Minister Katsuya Okada asked the central bureaucracy to achieve. The...

Longform

Tetsuzo Shiraishi, speaking at The Center of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage, uses a thermos to explain how he experienced the U.S. firebombing of March 1945, when he was just 7 years old.
From ashes to high-rises: A survivor’s account of Tokyo’s postwar past