Japan wrangling over business restrictions
TOKYO – A battle is brewing between a local governor trying to close down all businesses to contain COVID-19 and a central government hoping to minimize the economic impact. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike are wrangling … Continue reading Japan wrangling over business restrictions
Japan declares state of emergency
Tokyo – Japan is to declare a state of emergency in Tokyo and six other prefectures as early as Tuesday in a bid to stop the coronavirus, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, with the government preparing a stimulus package to … Continue reading Japan declares state of emergency
Tokyo Olympic Games moved to 2021
Tokyo – The Tokyo Olympics were postponed on Tuesday to 2021, the first such delay in the Games’ 124-year modern history, as the coronavirus crisis wrecked the world’s last sporting showpiece still standing this year. Though a huge blow to … Continue reading Tokyo Olympic Games moved to 2021
China and Japan agree to fight corona virus
TOKYO – Japan and China agreed to work together on Friday to battle the coronavirus outbreak in bilateral cooperation helping offset historic frictions over a maritime territorial dispute. The flu-like disease, which originated in China’s central city of Wuhan, has … Continue reading China and Japan agree to fight corona virus
Japan: Corona virus cruise ship passengers head home
TOKYO/BEIJING – Hundreds of passengers trundled off a cruise ship in Japan on Wednesday after being held on board in quarantine for more than two weeks, as criticism mounted of Japan’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Even as passengers rolled … Continue reading Japan: Corona virus cruise ship passengers head home
Japan: Gross domestic product shrank 6.3%
TOKYO — Japan’s economy suffered its biggest contraction in five years in the final quarter of 2019, slowed by a sales-tax hike and a destructive typhoon. Gross domestic product for the world’s third-biggest economy shrank an annualized 6.3% from a … Continue reading Japan: Gross domestic product shrank 6.3%
Automakers concerned about parts shortage
Tokyo – The global auto industry has begun feeling the impact of the coronavirus outbreak as factory shutdowns in China threaten a vital source of parts. As product quality improved in China, Toyota, Honda and Nissan have increased their use of … Continue reading Automakers concerned about parts shortage
China: Outbound Travel Ban effects Asian Destinations
Bangkok/Tokyo – A huge dependence on Chinese tourists sees many Asian countries reeling from China’s move to cancel outbound group trips indefinitely, as part of measures to control the spread of the deadly coronavirus. Among them are Thailand and Japan. The … Continue reading China: Outbound Travel Ban effects Asian Destinations
Abe and Xi start new era of cooperation
Beijing – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed Monday to step up cooperation for a “new era” of bilateral relations, showcasing a thaw contrasting sharply with Beijing’s fraught ties with the U.S. Xi greeted Abe … Continue reading Abe and Xi start new era of cooperation
Japan has world’s best passport
TOKYO — The Japanese passport was again named as the “world’s most powerful” by a British consultancy this year, but the Japanese themselves seem little interested in taking advantage, with only 23 percent holding passports — a sign that the … Continue reading Japan has world’s best passport