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☆ Japan, Netherlands to join US in China chip controls -Bloomberg
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Japan and the Netherlands will join the United States in implementing export controls on semiconductor manufacturing equipment to China soon, Bloomberg News reported on Friday. The trilateral talks are set to conclude as early as Friday U.S. time, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. The Netherlands would expand restrictions on ASML Holding NV (ASML.AS) in a move that would prevent the sale of machines that are crucial to making certain types of advanced chips, Bloomberg reported. Japan would set similar limits on Nikon Corp (7731.T), it said. read moreReporting by Kantaro Komiya Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Japan, Netherlands to join U.S. in restricting chip equipment exports to China, Bloomberg reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TOKYO, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Japan and the Netherlands will soon agree to join the United States in restricting exports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment to China, Bloomberg News reported. Japan would impose similar restrictions on Nikon Corp (7731.T), the report said. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Kihara, a government spokesperson, said Japan would make "appropriate steps" based on the United States' and other nations' regulatory moves. "We have been in discussion with the United States and other countries regarding the export-control regime," Yasutoshi Nishimura, Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, told reporters on Friday. "A balance needs to be struck so no one among Japan, the United States and Europe will be disproportionately disadvantaged.

☆ Japan tightens Russia sanctions after deadly missile strikes in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Japan tightened sanctions against Russia on Friday following its latest wave of missile attacks in Ukraine, adding goods to an export ban list and freezing the assets of Russian officials and entities. The decision comes after Russia launched missile attacks in Ukraine killing at least 11 people on Thursday following a pledge by Germany and the United States to supply tanks that could help Ukraine counter any new Russian offensive. Among the new sanctions, Japan will prohibit shipments of items to 49 organizations in Russia from Feb. 3 that could be used to enhance its military capability. Those will include products ranging from water cannons, gas exploration equipment and semiconductor equipment to vaccines, X-ray inspection equipment, explosives and robots, the ministry said. Reporting by Kantaro Komiya and Tim Kelly Editing by Chang-Ran Kim, Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Thirteen crew rescued after ship sinks off Japan, search on for 9 missing
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The vessel, the 6,651-tonne Hong Kong-registered "Jintian", issued a distress call late on Tuesday, the Japan Coast Guard said. A Coast Guard spokesperson said winds were strong at the time the distress signal was received at around 11:15 p.m. on Tuesday. The Coast Guard "is also seeking cooperation from the Self-Defense Forces, South Korean Coast Guard, and vessels sailing near the waters," Matsuno said at a regular news conference. He said the five crew members who were rescued were all Chinese but had no further information on their condition. A Japan Coast Guard spokesperson told Reuters the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and the Korea Coast Guard rescued another eight members of the crew.

☆ Heavy snow, deep cold halts transport across Japan, at least one dead
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A train is stranded at Nishioji station in Kyoto, Japan in this photo provided by Kyodo on January 25, 2023. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERSTOKYO, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Heavy snow blanketed wide swathes of Japan on Wednesday, snarling traffic, forcing hundreds of flight cancellations and disrupting train travel, leaving at least one person dead. An unusually cold weather front and extreme low pressure systems set snow falling and strong winds blowing across Japan from Tuesday. Snow was particularly heavy on the side of the nation facing the Sea of Japan, with the city of Maniwa in western Japan hit with a record 93 cm (36 inches) in the 24 hours to 8:00 a.m. (2300 GMT) on Wednesday. Strong winds connected to the storm may have caused the sinking of a Hong Kong-registered cargo ship between western Japan and South Korea's Jeju island early on Wednesday.

