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But the $290 billion outlay comes without a parallel plan to prepare Yonaguni for a possible humanitarian crisis that residents like Sakihara say could quickly overwhelm their shores. Tokyo, they said, has no plan to deal with them, and locals' pleas for help have gone unanswered. A spokesperson for Japan's Cabinet Secretariat said that "if large numbers of refugees came to Japan, relevant government departments would work together to respond". Even if he had a refugee plan, Kishida would still face an obstacle: his contentious relationship with the Okinawa government that administers Yonaguni. NOT ENOUGH TO SHAREBack in Yonaguni, resident Satoshi Nagahama, 33, was surprised to learn the government had no humanitarian plan for refugees.

Persons: Sonkichi Sakihara, chancing, Kenichi Itokazu, Itokazu, Hirokazu Matsuno, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Lai Ching, Matsuno, Fumio Kishida, Kevin Maher, Maher, Yoshihide Yoshida, Japan's, shouldn't, Kishida, Denny Tamaki, it's, Hironobu, Satoshi Nagahama, Sakihara, Koji Sugama, Tim Kelly, Kaori Kaneko, Yukiko Toyoda, Ben Blanchard, Kentaro Sugiyama, David Crawshaw Organizations: Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters, U.S, Japan Coast Guard, Migration Policy Institute, Nations, NMV Consulting, State Department, Defense Forces, it's, University's Research, of Disaster Management, Thomson Locations: YONAGUNI, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan, China, Beijing, Tokyo, Yonaguni, Taipei, Myanmar, Europe, East, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Washington, East Asia, Okinawa

☆ Japan's Alps Alpine says ex-worker arrested on suspected trade secret leak
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Japanese police have arrested a former worker of Alps Alpine (6770.T) on suspicion of stealing trade secrets, the Japanese electronic components maker said on Tuesday. Alps Alpine said it had brought a criminal complaint against the former employee after determining that the worker had stolen information. Kyodo News reported earlier that the arrested employee was a Chinese man in his 30s who had left Alps Alpine for a job at a major Japanese automaker, where he attempted to use the stolen data. Alps Alpine said in its statement that it would tighten compliance, declining to provide further details about the case citing ongoing police investigation. Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Satoshi Sugiyama, Chang, Ran Kim Organizations: Kyodo News, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Chinese, Japanese

☆ Remains of five crew found after US Osprey aircraft crashes off Japan
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A floating object believed to belong to the U.S. military aircraft V-22 Osprey that crashed into the sea is seen off Yakushima Island, Kagoshima prefecture, western Japan November 30, 2023, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON/TOKYO, Dec 4 (Reuters) - U.S. and Japanese dive teams found the remains of five more crew members from a V-22 Osprey aircraft that crashed off western Japan last week, the Pentagon said on Monday. Two crew members remain unaccounted for. "There is an ongoing combined effort to recover the remaining crew members from the wreckage," Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said. Following the crash, the U.S. military unit that the V-22 Osprey aircraft belonged to suspended flight operations.

Persons: Sabrina Singh, Phil Stewart, Satoshi Sugiyama, Bernadette Baum, Alison Williams Organizations: Kyodo, REUTERS Acquire, WASHINGTON, Osprey, Pentagon, U.S ., ., U.S, Pacifist Japan, U.S . Marine Corps, Thomson Locations: Kagoshima prefecture, Japan, TOKYO, Yakushima, Tokyo, U.S, Washington

☆ Japan space agency hit with cyberattack, rocket and satellite info not accessed
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A logo of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is seen in front of a gate at the JAXA Chofu Aerospace Center Aerodrome Branch in Tokyo January 22, 2013. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Japan's space agency was hit with a cyberattack but the information the hackers accessed did not include anything important for rocket and satellite operations, a spokesperson said on Wednesday. "There was a possibility of unauthorised access by exploiting the vulnerability of network equipment," the spokesperson at Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said, declining to elaborate on details such as when the attack took place. The space agency learned of the possibility of the unauthorised access after receiving information from an external organisation and conducting an internal investigation, the spokesperson said, declining to identify the organisation's name. Japanese media reported Wednesday that the cyberattack occurred during the summer and the police became aware of the attack and notified JAXA this autumn.

