Japan to survey Pacific seabed for rare earth
Japan will launch a survey of its Pacific seabed, an official said Thursday, hoping to find rare earth deposits large enough to supply its high-tech industries and reduce its dependence on China.
Second Boeing incident raises questions about 787
A Japan Airlines Boeing 787 that was to fly to Tokyo was grounded in Boston Tuesday following a fuel spill, one day after another plane of the same type suffered a fire.
Japan plans extra $2.1 bn on military spend: official
Japan plans to spend an extra $2.1 billion on missiles, fighter jets and helicopters, an official said Wednesday, as Tokyo looks to boost defence capabilities with concerns growing over a rising China.
Japan summons China envoy for first time under PM Abe
Tokyo summoned the Chinese ambassador Tuesday for the first time under the new nationalist government to "strongly protest" against the presence of official ships in waters around disputed islands.
Japan scrambles jets to head off China plane
Japan scrambled fighter jets Saturday to head off a Chinese state-owned plane that flew near islands at the centre of a dispute between Tokyo and Beijing.
Giant tuna sells for record $1.8 million in Japan
A monster bluefin tuna sold for a record-breaking $1.8 million in the year's first auction at Japan's Tsukiji fish market on Saturday, nearly three times the previous high set last year.
Japan PM Abe wants new nuclear reactors: reports
Japan's new prime minister Shinzo Abe has voiced his willingness to build new nuclear reactors, reports said Monday, despite widespread public opposition to atomic energy in light of the Fukushima crisis.
Fukushima 'unprecedented challenge': new Japan PM
The clean-up at Fukushima after its tsunami-sparked nuclear meltdowns is unlike anything humanity has ever tried, Japan's prime minister said Saturday during a tour of the plant.
Nazarbayev invited new Japanese Prime-Minister to Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev congratulated Prime-Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe on the victory of the Liberal-Democratic Party at the Parliamentary elections.
New Japanese finance chief hits out at BoJ: reports
Japan's new finance chief hit out at the country's under-pressure central bank, reports said Thursday, saying it was "slow" in tackling deflation that has plagued the economy for years.
Japan's new govt to review zero-nuclear policy
Japan's new leaders set to work Thursday on dismantling plans to rid the country of nuclear power by 2040, pledging to review a post-Fukushima policy.
Asian student survivors of Hiroshima to be honoured
Hiroshima University said Thursday it would bestow honorary doctorates on three former students from Southeast Asia who survived the 1945 atomic bombing of the Japanese city.
Toyota says to sell 9.7 mn vehicles this year, up 22%
Toyota said Wednesday that it expects to sell 9.7 million vehicles globally this year, up 22 percent from 2011 as Japan's biggest automaker accelerates a recovery after last year's natural disasters.
China and emerging powers to pay more for UN
China, Brazil, India and other emerging powers agreed to major increases in their United Nations payments as the global body hammered out a new budget deal this week to avoid its own fiscal cliff.
Hawkish Abe to be named Japan's next prime minister
Japan's conservative leader Shinzo Abe is to be named as the country's new prime minister Wednesday, after he swept to power on a hawkish platform of getting tough on diplomacy while fixing the economy.
US-Japan joint venture picked for Mozambique gas project
A joint venture consisting of US company CB&I and Japan's Chiyoda Corporation has been picked to participate in a liquefied natural gas project in Mozambique.
Japan's new China envoy urges stronger economic ties
Japan's new envoy to China urged stronger economic ties with Beijing in an interview broadcast Monday, after the incoming premier pledged to mend bilateral ties strained by a bitter territorial row.
Japan's incoming PM pledges to mend ties with China
Japan's incoming premier Saturday pledged to seek a thaw in ties with China after a report said he will send a special envoy on a fence-mending mission to Beijing.
Mitsubishi expands oil leak recall to 1.7 mn vehicles
Mitsubishi Motors on Wednesday widened a recall over an oil leak issue on vehicles sold in Japan to about 1.7 million vehicles, prompting a rebuke from the country's transport ministry.
Record backing expected for UN anti-death penalty vote
A record number of countries are expected to back a UN General Assembly call for a moratorium on capital punishment on Thursday.