Brent crude oil price hits three-month high
Crude prices finished mixed Monday after early jumps, with Brent topping $115 a barrel before settling back for a modest gain.
Japan mulls international court for S. Korea row
Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said Saturday that Tokyo was considering asking the International Court of Justice to settle a bitter row with South Korea over a disputed island group.
Japan lawmakers to approve long-awaited tax hike
An unpopular bill to double Japan's sales tax and partially plug its gaping debt hole is set to be passed by lawmakers Friday in a triumph for the prime minister that could also herald the end of his job.
Toyota announces $495 mn investment in Brazil
Top Japanese automaker Toyota plans to invest $495 million dollars to build an engine plant in Brazil, the company's president said Wednesday after meeting Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.
Hiroshima marks anniversary of atomic bombing
Tens of thousands of people marked the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on Monday, as a rising tide of anti-nuclear sentiment swells in post-Fukushima Japan.
Euro stays weak in Asia after ECB disappointment
The euro stayed bearish against other currencies in Asia trade Friday after taking a hit from the European Central Bank's announcement of no immediate measures to fight the debt crisis.
Olympics: Japan shocked by judo medal failures
Japan's judo coaches have admitted their Olympic Games team has performed below expectations after claiming just one gold medal over the first four days of competition.
Japan firm says China waste claims 'groundless'
A Japanese paper firm whose factory was at the centre of deadly weekend protests in China said Monday it was concerned about the demonstration, but rejected pollution claims as "groundless".
Activists hope gay marriage debate will stir Japan
Koyuki Higashi is slim, articulate and intelligent, things that make a would-be wife attractive to many in Japan. But Higashi knows she will probably never marry because she is a lesbian.
Toyota world's top carmaker in first half: reports
Toyota Motor has returned to the top of the global carmakers' league, Japanese media reported on Thursday, after the firm said it had sold almost five million vehicles in the first half of the year.
Japan customs say pens need weapons import licence
Japanese customs officials who impounded 200 pens more than a year ago said Friday the writing implements needed a weapons import licence because they were shaped like bullets.
Japan braces for more rain after at least 19 die
Southwestern Japan was bracing for the effects of more torrential rain Friday, on top of "unprecedented" downpours that swamped whole neighbourhoods, leaving at least 19 dead and eight missing.
Euro under pressure as Moody's lowers Italy bond rating
The euro was under fresh selling pressure to fall below $1.22 in Asia trade on Friday after ratings agency Moody's on Friday downgraded Italy's government bond rating.
50,000 flee as record rain in Japan kills three
At least three people have died and 50,000 have been ordered to evacuate their homes as unprecedented rains pound the southwestern Japanese island of Kyushu.
Olympics: Meditating Buddhist monk saddles up for London
He'd prefer enlightenment to a medal, but when Japan's horse-riding Buddhist monk Kenki Sato saddles up for London 2012, he'll be representing one of the Olympics' more unusual families.
Japan reactor back to full power after nuke shutdown
A nuclear reactor in western Japan began full operations Monday, the first restart since the country shut down its atomic stations in the wake of last year's crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.
Afghan President hails aid, calls for help on graft
Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai on Monday hailed international donors for pledging $16 billion in aid to the war-torn nation, but called for more help to clamp down on corruption.
Japan's pursuit of cute spawns $30 billion industry
Police forces use them; shops can't do without them; power companies have them -- and sack them when they become unpopular.
Toshiba fined in US antitrust case
Japanese electronics giant Toshiba said Tuesday a jury has ordered it to pay $87 million in a price-fixing case on LCD displays, but that it ultimately may not end up paying damages.
Electricity flows from restarted Japan reactor
Electricity generated from nuclear fission began flowing in Japan on Thursday, ending a nearly two-month hiatus in the aftermath of the Fukushima meltdowns.