Persons: Issei Kato, Satoshi Sugiyama, Tom Hogue, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, JAXA Chofu, Branch, REUTERS, Rights, Yomiuri, Thomson Locations: Tokyo

TOKYO, Nov 29 (Reuters) - A U.S. military V-22 Osprey aircraft crashed near an island in western Japan on Wednesday with eight people onboard, Japan's coast guard said. The aircraft disappeared from radar at 2:40 p.m. local time, Japan Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said. Another crash-landed in the ocean off Japan's southern island of Okinawa in December 2016, prompting a temporary U.S. military grounding of the aircraft. The deployment of the Osprey in Japan has been controversial, with critics saying the hybrid aircraft is prone to accidents. The U.S. military and Japan say it is safe.

Persons: Hirokazu Matsuno, Kiyoshi Takenaka, Tim Kelly, Satoshi Sugiyama, John Geddie, David Dolan, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Osprey, U.S, Marines, U.S . Marines, U.S . Navy, Japan Self Defense Forces, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, U.S, Japan, Australia, Okinawa

☆ BOJ to end negative interest rates in 2024, over 80% of economists say: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Satoshi Sugiyama | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

While none of 26 economists predicted changes in the upcoming December BOJ meeting, many foresaw the negative rate policy, which has set Japan's short-term deposit rate at minus 0.1%, would reach the end of the line next year. In the Nov. 15-20 poll, 22 of 26, or 85%, of economists said the BOJ would end the policy by the end of next year. Having watered down YCC, the BOJ's next focus is to end its negative interest rate policy and push short-term rates to zero, sources previously told Reuters. Close to 85% of poll respondents forecast the BOJ would end its YCC policy, while the rest said it would tweak the scheme again, the poll found. EYES ON NEXT YEAROf 22 economists in the poll who chose 2024 for the end of negative rates, more than a half, 12, opted for the April 25-26 meeting.

Persons: Issei Kato, Kazuo Ueda, Mitsubishi UFJ, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley, Hiroshi Namioka, Namioka, Fumio Kishida's, Chiyuki Takamatsu, Satoshi Sugiyama, Veronica Khongwir, Sujith Pai, Sam Holmes Organizations: Bank of Japan, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of, Reuters, Capital, Research Institute, Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, D, Management, Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Bank of Japan

North Korea said it placed its first spy satellite in orbit on Tuesday. South Korea's military said North Korea's military reconnaissance satellite was believed to have entered orbit, but it would take time to assess whether it was operating normally. Critics have said the pact weakened South Korea's ability to monitor the North's near the border while North Korea had violated the agreement. South Korea said it was suspending a clause in the agreement and resuming aerial surveillance near the border. North Korea had notified Japan of a satellite launch after two failed attempts to put what it called spy satellites into orbit this year.

Persons: Kim, Kim Jong Un, KCNA, Adrienne Watson, Jonathan McDowell, Shin Won, sik, Kim Jong, Shin, Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon, Moon Jae, Critics, Carl Vinson, U.N, Antonio Guterres, Vladimir Putin, Hong Min, Hyunsu Yim, hyang Choi, Josh Smith, Hyonhee Shin, Joyce Lee, Liz Lee, Satoshi Sugiyama, Ed Davies, Jack Kim, Gerry Doyle, Alex Richardson, Kim Coghill Organizations: Reuters, KCNA, REUTERS Acquire, North, ., U.S, Andersen Air Force Base, Pentagon, . National Security, Harvard – Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, U.S . Space Force, South Korea's Defence, National Security, South Korean, Korea's Defence, Korea Institute for National Unification, South, U.S ., Thomson Locations: North Gyeongsang Province, North Korea, Korea, South Korea, SEOUL, United States, . North Korea, Pyongyang, Pacific, Guam, U.S, South, Britain, North, Santa Fe, Korean, Japan, China, North Korea's, RUSSIA, Russian, Russia, Minwoo, Seoul, Beijing, Tokyo

"Given the fast-changing landscape, I believe those who move fast (with wage hikes) should become competitive." A demand made this year by Rengo, Japan's largest trade union confederation, for pay hikes of "around 5%" resulted in average wage hikes of 3.58% among major companies. Six out of 10 economists in a Reuters poll expect major firms' pay hikes in 2024 to exceed this year's. The key, however, would be whether wage hikes broaden to smaller firms and those in the regional areas. A report by the BOJ's regional branch managers in October warned wage hikes remained uneven among sectors with many firms undecided on next year's pay increments.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Takeshi Niinami, Fumio, Kazuo Ueda, Hisashi Yamada, Rengo, Atsushi Takeda, Kishida, Keita Kondo, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Kentaro Sugiyama, Sam Holmes, Leika Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Suntory Holdings Ltd, Reuters, Meiji, Life Insurance, Suntory Holdings, Bank, Japan, Hosei University, OECD, UA Zensen, Itochu Economic Research Institute, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Ukraine, Saitama