☆ Heavy snow causes havoc in Japan as cold snap sweeps through Asia
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TOKYO, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Heavy snow blanketed wide swathes of Japan on Wednesday, snarling traffic, forcing hundreds of flight cancellations, disrupting train travel and leaving at least one person dead. An unusually cold weather front and extreme low pressure systems set snow falling and strong winds blowing across Japan from Tuesday after causing havoc in other Asia countries earlier this week. Some 3,000 people were stranded at two train stations in the western city of Kyoto after snow and high winds forced service to be suspended on Tuesday. Strong winds connected to the storm may have caused the sinking of a Hong Kong-registered cargo ship between western Japan and South Korea's Jeju island early on Wednesday. Reporting by Kaori Kaneko, Sugiyama Satoshi and Elaine Lies in Tokyo and Hyonhee Shin in Seoul, writing by Elaine Lies and Miyoung Kim Editing by Chang-Ran Kim, Kim Coghill and Christina FincherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Honda to create division to speed up electrification development
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co (7267.T) said on Tuesday it would create a new division in a bid to strengthen and speed up its electrification business as part of an overhaul of its organisational structure. Japanese automakers have been at risk of falling behind their European and U.S. rivals in the EV market. In changes effective April 1, the new division would consolidate the Japanese automaker's electrification strategy and development of automobiles, motorcycles and power products such as generators, it said in a statement. Integrating to the three was to "rapidly develop the implementation of resource shifts in accordance with the future lineup strategy in line with the electrification acceleration," a spokesperson said in a briefing. Honda last year laid out a target to roll out 30 EV models globally and produce about 2 million EVs a year by 2030.

☆ Japan's Nidec slashes full-year operating profit forecast on weak demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The company cut its operating profit forecast for the financial year through March by 48% to 110 billion yen ($845 million). That was worse than expectations for a full-year operating profit of 202.5 billion yen based on estimates from 20 analysts, Refinitiv data showed. For the third quarter through December, the Kyoto-based firm reported an operating profit of 28 billion yen, down 37% from 44.3 billion yen a year earlier. That was also lower than a 51.34 billion yen average profit estimated by six analysts. Nidec, which will mark its 50-year anniversary in July, forecast last quarter that its e-axle business will reach profitability in the financial year starting from April.

TOKYO, Jan 19 (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan may raise a cap set around its 10-year bond yield target to 0.75% or double it to 1.0% by around mid-year if inflation overshoots its expectations, Columbia University academic Takatoshi Ito said on Thursday. Depending on inflation and wage developments, the central bank may also abandon negative rates by raising its short-term interest rate target from -0.1% by the end of this year, Ito told Reuters in an interview. Ito, who is a close associate of BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda's, is considered by some analysts as a candidate to join the central bank's leadership when the terms of Kuroda and his two deputies end in the coming months. Kuroda's term is up in April, while those of his two deputies expire in March. Reporting by Leika Kihara and Takaya Yamaguchi Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Tokyo court upholds not guilty verdict for ex-Tepco execs over Fukushima disaster
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Wrongful judgment" after the The Tokyo High Court upheld a not guilty verdict for former Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) executives of negligence over the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power station disaster, in front of the court in Tokyo, Japan, January 18, 2023. REUTERS/Issei KatoTOKYO, Jan 18 (Reuters) - The Tokyo High Court on Wednesday upheld a not guilty criminal verdict by a lower court that cleared former Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) (9501.T) executives of negligence over the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power station disaster. The ruling on Wednesday to uphold the not guilty verdict sits at odds with a separate civil case brought to the Tokyo court by Tepco shareholders, which found four former executives responsible for the 2011 nuclear disaster. Judges ordered the former executives to pay 13 trillion yen ($99.14 billion) in damages in the civil lawsuit. The court judged that the executives could have prevented the disaster if they had exercised due care.

☆ Back to the future: Toyota sets sights on old-car upgrades in zero-emissions drive
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda and Toyota's GAZOO Racing Company President Koji Sato attend an event for Toyota GAZOO Racing and LEXUS at Tokyo Auto Salon 2023 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, east of Tokyo, Japan January 13, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonCHIBA, Japan, Jan 13 (Reuters) - In an eye-catching bid to show that cars can be clean while appealing to old-school petrolheads, Toyota Motor (7203.T) on Friday showcased zero-emission versions of its 1980s sports range, which still boasts a strong global fan base. Toyota President Akio Toyoda said remodelling existing cars needed to be explored as an option to achieve a goal of zero carbon emissions by 2050. In Japan, only one in about 20 cars on the road are new, and older ones are mainly powered at least partly by gasoline. "It's important to leave a choice for cars that are already loved or owned by someone," Toyoda, a self-confessed car-lover and race-car driver, said at the event.

☆ Japan prosecutors indict Yamagami for murder of ex-Prime Minister Abe -Yomiuri
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Japanese prosecutors on Friday indicted the man suspected of killing former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Yomiuri newspaper reported. Nara District Public Prosecutors Office indicted Tetsuya Yamagami, 42, on murder charges as well as for violating gun laws after concluding a roughly six-month psychiatric evaluation, the newspaper reported. The Unification Church was founded in South Korea in 1954 and famous for its mass weddings, relying on its Japan followers as a key source of income. The approval rate for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government had fallen to record laws amid revelations about connections between the church and many LDP lawmakers. In November, Japan launched a probe into the church that could threaten its legal status following the assassination of Abe.

