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JAPAN
Apr 6, 2012

Budget finally passed

The fiscal 2012 budget, at more than ¥90 trillion the biggest in history, was finally enacted by the Diet on Thursday as an earlier vote in the Lower House took priority after the opposition-controlled Upper House shot it down earlier in the day.
EDITORIALS
Apr 5, 2012

BRICS and bombast

BRICS is back. The five-nation group that comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa held its fourth summit last week, convening in New Delhi to present their collective views on global problems. While their opinions are increasingly relevant given their growing weight and influence on international...
BUSINESS
Apr 3, 2012

Display alliance launches operations

Japan Display Inc., an alliance of three major electronics manufacturers, opened for business Monday with the aim of becoming the world's leader in small and midsize displays.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 3, 2012

Overhaul taxes or risk bond crisis: JBA chief

Japan must quickly overhaul the tax system to prevent government borrowing costs from spiraling in the next decade, the new head of the nation's banking lobby said.
EDITORIALS
Mar 31, 2012

Approach tax hike with caution

The Noda Cabinet on Friday endorsed and submitted to the Diet a bill aimed at raising the consumption tax from the current 5 percent to 8 percent from April in 2014 and to 10 percent from October 2015. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is so obsessed with a tax hike that he seems oblivious to the possible...
JAPAN
Mar 29, 2012

DPJ leaders end acrimonious talks on tax hike, will move bill forward

The Democratic Party of Japan endorsed a bill Wednesday to double the consumption tax to 10 percent by October 2015 after forcibly ending discussions dominated by party members critical of the DPJ leadership.
BUSINESS
Mar 27, 2012

JGBs, not tax hikes, way to go, Sakakibara says

Japan should issue more bonds to help boost the economy instead of attempting tax hikes, which might stifle a recovery, said Eisuke Sakakibara, a former Finance Ministry official.
BUSINESS
Mar 20, 2012

Copper producers eye boost in exports

Japan's copper producers may increase exports in the coming years to make up for shrinking domestic demand as manufacturers head overseas to avoid higher costs and the impact on sales of a stronger yen, according to Pan Pacific Copper Co.
JAPAN
Mar 20, 2012

Fujimura rules out grand coalition notion

Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura flatly denied Monday that the ruling Democratic Party of Japan would consider forming a grand coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party to pass the contentious bill for doubling the consumption tax to 10 percent by 2015.
BUSINESS
Mar 17, 2012

Kobe Steel seeks Aussie iron ore

Kobe Steel Ltd. will invest ¥25 billion in an iron ore project in Western Australia to secure supplies of the steelmaking ingredient.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 14, 2012

Asahi Kasei to buy Zoll Medical for $2.2 billion

Asahi Kasei Corp., a maker of synthetic fibers and industrial chemicals, has agreed to buy U.S. company Zoll Medical Corp. for $2.2 billion (¥181 billion) to expand its presence in the critical care products field and also to boost sales in Asia.
COMMENTARY
Mar 12, 2012

Delusional pretexts to attack Iran

The last time U.S. President Barack Obama met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it was obvious that the two men distrusted and despised each other. This time (March 5), their mutual dislike was better hidden, but the gulf between them was still as big, especially on the issue of Iran's alleged...
JAPAN / QUEST FOR RECOVERY
Mar 11, 2012

A year on, Tohoku stuck in limbo

Located roughly 23 km from Fukushima's crippled nuclear plant, Hirono Station today is the northernmost stop on the JR Joban Line for passengers traveling up Tohoku's coast from Tokyo.
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Mar 10, 2012

Chubu reactor safety improvements mixed bag

The Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant crisis prompted the government to ask untilities nationwide to draw up mid- and long-term countermeasures against future earthquakes and tsunami.
BUSINESS
Mar 7, 2012

Reve21 taps CEO candidates for IPO, global push

Hair clinic operator Reve21 Co. shortlisted four candidates to replace founder and CEO Katsumasa Okamura and prepare the company for an initial public offering and expansion overseas.
JAPAN
Mar 5, 2012

Noda makes international pitch for tax hike plan

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Saturday that his government "cannot sidestep" a controversial tax hike that has turned into the leader's highest priority and largest potential stumbling block.
BUSINESS
Mar 3, 2012

JFE-IHI ship merger aims for ¥500 billion in sales

JFE Holdings Inc. and IHI Corp. will seek to increase sales of their combined shipbuilding units by about 30 percent in five years to fend off competition from South Korean and Chinese rivals.
COMMENTARY
Mar 3, 2012

How to push reform forward

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has stated he would stake his political life on realizing integrated reform of the tax and social security systems. Japan's financial structure is worse than those of other advanced countries and even that of Greece, which was responsible for the euro crisis. Therefore it...

Longform

Ichiro Suzuki, one of the most iconic players in NPB and MLB history, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame with 99.7% of the vote.
With Hall of Fame induction, Ichiro makes himself heard loud and clear