Australian family found alive at Japan ski resort

January 17, 2017

NAGANO– An Australian family of four who went missing at a popular ski resort in Nagano, central Japan, were found alive Tuesday morning, Australian media said, quoting a local tour operator. A woman in her 50s and her three sons likely

READ MORE

Kobe area marks 22-year anniversary of deadly quake

January 17, 2017

KOBE– The western Japan city of Kobe and surrounding areas marked the 22nd anniversary Tuesday of the magnitude 7.3 earthquake that killed more than 6,400 people. Many people observed a moment of silence at 5:46 a.m., the time when the temblor

READ MORE

Japan offers patrol vessels to Vietnam to strengthen maritime ties

January 17, 2017

HANOI– Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday that Japan will provide six patrol vessels to Vietnam as part of a fresh yen-loan offer totaling around 117 billion yen ($1 billion) to the Southeast Asian country to help its maritime safety

READ MORE

New emperor’s ascension on Jan. 1 “difficult” due to events: agency

January 17, 2017

TOKYO– It would be “difficult” for Crown Prince Naruhito to begin his reign as new emperor on Jan. 1, 2019, as has been recently reported by Japanese media, due to key events held every year on New Year’s Day, a senior

READ MORE

FOCUS: Abe’s Asia-Pacific trip aimed at drawing Trump engagement in region

January 17, 2017

HANOI– Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tried to cement ties with key Pacific-Rim countries during his trip through Tuesday, apparently hoping to prompt incoming U.S. President Donald Trump to maintain U.S. commitment to the security and peace of the region amid China’s

READ MORE

BOJ lifts assessments of 3 regional economies on stronger consumption

January 16, 2017

TOKYO– The Bank of Japan on Monday lifted its economic assessments of three of the country’s nine regions, including Tokai where Toyota Motor Corp. is headquartered, citing a pickup in consumer spending, while maintaining its evaluations of the remaining six regions.

READ MORE

Japan, U.S. sign pact limiting legal protection of U.S. base workers

January 16, 2017

TOKYO– Japan and the United States signed on Monday a pact to effectively remove legal protection over some U.S. military base workers, hoping the move will deter base-linked crimes in Okinawa where the bulk of U.S. military facilities in Japan are

READ MORE

Japan, Vietnam leaders meet with S. China Sea, TPP in focus

January 16, 2017

HANOI– Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc met Monday in Hanoi, where they are expected to discuss a coordinated response to China’s maritime expansion amid uncertainty about incoming U.S. President Donald Trump’s commitment to the stability of the Asia-Pacific

READ MORE