☆ Japan lodges protest to China over visa suspension
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Japan lodged a protest to China over the suspension of visas for Japanese citizens and asked that it overturn the action, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Wednesday. "It is regrettable that China unilaterally has taken visa suspension action for reasons other than steps for the coronavirus," Matsuno told a regular press conference. China's move came after Japan toughened COVID-19 border control rules for travellers coming directly from China, including a requirement for a negative PCR test result less than 72 hours before departure. Asked about Japan's border controls going forward, Matsuno said the government would respond appropriately based on China's coronavirus situation and its information disclosure. Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Tom HogueOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ BOJ's 2% inflation target can be tweaked to 'range', deputy governor candidate says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Kantaro Komiya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, Jan 11 (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan's (BOJ) 2% inflation target can be modified into a "range" to sustain monetary policy flexibility amid possibly higher inflation compared to pre-COVID times, former board member Sayuri Shirai said on Wednesday. Shirai, widely seen as a candidate to become deputy governor at the central bank this spring, also said there should be a review of Japan's monetary policy over the past 10 years. "Given the chance inflation may stay elevated compared to pre-pandemic, we must be careful about abolishing the 2% inflation target and I think making it a range is one possibility." The BOJ, long preoccupied with reviving price growth to avert a risk of deflation, has been an outlier among central banks this year. The new BOJ leadership after the incumbent governor Haruhiko Kuroda's term ends in April should conduct a policy review, Shirai said, as she had the impression the central bank's communication with markets had become slightly "complex".

☆ Sony, Honda roll out prototype of 'Afeela' EV that will use Qualcomm tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 4 (Reuters) - Japan's Sony (6758.T) on Wednesday unveiled a prototype of the new "Afeela" electric vehicles it will build together with Honda (7267.T), using digital chassis from hardware maker Qualcomm Inc (QCOM.O). The Afeela, which sported rounded corners and a sleek black roof, will use more than 40 sensors, Yashuhide Mizuno, the chief executive of Sony Honda Mobility, told the trade show. It will also use the "Unreal Engine" 3-D creation tool from Epic Games, the maker of the "Fortnite" series of games. Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, who also appeared at the CES presentation, said the car would use Qualcomm's "Snapdragon" digital chassis. The venture between Sony Group Corp and Honda Motor Co Ltd aims to deliver its first electric vehicles by early 2026 in North America.

☆ Sony's new "Afeela" electric vehicle with Honda to use Qualcomm tech, companies say
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Jan 4 (Reuters) - Sony and Honda's electric vehicle joint venture will work closely with U.S. firm Qualcomm Inc (QCOM.O) on the new "Afeela" cars, the chief executive of Sony Honda Mobility, Yasuhide Mizuno, told the CES 2023 technology trade show in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, who also appeared at the CES presentation, said the car would use Qualcomm's "Snapdragon" digital chassis. The venture between Sony Group Corp (6758.T) and Honda Motor Co Ltd (7267.T) aims to deliver its first electric vehicles by early 2026 in North America. Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Writing by David Dolan Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Japan to tighten COVID border controls for travellers from China
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Kantaro Komiya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Japan will toughen from Sunday its COVID-19 border control measures for travellers from China, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said, in response to a surge of infections among such visitors. Additional measures will require negative coronavirus tests before passengers board direct flights from China, Kishida said on Wednesday, stepping up measures adopted on Dec. 30. Japan will continue to ask airlines to limit additional flights from China, he told a nationally televised New Year news conference. "Necessary restrictions are still put in place as we are taking all possible measures to prevent infections," Kishida added. Most European Union nations favour pre-departure testing for travellers from China, the European Commission said on Tuesday.