☆ Car crashes into barricade near Israel embassy in Tokyo, man detained
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Francis Tang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] A view of the scene after a car crashed into a barricade near the Israeli embassy in Tokyo, Japan, November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 16 (Reuters) - A car crashed into a barricade near the entrance of the Israeli embassy in Tokyo on Thursday and a man in his 50s was detained on the spot, local media reported. An official at the Israeli embassy said the matter was under police investigation and declined further comment. Several pro-Palestinian demonstrations have been held outside Israeli embassies around the world in recent weeks, including in Tokyo, in protest against Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Around the same time, a staffer at the Israeli embassy in Beijing was assaulted on the street and hospitalised.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Israel, Francis Tang, Satoshi Sugiyama, Mariko Katsumura, John Geddie, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Fuji, Police, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Tama, Gaza, Israel, Beijing

☆ Japan's export growth slows as China, global downturn risks loom
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Tetsushi Kajimoto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A worker is seen among newly manufactured cars awaiting export at port in Yokohama, Japan, November 15, 2017. Weak exports have complicated Japan's efforts to spur economic growth with sluggish domestic demand also weighing on the post-pandemic recovery. Japan's export growth slowsJapan's economy weakened in July-September, snapping two straight quarters of expansion on soft consumption and exports, data showed on Wednesday. By destination, exports to China, Japan's largest trading partner, fell 4.0% year-on-year in October, posting 11 straight months of declines. The trade balance came to a deficit of 662.5 billion yen ($4.38 billion), versus the median estimate for a 735.7 billion yen deficit.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Atsushi Takeda, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Satoshi Sugiyama, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, TOKYO, Ministry of Finance, Itochu Economic Research Institute, Thomson Locations: Yokohama, Japan, China, United States, Europe

☆ BOJ looks to corp profits, household incomes to boost wages, prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Japanese national flag is hoisted atop the headquarters of Bank of Japan in Tokyo, Japan September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 14 (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan (BOJ) will aim to create conditions for raising prices and lifting wages through increases in corporate profits and household incomes instead of cost-push inflation, its deputy governor Shinichi Uchida said on Tuesday. "The BOJ will continue to support economic activity and strive to create an environment wherein it's easy to raise wages," he said during a debate at the parliament's upper house committee on financial affairs. Even with upward pressure on long-term interest rates, the BOJ does not believe the 10-year yield will significantly exceed 1%, said Kazuhiro Masaki, director-general of the central bank's monetary affairs department. Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama; Editing by Tom Hogue & Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Issei Kato, Shinichi Uchida, Kazuhiro Masaki, Satoshi Sugiyama, Tom Hogue Organizations: Bank of Japan, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki arrives for a news conference during the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Marrakech, Morocco, October 13, 2023. REUTERS/Susana Vera/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said on Tuesday that the government would take all possible steps necessary to respond to currency moves, repeating his usual mantra that excessive swings were undesirable. Suzuki made the remarks when asked about impacts from the weak yen on households which have been pressured by rising living costs due to higher import prices for fuel and food. "What's important is to maximise positive effects from the weak yen while mitigating negatives," Suzuki told reporters. Japan last intervened in the currency market - selling dollars and buying yen - in October last year.

Persons: Shunichi Suzuki, Susana Vera, Suzuki, Shinichi Uchida, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Kaori Kaneko, Satoshi Sugiyama, Chang, Ran Kim Organizations: International Monetary Fund, World Bank, REUTERS, Rights, Japanese Finance, Bank, Bank of, Thomson Locations: Marrakech, Morocco, Japan, U.S

