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Global financial markets have been closely watching Japan's wage data, as Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda regards pay growth as a key gauge to consider in deliberations about a shift in policy. Regular wages rose 1.8% in May from a year before, labour ministry data showed, the biggest gain since February 1995. The strong base pay growth boosted worker's total cash earnings, or nominal wages, by 2.5% in May, after a revised 0.8% increase logged in April. Still, real wages contracted 1.2% in May, the 14th consecutive month of year-on-year declines, as relentless consumer inflation outstrips nominal pay growth and squeezes households' buying power. On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, household spending was down 1.1%, versus an estimated 0.5% gain to mark a fourth month of decline.

Persons: Kazuo Ueda, Kuroda, Hisashi Yamada, Rengo, Takumi Tsunoda, Shinichi Uchida, Taro Saito, Satoshi Sugiyama, Kantaro, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Sam Holmes Organizations: Global, Bank of Japan, Hosei University, Shinkin Central Bank Research, Nikkei, BOJ's, NLI Research, Thomson Locations: TOKYO

☆ Ben and Bryan Shelton, Son and Father, Hit the Road as Player and Coach
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Matthew Futterman | Jane Stockdale | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Last year, when Ben Shelton decided to leave college and turn professional, he wondered aloud to his father, Bryan, a former player on the men’s tennis tour, if they ought to embark on a venture together. Sorry, Bryan Shelton told his son, he already had a full-time job coaching at the University of Florida. Bryan Shelton handed the reins to Dean Goldfine, a highly respected coach who had previously worked with the former world No. Division I tennis tournament, the Sheltons announced that Ben had a new/old full-time coach. “It was the right time,” Bryan Shelton said.

Persons: Ben Shelton, Bryan, Bryan Shelton, Dean Goldfine, Andy Roddick, Ben, Florida’s, ” Bryan Shelton, Shelton, Taro Daniel Organizations: University of Florida, Gators, Wimbledon Locations: Gainesville, Fla

☆ Tsitsipas, Alcaraz soar at French Open, Djokovic row simmers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Unlike after his opening match on Monday, however, there was no message on the camera lens the Serbian signed and the 22-times Grand Slam champion looked to draw a line under the issue. Djokovic missed last year's Australian Open and was deported from the country due to being unvaccinated for COVID. He won the Melbourne title this year despite a row that erupted after his father posed with some fans holding Russian flags. "A drama-free Grand Slam, I don't think it can happen for me," Djokovic added. Anna Blinkova dashed French hopes with a stunning 4-6 6-3 7-5 victory over fifth seed Caroline Garcia, wrapping up victory on her ninth match point.

Persons: Roland Garros, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena, Benoit Tessier, Alcaraz, Djokovic, Garcia, Tsitsipas, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Jiri Vesely, Roberto Carballes Baena, Japan's Taro Daniel, Denis Shapovalov, Ismet Krasniqi, Amelie Oudea, Castera, Elina Svitolina, Australian Storm Hunter, Svitolina, Sabalenka, Iryna Shymanovich, Marta Kostyuk, I've, Jelena Ostapenko, Peyton Stearns, Barbora, Lesia Tsurenko, Swiatek, Suzanne Lenglen, Jessica Pegula, Camila Giorgi, Anna Blinkova, Caroline Garcia, Kokkinakis, Stan Wawrinka, Andrey Rublev, Corentin, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Toby Davis, Ed Osmond Organizations: Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena REUTERS, Tennis Federation, Serbian, Marton, COVID, Melbourne, Kosovo Olympic, International Olympic Committee, Kosovo's Olympic, International Tennis Federation, Australian Storm, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Kosovo, PARIS, Serbia, Marton Fucsovics, Serbian, Ukrainian, Ukraine