☆ Japan to toughen border control for travellers from China, PM says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Japan will toughen its COVID-19 border control measures for travellers from China effective Jan. 8, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Wednesday. Additional measures will require pre-boarding negative coronavirus test results for passengers on direct flights from China, Kishida said, strengthening the existing emergency measures Japan started on Dec. 30. Japan will continue to ask airlines to limit additional flights from China, Kishida also told a nationally televised New Year news conference. Reporting by Kantaro Komiya Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Japan to make raising wages a top priority, says senior govt official
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"The biggest challenge for Japan's economy is a lack of wage growth. Unless wages rise, consumption won't pick up and companies won't increase investment," Kihara said, speaking during a television programme. While companies are responsible for deciding how much they hike pay, the government can help achieve higher wages through tax incentives, Kihara said. "The government will increase its focus on achieving wage growth. Japan's consumer inflation hit a four-decade high of 3.7% in November, well above the BOJ's target, hitting households who have yet to see wages rise enough to make up for the spike in prices of consumers goods.

☆ Japan marks record 415 COVID-19 deaths -health ministry
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Japan on Wednesday recorded 415 COVID-19 deaths, the highest-ever count for a single day, health ministry data showed. The country counted 216,219 newly confirmed coronavirus cases on Wednesday, up 4% from a week earlier, the data also showed, approaching the record high of some 260,000 a day in August. In the past seven days, Japan had the world's largest confirmed COVID-19 infections and the second-most deaths after the United States, according to a tally by the World Health Organization. Reporting by Kantaro Komiya Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Fourth Japan minister exits PM Kishida's four-month-old cabinet
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Sakura Murakami | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Japan's Reconstruction Minister Kenya Akiba visits at Yasukuni Shrine on the 77th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two, in Tokyo, Japan August 15, 2022. REUTERS/Issei KatoTOKYO, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Japanese reconstruction minister Kenya Akiba tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday, becoming the fourth minister to leave the cabinet created by Kishida in August. Three other ministers have quit in close succession due to scandals, some involving funding and ties with the Unification Church. "It was a difficult decision to make, but I tendered my resignation to the prime minister as I felt I must not hamper the debates in parliament," he added. Akiba will be replaced by former reconstruction minister Hiromichi Watanabe, Kyodo News reported on Tuesday.

☆ Japan to deploy missile defence unit in Yonaguni, near Taiwan - Jiji
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Japan's Ministry of Defence will deploy a surface-to-air missile defence unit in Yonaguni Island, the country's westernmost island, near Taiwan, Jiji news reported on Tuesday. The instalment of missile troops is part of a plan to expand a Ground Self-Defense Force camp on the island, part of Okinawa prefecture, to reinforce defence of Japan's southwestern islands, Jiji quoted ministry spokesperson Takeshi Aoki as saying. Earlier this month, Japan unveiled its biggest military build-up since World War Two with a $320 billion plan that would buy missiles capable of striking China as regional tensions and Russia's Ukraine invasion stoke war fears. read moreReporting by Kantaro Komiya Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Japan to require negative COVID test upon arrival for Chinese travellers
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Japan will require a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival for travellers from mainland China due to the rapid spread of the virus in the country, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Tuesday. Travellers from China who test positive will be required to quarantine for seven days, Kishida told reporters, adding that the new border measures for China will go into effect from midnight on Dec. 30. The government will also limit requests from airlines to increase flights to China, he said. Japan reopened its borders to tourists in October after more than two years of strict COVID curbs, provided travellers present proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus tests taken before departure. Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Muralikumar AnantharamanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Japan's Kyocera to invest $9.8 bln for chips over FY2023-2025 -Nikkei
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Japan's Kyocera Corp (6971.T) plans to invest 1.3 trillion yen ($9.77 billion) for manufacturing facilities and development of semiconductor-related products over three years starting in the 2023/24 business year, the Nikkei daily reported on Tuesday. To fund the expansion for parts such as ceramics for chip-making equipment, Kyocera is looking to borrow up to around 1 trillion yen, using its 15% stake in KDDI Corp (9433.T) as collateral, the president Hideo Tanimoto told Nikkei in an interview. ($1 = 133.0900 yen)Reporting by Kantaro Komiya Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Japan's jobless rate falls to 2.5% in Nov
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Japan's jobless rate fell to 2.5% in November, while the availability of jobs stayed at its highest level since March 2020, government data showed on Tuesday. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate matched economists' median forecast in a Reuters poll and was down from 2.6% in October. The jobs-to-applicants ratio stood at 1.35, labour ministry data showed, unchanged from October. For a table on the jobless data, go to the internal affairs ministry's website: http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/roudou/index.htm(Note: The jobs-to-applicants ratio and new job offers can be seen in Japanese on the labour ministry's website)Reporting by Kentaro Sugiyama, writing by Kaori Kaneko Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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