☆ Japan PM to sack deputy finance minister over tax scandal - NHK
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Fumio Kishida, Japan's prime minister, speaks during a news conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, November 2, 2023. Kiyoshi Ota/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has decided to sack a deputy finance minister, public broadcaster NHK reported on Monday, after the official last week admitted to media reports that he had been delinquent on tax payments in the past. State Minister of Finance Kenji Kanda, who is in charge of government bonds and monetary policy, would be the third to leave a ministerial post in just two months since Kishida reshuffled his cabinet to improve tumbling public approval ratings. The report of Kanda's firing comes as the latest poll by broadcaster FNN showed the approval rating for Kishida's cabinet reaching a record low of 27.8%, sliding 7.8 points from last month. Reporting by Kantaro Komiya and Satoshi Sugiyama Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Fumio, Kiyoshi Ota, Fumio Kishida, of Finance Kenji Kanda, Kishida, FNN, Kantaro Komiya, Satoshi Sugiyama, Chang, Ran Kim Organizations: Rights, NHK, of Finance, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan

☆ Japan PM to Sack Deputy Finance Minister Over Tax Scandal - NHK
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has decided to sack a deputy finance minister, public broadcaster NHK reported on Monday, after the official last week admitted to media reports that he had been delinquent on tax payments in the past. State Minister of Finance Kenji Kanda, who is in charge of government bonds and monetary policy, would be the third to leave a ministerial post in just two months since Kishida reshuffled his cabinet to improve tumbling public approval ratings. The report of Kanda's firing comes as the latest poll by broadcaster FNN showed the approval rating for Kishida's cabinet reaching a record low of 27.8%, sliding 7.8 points from last month. (Reporting by Kantaro Komiya and Satoshi Sugiyama; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim)

Persons: Fumio Kishida, of Finance Kenji Kanda, Kishida, FNN, Kantaro Komiya, Satoshi Sugiyama, Chang, Ran Kim Organizations: NHK, of Finance Locations: TOKYO

The statement gave no details of options being discussed if the Hamas militant group is ousted from Gaza as the result of an ongoing Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian enclave. Israel has so far been vague about its long-term plans for Gaza. Diplomats in Washington, the United Nations, the Middle East and beyond have also started weighing the options. The statement will present the G7's "united stance" on the Middle East situation, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Wednesday. The G7 group of wealthy, industrialised nations is made up of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, with the European Union also participating in the talks.

Persons: Josep Borrell, James, Annalena Baerbock, Antony Blinken, Yoko Kamikawa, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Eli Cohen, Hirokazu Matsuno, Netanyahu, John Geddie, Sakura Murakami, Satoshi Sugiyama, Lincoln, Gerry Doyle Organizations: European Union for Foreign Affairs, German, Foreign, Group, Wall Street Journal, Union, Gaza, Diplomats, United Nations, Reuters, European Union, Thomson Locations: British, U.S, TOKYO, Gaza, Tokyo, Japan, Israel, Ukraine, China, Washington, Palestinian, United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy

☆ Japan's inflation-adjusted wages slip in September for 18th month
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Androniki Christodoulou/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Japan's real wages slipped in September for an 18th month, government data showed on Tuesday, with rising prices squeezing consumers' purchasing power, and likely to add to pressure from labour groups for higher wage increases. Financial markets worldwide pay close attention to the wage trends in the world's third-largest economy. Inflation-adjusted real wages, a barometer of consumer purchasing power, dropped in September by 2.4% from a year earlier after a revised 2.8% fall the month before, data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare showed. Base salary growth in September advanced by 1.4% year-on-year, from a revised 1.2% increase the previous month, the data showed. Overtime pay, a gauge of business activity, went up in September by 0.7% year-on-year, after a revised 0.2% gain in August.

Persons: Androniki, Fumio Kishida's, Satoshi Sugiyama, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Financial, Bank of Japan, Ministry of Health, Labour, Welfare, Rengo, UA, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Base

☆ Japan service activity posts slowest growth this year - PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Japan's services activity expanded at the slowest pace this year in October, a business survey showed on Monday, reinforcing concerns that the key sector propelling economic growth is continuing to soften. The final au Jibun Bank Service purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 51.6 in October from 53.8 in September, beset by weak demand. "While the PMI data continue to make positive reading for the Japanese service sector, the recent trends suggest that growth is on the wane," said Andrew Harker, economics director at S&P Global. Employment returned to growth, but retirements offset the overall pace of job creation, the survey found. The worsening conflict in the Middle East and slower growth in China cloud the outlook for Japan, among the largest economies in the world.