☆ Alcaraz sees off Daniel to reach French Open third round
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 31, 2023 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in action during his second round match against Japan's Taro Daniel REUTERS/Lisi NiesnerPARIS, May 31 (Reuters) - Carlos Alcaraz came through a tricky early test at the French Open with flying colours, as the world number one sealed a 6-1 3-6 6-1 6-2 victory over Japan's Taro Daniel in windy conditions on Wednesday to reach the third round. Daniel pounced early in the next to grab a 3-0 lead before Alcaraz got on the board. He continued to batter the suddenly error-prone Spaniard with relentless hitting from the baseline before levelling the match. I try to think about myself, about my game, and try to put it into the match. All I can say is tomorrow is a day off for me and we're gonna think about the match tomorrow with my team."

Persons: Roland Garros, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, Japan's Taro Daniel REUTERS, Lisi Niesner PARIS, Carlos Alcaraz, Japan's Taro Daniel, Alcaraz, Flavio Cobolli, Daniel, Daniel pounced, Philippe Chatrier, I'm, Denis Shapovalov, I've, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Toby Davis, Ed Osmond Organizations: Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Vienna, Canadian, Barcelona

☆ Alcaraz blasts past qualifier Cobolli in French Open first round
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 29, 2023 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in action during his first round match against Italy's Flavio Cobolli REUTERS/Kai PfaffenbachPARIS, May 29 (Reuters) - World number one Carlos Alcaraz issued an early warning to his rivals as the Spaniard began his quest for a second Grand Slam title by easing past Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli 6-0 6-2 7-5 in the French Open first round on Monday. Up next for Alcaraz is Japan's Taro Daniel who eased past Australian Christopher O'Connell 6-0 6-2 6-4. "I know that Taro is having a great year," Alcaraz said of his opponent, who stunned last year's Roland Garros runner-up Casper Ruud en route to the quarter-finals in Mexico earlier this season. He has won great matches against great players. I know the level of Taro, so it's going to be a really tough second round, really tough match."

☆ ChatGPT mixes up Japan's digital transformation minister with the country's prime minister, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

ChatGPT mixed up Japan's digital transformation minister with the country's prime minister. AI-powered products like ChatGPT are known to make errors, a point of concern for many experts. Japan's digital transformation minister, Taro Kono, says ChatGPT mixed him up with the country's prime minister. Japan's prime minister has been Fumio Kishida since 2021. Kono has never been the prime minister but was once seen as a favorite in the 2021 leadership race.

☆ Factbox: Governments' efforts to regulate AI tools
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

April 12 (Reuters) - Italy's data protection agency said on Wednesday it would lift its temporary ban on OpenAI's ChatGPT artificial intelligence (AI) technology if the U.S. company complied with data protection and privacy demands by end-April. Rapid advances in AI such as Microsoft-backed OpenAI's ChatGPT are complicating governments' efforts to agree on laws governing the use of the technology. Lawmakers have proposed classifying different AI tools according to their perceived level of risk, from low to unacceptable. On Wednesday, its data protection agency set an end-April deadline for OpenAI to meet its demands on data protection and privacy before the service can be resumed in the country. SPAINSpain's data protection agency has asked the EU's privacy watchdog to evaluate privacy concerns surrounding ChatGPT, the agency told Reuters on April 11.

Other investors who have held Toshiba longer may not be so lucky: the offer price represents a 15% discount from a December 2014 high. Some were introduced to JIP by Toshiba's management, some of the people said, declining to be identified because the information is not public. Toshiba's management, including CEO Taro Shimada, will stay on, while the government keeps Toshiba's sensitive defence and nuclear technologies in Japanese hands. Toshiba felt stable shareholders were desirable to end the tumult, unlike current shareholders "with many differing views", it said. JIP does not see the need for big strategy adjustments, Toshiba said.

