Stricken Japan nuke plant struggles to keep staff Keeping the meltdown-stricken Fukushima nuclear plant in northeastern Japan in stable condition requires a cast of thousands. Increasingly the plant's operator is struggling to find enough workers, a trend that many expect to worsen and hamper progress in the decades-long effort to safely decommission it. (AP)
Kuroda struggles with communication as Japan rates rise Haruhiko Kuroda may need to talk his way out of a paradox he helped create.
Installed as Bank of Japan chief in March, Kuroda aims to unlock borrowing and spending by lifting inflation expectations and wages after 15 years of deflation. (Bloomberg)
Hashimoto's meeting with 2 former sex slaves canceled Two South Korean women who were forced to serve as wartime sex slaves canceled a scheduled meeting Friday with Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, saying it is "worthless." (Kyodo)
Square arrives in Japan, its first market outside North America At a press event in Tokyo today, Twitter founder Jack Dorsey announced the long-awaited Japanese debut of Square, the smartphone credit card processing service with the iconic white dongle. (theverge.com)
Japan stocks close up after big plunge After a bumpy ride, stocks in Japan closed with a small gain on Friday, recovering from a deep plunge the day before. (CNN)
Tokyo cops bust casino in Shibuya Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Wednesday raided an Internet casino in Shibuya Ward for offering illegal gambling. (Tokyo Reporter)
BOJ offers to buy JGBs for 2nd day The Bank of Japan on Friday offered to buy some 900 billion yen in Japanese government bonds from commercial financial institutions on Tuesday, launching JGB-buying market operations for the second consecutive day. (Jiji Press)
Panel: English should be regular primary class A council directly under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has recommended English become a regular subject at primary schools, as part of efforts to rejuvenate the national education system. (Yomiuri)
WWII vet gets 'Order of the Rising Sun' from Japan's ambassador The government of Japan has bestowed one of that nation's highest honors on a Japanese-American, a former U.S. Soldier and World War II veteran, for his work furthering relationships between the Japanese and Americans. (army.mil)
Nikkei tumbles over 7% to end below 14,500 in roller-coaster session The Nikkei stock index tumbled more than 7 percent Thursday in Tokyo to end a roller-coaster trading session below 14,500 as selling triggered by weak Chinese data outpaced sharp gains made earlier and snapped a four-session winning streak. (Kyodo)
600 students lose loans for poor performance About 600 university students have been declared no longer eligible for student loans because of their poor academic performance last year, the Japan Student Services Organization said Thursday. (Japan Times)
Is Japan the new apple? Many big hedge fund investors have in recent years had a very hard time keeping up with the U.S. stock market and other financial benchmarks against which they are judged. The big market drop in Japan will probably make things even harder for some of them. (Forbes)
Japan files protest over S.Korean editorial Japan has issued a protest with a major South Korean newspaper over a commentary that describes the 1945 US atomic bombings of Japan as divine punishment. (NHK)
U.N. urges Japan to block defamation of 'comfort women' A United Nations committee on May 21 called on Japan to prevent hate speech and other actions that degrade former "comfort women" and portray them as prostitutes for Japanese troops in World War II. (Asahi)
Nuclear regulators acknowledge fault below Tsuruga reactor is active The Nuclear Regulation Authority accepted on Wednesday an assessment that a reactor at the Tsuruga plant in western Japan is sitting above an active fault, making it increasingly difficult for the facility to resume operation. (Kyodo)
Foreign travelers to Japan hit record-high The number of foreigners visiting Japan reached a record high last month. Analysts say the weakening yen is making Japan a more affordable destination. (NHK)
Japan to give fresh 40-billion-yen grant aid to Myanmar The Japanese government plans to provide 40 billion yen in fresh grant aid to Myanmar for the country's infrastructure development, officials said Thursday. (Jiji Press)
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