Business Jul 3, 2020
METI minister signals a major shift for Japan away from coal and toward renewables
Japan has been under fire for continuing to build the carbon-emitting plants at home and financing projects to build them abroad.
National Jun 12, 2020
Dentsu-linked bid for virus relief work got most face time with ministry
At issue is a government coronavirus-relief program providing ¥2 million in cash benefits to businesses and others struggling because of the pandemic.
National Jun 9, 2020
Japan to launch probe into murky coronavirus relief deal linked to Dentsu
The Service Design Engineering Council, which was contracted to implement the program for ¥76.9 billion, outsourced the task to the advertising agency for ¥74.9 billion.
National / Science & Health Apr 16, 2020
Dishwashing soap likely to be effective virus disinfectant, METI says
Dishwashing soap and other household cleaning products are likely to be effective disinfectants against the novel coronavirus, the industry ministry said Wednesday. Such items could be used as alternatives to alcohol-based disinfectants, stocks of which continue to be scarce as demand has soared, according to ...
Business / Corporate Feb 7, 2020
Japan panel urges convenience stores to shorten hours and lower labor cost burden
Convenience store chains should consider shortening their business hours, and help franchise owners cover rising labor costs, a government panel said Thursday. The recommendations come as some franchise owners are struggling to keep convenience stores open 24 hours a day, despite plateauing demand from consumers ...
National Jan 31, 2020
Japan's METI recommends releasing Fukushima radioactive water into sea
The industry ministry Friday recommended releasing treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant into the ocean, saying it would be preferable to releasing it into the atmosphere by boiling it. The government has been exploring ways to dispose of more than ...
National Jan 25, 2020
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Friday that it will launch a trial next week at convenience stores at three government ministries and an agency to test ways to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags. The test will be conducted for three ...
Business Jan 15, 2020
Japan, the United States and the European Union on Tuesday proposed expanding a ban on market-distorting subsidies under World Trade Organization rules, a measure apparently targeted at China. The three economies hope to win support for the proposal from a wide range of WTO members ...
Business Jan 14, 2020
Trade minister Hiroshi Kajiyama and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer exchanged views Monday on reforming the World Trade Organization, which has become largely dysfunctional due to a shortage of members in its appellate body. Meeting in Washington, the Japanese and U.S. trade chiefs also confirmed ...
Business Jan 4, 2020
Japan and India boost cooperation on digital infrastructure for new technology era
Eyeing a new digital society where a variety of data will be better utilized for people's lives and industrial activities, Japan and India have stepped up cooperation in the area of digital infrastructure. The two countries are particularly focusing on sharing information on the development ...
Business Dec 24, 2019
METI panel calls for flexible hours at Japan's convenience stores
A panel of experts under the industry ministry published a draft report Monday recommending that major convenience store chains allow stores to have flexible operations amid a severe labor shortage. The draft report said major chains should review their around-the-clock operations due to a changing ...