☆ The long-running crisis at Japan's Toshiba
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Makiko Yamazaki | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Faced with more than $6 billion in liabilities linked to Westinghouse, Toshiba decides to put prized chip unit Toshiba Memory up for sale. Nov. 2021 - Toshiba says it will split into three companies, one for energy, one for infrastructure and the third to manage its Kioxia stake. Feb. 2022 - Toshiba announces a new plan to split into two, spinning off only its devices unit. April 2022 - Toshiba sets up a special committee to resume a strategic review that could see it taken private. Under pressure from shareholders, Toshiba announces a special dividend of some $545 million.

☆ Japan Has a Low Risk of a Wage-Price Spiral and That’s a Mixed Blessing
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Megumi Fujikawa | Photos Taro Karibe For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SAKATA, Japan—Miki Iwai, 29, says she has never asked for a raise and isn’t about to start this year, even with inflation at a four-decade high. The sake brewery worker says she started tracking household expenses recently to cover the higher price of gasoline.

"I was quite angry honestly because the court crew wouldn't let us warm up before the match," Ruud said. "I don't know if it was good or not but Netflix was there catching it all. Canada's Auger Aliassime feels the impact of the show most acutely in the U.S., where Netflix has its biggest market. "I thought the episode was really great but there were a couple things that were missed," the American said. "But it's been fun to be part of something Netflix has made together with (the Formula One) "Drive to Survive" and the golf series ("Full Swing").

☆ Japan logs record merchandise trade deficit in Jan as export growth slows
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Tetsushi Kajimoto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary Jan merchandise exports +3.5% yr/yr vs forecast +0.8%Imports +17.8% yr/yr vs forecast +18.4%Trade deficit at record Y3.49 trln vs forecast Y3.87 trillionCommodity inflation peaking but trade deficit to linger -analystTOKYO, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Growth in Japan's merchandise exports slowed sharply in January amid weakening Chinese demand for cars and chipmaking machinery, stoking concern about a global slowdown and creating the country's largest trade deficit on record. Trade figures issued on Thursday followed weaker-than-expected gross domestic product data, underscoring the challenge for the Bank of Japan in achieving growth led by private demand while stably sustaining inflation above 2%. The result was a 3.49 trillion yen ($26.07 billion) deficit in merchandise trade in January, the biggest in records going back to 1979, the data showed. Data issued on Monday showed Japan's economy, the world's third largest, had grown at an annualised rate of only 0.6 in the fourth quarter as business investment slumped. Japan reports trade in services separately, in its current account data.

☆ Japan logs record merchandise trade deficit in January as export growth slows
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A flag of Japan flies near cargo containers at Tokyo's Odaiba Waterfront on August 6, 2020. Growth in Japan's merchandise exports slowed sharply in January amid weakening Chinese demand for cars and chipmaking machinery, stoking concern about a global slowdown and creating the country's largest trade deficit on record. Trade figures issued on Thursday followed weaker-than-expected gross domestic product data, underscoring the challenge for the Bank of Japan in achieving growth led by private demand while stably sustaining inflation above 2%. "In a nutshell, exports are weakening," said Taro Saito, chief economist at NLI Research Institute. The result was a 3.49 trillion yen ($26.07 billion) deficit in merchandise trade in January, the biggest in records going back to 1979, the data showed.

Kazuo Ueda, a 71-year-old university professor who has kept a low profile despite strong credentials as a monetary policy expert, ticked some important boxes. While he was not even on the list of dark horse candidates floated by the media, Ueda was well known in global central bank circles. The bank's preferred choices were incumbent deputy governor Amamiya, as well as former deputies Hiroshi Nakaso and Hirohide Yamaguchi, given their deep knowledge on monetary policy. Matsuno said he hoped the BOJ works closely with the government and guides monetary policy flexibly, when asked whether Ueda's appointment could lead to a retreat from Abenomics. While he warned of the rising cost of the BOJ's yield control policy, Ueda has called for the need to keep monetary policy loose to ensure Japan stably achieves the bank's 2% inflation target.

