Japan

A Shift Toward a Truer Democracy in Japan?

rie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:15:11 -0800

by YOKO MORIHIRO
Hokubei Mainichi

BERKELEY — Associate Professor Masaki Taniguchi, a political scientist from Tokyo University, gave a lecture at UC Berkeley on Oct. 23 in which he explained recent trends in Japanese politics.

Credit Turmoil Causes Major Loss for Japan’s Leading Banks

rie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:30:39 -0800

TOKYO (Kyodo) — Japan’s six largest banking groups suffered a total loss of 1.03 trillion yen for the six months through September due to the global financial turmoil with their combined net profit more than halved to 406 billion yen from a year earlier, their earnings results and estimates showed Nov. 14.

While incurring significant losses on stock investments, they have also been under pressure from the growing cost of bad-loan disposal, which totaled 729.7 billion yen in the first half of fiscal 2008, up 87 percent.

Japan Moving Toward Signing Accord to Ban Cluster Bombs

rie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:30:39 -0800

TOKYO (Kyodo) — The Japanese government is making arrangements to sign an international accord to ban cluster bombs, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said Nov. 14.

“I have heard that (the government) is making arrangements’’ toward signing the accord, Kawamura told a news conference. The signing ceremony for the accord will be held in Oslo in early December.

Panda Twins at Wakayama Zoo Named Meihin, Eihin

rie — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:37:16 -0800

WAKAYAMA (Kyodo) — Twin cubs born to giant panda Rauhin at the Adventure World amusement park in Wakayama Prefecture were named Meihin and Eihin on Nov. 13.

Meihin, the female cub, was born in the early morning of Sept. 13 and Eihin, the male cub, about 70 minutes later. They weighed about 194 grams and about 116 grams at the time of their births.

The twins now weigh over 2 kilograms each and are opening their eyes, park officials said.

Nagasaki to Grant A-bomb Passbook to Dutch Ex-POW

rie — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:48:40 -0800

NAGASAKI (Kyodo) — The Nagasaki city government has decided to grant an atomic-bomb sufferer’s health passbook to a Dutchman who experienced the U.S. atomic bombing of the city in August 1945 while in a camp being held as a prisoner of war, municipal officials and the man said Nov. 12.

The city government made the rare decision to give the certificate to a former POW after confirming his exposure to the bombing through the examination of documents.

Japan Chains Speed Up Overseas Expansion

rie — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:48:40 -0800

TOKYO (Kyodo) — Japanese convenience store and restaurant chains have accelerated their overseas expansion, especially in Asia, as domestic business conditions have deteriorated due to excessive competition in a market shrinking amid the falling birthrate and aging population, an industry body said Nov. 12.

The number of Japanese franchise chains’ overseas outlets at the end of June this year increased by 2,947 from four years earlier, or by 986 from a year before, to 12,116 including 8,492 convenience stores and 3,404 restaurants, the Japan Franchise Association said.

Talk on ‘Japan and the U.S. Financial Crisis’

rie — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:48:40 -0800

The Japan Society of Northern California will present a talk on “Japan and the U.S. Financial Crisis” Thursday, Nov. 20, at Morrison & Foerster LLP, 425 Market St., 33rd Floor, San Francisco.

Check-in is at 11:45 a.m. The program, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 12 to 1 p.m.

U.S. Nuclear Sub Calls Unannounced at Okinawa

rie — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:16:57 -0800

TOKYO (Kyodo) — A U.S. nuclear-powered submarine made a port call in Okinawa on Nov. 10 without giving the agreed prior notice to Japanese authorities, prompting Japan to lodge a protest and demand the U.S. Navy take measures to prevent any recurrence of such an incident, the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s top diplomat said.

Lions Defeat Giants to Win Japan Series

rie — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:14:40 -0800

TOKYO (Kyodo) — Hiroshi Hirao singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and four relievers did not allow a runner over the final seven innings Nov. 9 as the Seibu Lions rallied to beat the Yomiuri Giants 3-2 in Game 7 and won their first Japan Series crown in four years.

Seibu won its 13th Japan Series title, including three by its forerunner, the Nishitetsu Lions. Yomiuri was looking for its 21st Japan Series crown and first since it swept Seibu in four games in 2002, Tatsunori Hara’s first year as manager
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Disapproval Rating for Aso Cabinet Tops Approval Rate

rie — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:01:29 -0800

TOKYO (Kyodo) — The disapproval rating for Prime Minister Taro Aso’s Cabinet has risen to 42.2 percent, exceeding the approval rating, which came to 40.9 percent, for the first time since the launch of the Cabinet in late September, a Kyodo News weekend survey showed Nov. 10.

The approval rating declined 1.6 percentage points from the previous survey on Oct. 18 to 19, while the disapproval rating climbed 3.2 points, according to the nationwide telephone survey conducted Nov. 8 and 9, which received responses from 1,027 eligible voters.