Persons: Andrew Harker, Satoshi Sugiyama, Sam Holmes Organizations: Jibun Bank Service, P Global Intelligence, PMI, P, Employment, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, China, Japan

[1/2] FILE PHOTO: People hold a rally to protest against Israel's attack on Gaza near the Israeli embassy in Tokyo, Japan October 16, 2023. From the beginning of the conflict, Japan has sought a "balanced" response, in part due to its diverse diplomatic interests in the region and its dependency on the Middle East for oil. A spokesperson for Japan's foreign ministry said it was expected that countries have different positions, but denied that G7 members were struggling to find common ground. A statement issued by G7 trade ministers from a meeting in Osaka late last month did not mention the war. Other group members have issued joint statements.

Persons: Issei Kato, Thomas Gomart, Koichiro Tanaka, Hideaki Shinoda, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, It's, Kunihiko Miyake, Tim Kelly, Yoshifumi, John Irish, Andrew Gray, Andreas Rinke, David Brunstromm, Steve Scherer, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Japan, European Union, French Institute of International Relations, Israel, Health, Hamas, Tokyo's Keio University, United Nations, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Canon Institute for Global Studies, Washington D.C, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Tokyo, Japan, TOKYO, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, United, Israel, United States, Osaka, Russia, Ukraine, China, Iran, Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Washington, Ottawa

☆ NTT says to test driverless vehicle tech with Toyota, invest in US startup
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Toyota logo is seen during the New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 5, 2023. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Japan's Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) (9432.T) plans to test driverless vehicle technology with Toyota Motor (7203.T) and invest in a U.S. startup developing self-driving systems, a spokesperson for the telecommunications firm said on Monday. The Nikkei newspaper first reported on Monday that NTT will invest in May Mobility, adding that both NTT and Toyota would jointly develop vehicles. Both the NTT spokesperson and a Toyota spokesperson said they had no plans for joint development. Cruise late that month suspended all driverless vehicle operations in the United States following an accident that led California regulators to order the company to remove its driverless cars from state roads.

Persons: David, Dee, Delgado, Cruise, Daniel Leussink, Maki Shiraki, Satoshi Sugiyama, Louise Heavens, Christina Fincher Organizations: New York, REUTERS, Rights, Japan's Nippon, Telephone, NTT, Toyota Motor, Nikkei, Toyota, Mobility, Tokio, Honda, General Motors, Cruise, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Japan, Michigan, United States, California

☆ Japan on standby to deal with 'one-sided' yen moves - top FX diplomat
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Takaya Yamaguchi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Issei Kato Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Japan's top currency diplomat Masato Kanda said on Wednesday authorities were on standby to respond to recent "one-sided, sharp" moves in the yen, escalating his warning to investors against pushing down the currency too much. "Speculative trading seems to be the biggest factor behind recent currency moves," Kanda, vice finance minister for international affairs, told reporters on the yen's declines. The situation surrounding yen moves has become "more tense" than before, he said, adding that authorities will "respond appropriately without ruling out any options". After sliding to 151.715 against the dollar overnight on Tuesday, the yen stood at 151.350 in Asia on Wednesday. It intervened again in October 2022 after the yen plunged to a 32-year low of 151.94.

Persons: Masato Kanda, Issei Kato, Kanda, Takaya Yamaguchi, Satoshi Sugiyama, Leika Kihara, Sam Holmes Organizations: Reuters, Finance Ministry, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Japan, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Asia

☆ Suspected gunman takes hostages in Japanese post office - authorities
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - A suspected gunman took at least two people hostage in a post office in Japan after wounding two other people in a shooting at a hospital, authorities and media said on Tuesday. At least two female post office workers in their 20s and 30s were taken hostage, local media reported. Two people were injured at the hospital, media reported. Images broadcast on television showed a man wearing a track suit top and white shirt standing just inside the post office brandishing what looked like a pistol. There were just nine shooting incidents last year, according to the national police agency, of which six were related to criminal gangs.

Persons: Shinzo Abe, Sugiyama Satoshi, Sakura Murakami, Tim Kelly, John Geddie, Christian Schmollinger, Ed Osmond Organizations: Police, Kyodo, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, NHK, Thomson Locations: Warabi, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, Tokyo, Toda