☆ I live in Hawaii, where grocery prices have always blown my mind — but take a look at what inflation has done
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Morgan PōmaikaʻI Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Still, more native Hawaiians are living outside of the state than in it, due to high rent and food prices. If things don't change, I'm worried that even more Hawaiians will continue to leave the generational home they love. Lee and friends making a traditional Hawaiian food called pa'i 'ai, which is made from taro. Morgan Pōmaikaʻi Lee/InsiderSource: Star Advertiser

☆ In a Tokyo supermarket, signs of struggle for Japanese business
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Elaine Lies | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TOKYO, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Japanese supermarket owner Hiromichi Akiba has built his bustling business through close ties with his neighbourhood - the reason, he says, he can't make the price hikes on his wares that would allow him to give his workers a pay rise. "If we were able to pass our costs on by raising prices, we couldn't look our customers in the eyes." To a casual observer, Akiba's business, which he began 31 years ago with a single supermarket and has since expanded into several, is doing well. On a recent weekday afternoon it bustled with customers ranging from young mothers pushing prams to older women using canes. [1/4] Hiromichi Akiba (54), owner of six supermarkets in Tokyo, works at his supermarket named Akidai in Tokyo, Japan January 20, 2023.

☆ Slumping China-bound Japanese exports raise fears of global downturn
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Tetsushi Kajimoto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Exports to largest trading partner China fell 6.2% year-on-year in value and were down 24% in volume terms in December. Exports to the United States in December rose 16.9% from a year ago, led by cars, mining equipment and aero-engine parts. In the worst case, it may deal a blow to Japanese exports, which could in turn hit Japan's factory output and capital expenditure," said Atsushi Takeda, chief economist at ITOCHU Research Institute. "Trade deficits will stay at high levels even as import growth slows with oil prices falling and weak yen running its course. That's because exports remain weak due to lacklustre global demand," said Taro Saito, executive research fellow at NLI Research Institute.

☆ Stock in a Japanese company that makes MSG is up 29% this year to a record high as it expands its push into the semiconductor industry
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Carla Mozée | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ajinomoto Group, which makes food seasoning products including MSG, saw its stock jump to a record high this week. The company also makes semiconductor material. Ajinomoto researchers found it could repurpose co-products from its unami seasoning manufacturing process for use in electronic materials. Ajinomoto shares traded in Tokyo rose 3.8% in Thursday's session to a record closing high of ¥4,501. Ajinomoto moved into the electronic materials industry in 1996 after its researchers found it could repurpose co-products from its unami seasoning manufacturing process.

☆ Five countries, other than China, most dependent on the South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Sean M. Holt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Territorially, there are seven claimants to the South China Sea: China, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Analysts name the top five countries, other than China, that are most dependent on the South China Sea. Aerial view of fishing boats setting sail to South China Sea for fishing on August 16, 2022 in Yangjiang, Guangdong Province of China. "Although they claim more than half of the South China Sea, China has pushed claimant states such as Vietnam out of traditional fishing waters and more into the South China Sea, causing excessive overfishing." South KoreaSouth Korea is "intentionally quiet about the South China Sea" as it wants to "maintain favor with China," Graham said, citing Seoul's primary focus on the North Korean issue.

Differences over JIP's plan to retain Toshiba CEO Taro Shimada and his team were a source of friction between the two bidders, according to two sources familiar with the talks. Despite being selected as preferred bidder, JIP has struggled to secure enough equity commitments from potential partners, sources have said. It now looks set to miss a Monday deadline to deliver a firm proposal that includes letters of commitment from banks, sources have said. In late October, JIC expanded the size of its buyout fund to 900 billion yen ($6.11 billion) from 200 billion yen. Two of the sources said the expansion was not just for a Toshiba buyout but also aimed at other deals.

