Asia Report - Japan | The Straits Times

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Japan PM promotes nuclear exports at central Europe summit

WARSAW (AFP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a push on Sunday for his country's nuclear technologies at a summit in Warsaw with leaders of four...
Japan prince honours Spain’s samurai past

CORIA DEL RIO, Spain (AFP) - Japan’s Crown Prince Naruhito on Friday honoured a 17th-century samurai who established the first ties between his country and...
Three Chinese ships in disputed waters: Japan

TOKYO (AFP) - Three Chinese government ships sailed into waters around disputed islands controlled by Tokyo on Friday, for the first time since late May, Japan...
Fukushima official Twitter tirade under fire in Japan

TOKYO (AFP) - A public official charged with helping victims of Japan's nuclear disaster who launched a foul-mouthed Twitter tirade faced calls to quit on...
Fake fingers help ex-yakuza members lead lawful lives

TOKYO (AFP) - Going straight after a lifetime spent as a member of Japan's feared yakuza organised crime mobs poses a number of challenges. Chief among them is...
Stars aligning for Japan in South-east Asia?

LAST week, I was invited by New York University to speak at a conference on "China, the United States, and the Future of South-east Asia".
BOJ keeps policy steady, upgrades view of economy

TOKYO (REUTERS) - The Bank of Japan (BOJ) on Tuesday kept monetary policy steady and revised up its assessment of the economy, unfazed by recent market...
Japan's first lady says she is 'anti-nuclear'

TOKYO (AFP) - The wife of Japan's pro-business Prime Minister Shinzo Abe does not like nuclear power and would rather her husband's government did not try to...
Japan PM Abe unveils plan for tax cuts to boost capital expenditure

TOKYO (REUTERS) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Sunday the government would decide on tax cuts in autumn to encourage companies to boost capital...
A lesson from the masters of deception

IT IS a yearly invasion of the old by the very young.
China's Okinawa claims touch a sore spot in Japan

THE Japan-China relationship remains in deep freeze. This is due mainly to the territorial spat over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islets. But, as a result of recent...
'Abenomics' is good news for Europe: Hollande

TOKYO (AFP) - French President Francois Hollande said on Friday that Japan's big spending and ultra-loose monetary policies aimed at boosting its flagging...

Latest Stories

Japan experts to OK animal-human embryos test: Reports

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Japan's curious 65-year-old ban on dancing

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Japan fears losing diplomatic buffet battle to China

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Japan PM promotes nuclear exports at central Europe summit

More Stories

• Reform plans fail to impress Japan Inc	• Japan prince honours Spain’s samurai past
• Three Chinese ships in disputed waters: Japan	• S. Korea may yet surprise despite yen fall
• Fukushima official Twitter tirade under fire in Japan	• Fake fingers help ex-yakuza members lead lawful lives
• ANA Boeing 787 plane experiences engine problem	• Stars aligning for Japan in South-east Asia?
• Storm after Japan UN diplomat shouts 'shut up'	• BOJ keeps policy steady, upgrades view of economy
• Japan's first lady says she is 'anti-nuclear'	• As Japan seeks revival, hedge funds bet on a bust
• Japan carving out new role in Africa	• Japan PM Abe unveils plan for tax cuts to boost capital expenditure
• Japanese PM to step up nuclear export drive, says report	• A lesson from the masters of deception
• China's Okinawa claims touch a sore spot in Japan	• Add junzi to sushi, yogi and fengshui
• Japan, France agree to tighten nuclear, defence ties	• 'Abenomics' is good news for Europe: Hollande
• 'Abenomics' is the only way, says Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe	• Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant operator admits culpability in farmer's suicide
• Foreign degree not an asset in Japan	• Abe plans special zones to attract foreign firms
• Japan looks to calm domestic concerns over wheat supply	• Another contaminated water leak at Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant
• Japan PM unveils third plank of Abenomics strategy	• Japan's Abe to target income gains in growth strategy
• Japan orders JAL, ANA to inspect modified Dreamliner 787s	• Fukushima plant operator reverses claim groundwater not contaminated
• More than 65 countries sign Arms Trade Treaty	• Bomb squad blows up WWII dud, Tokyo trains halted

Country Profile

Country: Japan
Population (2011): 127.8 million
Capital: Tokyo
Area: 377,915 sq km
Main Languages: Japanese
Religions: Shintoism 83.9%, Buddhism 71.4%, Christianity 2%, other 7.8%
(Note: Many believe in bother Shintoism and Buddhism)
Currency: Yen (JPY)
GDP (2011): US$5.87 trillion
GDP per capita (2011): US$45,903
GDP growth (2011): -0.7%
GDP contribution by sector: Agriculture 1.2%, Industry 27.3%, Services 71.6% (2011 est.)
Urban population (2011): 91%
Life Expectancy (2010): 83 years
International dialing code: (+81)