☆ Global EV battery supply chain puzzles over China graphite curbs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Graphite powder, used for battery paste, is pictured in a Volkswagen pilot line for battery cell production in Salzgitter, Germany, May 18, 2022. China dominates the global EV battery supply chain including production of graphite - the single largest component. Graphite companies in the country process both the natural material mined domestically and overseas, as well as synthetic forms. Under the new rules, China will require export permits starting Dec. 1 for high-end synthetic graphite, as well as key forms of natural graphite. NATURAL GRAPHITE HITGlobal companies using natural graphite include Hitachi Chemical, part of Japan's Resonac Holdings Corp (4004.T), South Korea's POSCO Future M (003670.KS) and Japan's Mitsubishi Chemical, which produces natural graphite at two plants in China, according to research firm CRU Group.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Sunit Kapur, Zhang Yan, Siyi Liu, Brenda Goh, Satoshi Sugiyama, Heekyong Yang, Seoul ， Paul Lienert, Jing Xu, Dominique Patton, Tony Munroe, David Evans Organizations: Volkswagen, REUTERS, Rights, EV, Qingdao, Reuters, China's Ministry of Commerce, Gotion High Tech, BTR, Material Technology, Hitachi Chemical, Japan's Resonac Holdings Corp, Mitsubishi Chemical, CRU Group, Mitsubishi, Resources, Materials, Thomson Locations: Salzgitter, Germany, Beijing, China, Japan, South Korea, United States, U.S, Shanghai, Ningbo Shanshan, Indonesia, Finland, Japan's, Australia, Mozambique, U.S ., Louisiana, North Carolina, Toyko, Seoul ，, Detroit

☆ Japan's factory, service sector activity under pressure in Oct - PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Japan's factory activity shrank for a fifth straight month in October while the service sector saw its weakest growth this year, a survey showed on Tuesday, amid growing uncertainty over the outlook for the world's third-largest economy. The au Jibun Bank flash Japan manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) remained flat at 48.5 in October. However, the October PMI data indicated further softening in the service sector, which anchored Japanese economy over recent quarters. The au Jibun Bank flash services PMI fell further to 51.1 in October from 53.8 in September last month, marking the slowest rate of growth since the beginning of this year. The au Jibun Bank Flash Japan composite PMI, which combines both manufacturing and service sector activity, fell to 49.9 in October from 52.1 in September, dropping below into contractionary territory for the first time since December.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Jingyi, Satoshi Sugiyama, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, PMI, P Global Market Intelligence, Jibun Bank Flash Japan, Thomson Locations: Kawasaki, Japan

☆ Rakuten to invest $363 million in better frequency cell base
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Rakuten is pictured in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, Aug 2, 2023. REUTERS/Miho Uranaka/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Japan's Rakuten Group (4755.T) on Monday said it would invest 54.4 billion yen ($362.81 million) to construct cellular base stations, just after the government announced it had assigned the company's carrier better frequency for connection. The announcement could boost the company's mobile phone business that has struggled to take market share from cash-rich incumbents known for high-quality networks. Rakuten said it plans to open 10,661 base stations for the "platinum band" frequency and expects its cell phone business to turn profitable in 2026. The company is sticking to a plan to reduce capital expenditure by about 300 billion yen between 2023 and 2025, a spokesperson said.

Persons: Miho Uranaka, Rakuten, Satoshi Sugiyama, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan

From this viewpoint, Japan is closely watching the situation with serious concern," she added when asked about Japan's oil dependence on the Middle East, which supplies more than 90% of its needs. G7 finance ministers, who were meeting in Morocco as events escalated, issued a brief statement on the attacks on Oct. 12. Japan was "standing one step behind the United States and some European countries", added Isamu Nakashima, associate research fellow at the Middle East Institute of Japan. "The through line of Japan's Middle East policy has been maintaining the flow of energy imports from the region," said David Boling, a director at consulting firm Eurasia Group. While the United States is Japan's closest ally, when it comes to the Middle East, Tokyo will be very wary of being seen as its proxy, said Shuji Hosaka, board member of the Institute of Energy Economics Japan.

Persons: Yoko Kamikawa, Fumio Kishida, Isamu Nakashima, David Boling, Shuji Hosaka, John Geddie, Yoshifumi Takemoto, Tim Kelly, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Ekaterina Golubkova, Kiyoshi Takenaka, Kentaro Sugiyama, Alex Richardson Organizations: Petroleum, Kyodo, Tokyo, Reuters, Middle East Institute of Japan, Middle, Energy, Eurasia Group, U.S, Institute of Energy Economics Japan, Thomson Locations: Kagoshima prefecture, Japan, TOKYO, Israel, Tokyo, Gaza, Iran, Hezbollah, Syria, Morocco, United States, U.S, Saudi Arabia, East

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