☆ ATP roundup: Dominic Thiem beats top seed Hubert Hurkacz in Antwerp
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

1 seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland in the quarterfinals of the European Open on Friday in Antwerp, Belgium. He'll meet Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the semis; Gasquet beat Belgium's David Goffin 6-2, 7-6 (6). De Minaur outlasted Canadian fourth seed Denis Shapovalov 6-2, 7-6 (4) and Rune turned the tables on second seed Cameron Norrie of Great Britain 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-3. Musetti will be joined in the semis by countryman and second seed Matteo Berrettini, who beat Japan's Taro Daniel 6-2, 6-3. Berrettini's opponent will be Mackenzie McDonald, an American who rallied past Chinese qualifier Zhizhen Zhang 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

☆ ATP roundup: Frances Tiafoe battles back in Stockholm
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

3 seed Frances Tiafoe won two tiebreakers to complete a 3-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2) comeback win over Swedish wild card Elias Ymer in the second round of the Stockholm Open on Thursday in Sweden. Despite Ymer winning 47 of his 59 first-service points (80 percent) and holding a 20-11 advantage in aces, Tiafoe controlled both tiebreakers. Second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada was spared, as he bested Frenchman Manuel Guinard 6-3, 6-3. 4 Lorenzo Musetti defeated Serbia's Laslo Djere 7-5, 6-3 to ensure two Italians reached the quarterfinals in Naples, Italy. McDonald beat Italian qualifier Francesco Passaro 6-3, 7-5 before surprising No.

The logo of Toshiba Corp is displayed atop of the company's facility building in Kawasaki, Japan, June 24, 2022. JIP's initial offer was below 6,000 yen per share, the two sources told Reuters, putting the value of a potential tender offer at less than 2.6 trillion yen ($17.5 billion). Investors have considered 6,000 yen to be a key threshold. During a strategic review last year, at least one global private equity firm told Toshiba's review committee that a deal to take the conglomerate private could be done at 6,000 yen a share or more. In Japan, the court-led rehabilitation of auto parts supplier Marelli Holdings Co Ltd - owned by U.S. private equity firm KKR & Co Inc (KKR.N) - has turned banks cautious about terms for financing leveraged buyouts, private equity sources said.

☆ Best Chinese food: 32 must-try dishes
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Maggie Hiufu Wong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

Dan dan noodlesIt’s nearly impossible to dislike China’s soul-comforting dan dan mian, or dan dan noodles. Dan dan noodles are named after the way they were originally sold more than 100 years ago – on a dan dan, a carrying pole, by street hawkers. Some think dan dan noodles should contain a dry mix of noodles, made with minced meat, chopped scallions, spices, crushed peanuts and various sauces. Others disagree, preferring dan dan noodles in a hot, spicy, salty and nutty broth albeit with similar ingredients. Similar to Hainanese chicken rice, the Wenchang version is often served with yellow chicken fat rice and chicken soup.

Persons: –, It’s, Dan, mian, jiao, you’ve, Ding Baozeng, Ding Gongbao, Ding, Hanyuan, cai, hei, Jian bing, jian bing, bing guozi, Chen, chow, Su Dongpo, China’s, zhu, Shui zhu, zhu niu, Bao Bao, bao, jian bao, Rou jia, xin, cheung, yun cheung, Laap cheung, Yun cheung, Congee, Chaozhou Organizations: CNN, Adobe, Adobe Stock Locations: China, Peking, Nanjing, Beijing, Govan, –, Sichuan, Hunan, Shandong province, Fujian, Hainan, Malaysia, Pidu, It’s, Tianjin, Chen, Shunde district, Shaanxi, Fuding county, Ningbo

☆ Toshiba shareholders curb their buyout enthusiasm
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUMBAI, Oct 13 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Toshiba (6502.T) shareholders are curbing their enthusiasm, and that makes sense. They bid up the Japanese conglomerate’s stock 8% following a report of a 2.8 trillion yen ($19.1 billion) buyout bid led by Japan Industrial Partners. That leaves the company’s enterprise value lagging the new bid by some 12%. Throw in a weak yen and all the global economic turmoil, and getting a buyout done at all will be triumph. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

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