Japan
- Business News
Thailand investments attract 45 billion baht in foreign funding
In the first five months of 2023, Thailand received foreign investments amounting to 45.4 billion baht, with Japan being the largest spender in the development of businesses in the country. The figures released by the Commerce Ministry show Japan’s investments reaching 15.9 billion baht, followed by China at 11.5 billion baht, and Singapore at 6.35 billion baht. The Business Development…
- Crime News
Thai workers in Japan fall victim to job scam, left stranded and penniless
Two Thai workers in Japan contacted the media for help after falling victim to a job scam in which they were lured to Japan with promises of high salaries, only to end up with no work and living in substandard conditions. The victims claim that the job agents, who charged them 150,000 baht (US$4,321) each for the opportunity, have made…
- Business News
Japanese investors seek Thai tech startups for regional expansion
Thai tech startups have caught the attention of Japanese investors, who are keen to support their expansion into regional markets, according to an executive at Bank of Ayudhya (Krungsri). Southeast Asia, and Thailand in particular, are considered prime investment locations for Japanese investors, who see potential in the country’s high-growth tech startups. Bunsei Okubo, head of Japanese corporate and multinational…
- Thailand News
Thai Airways plane collides with EVA Air aircraft on Tokyo Haneda runway
A Thai Airways flight TG683 collided with an EVA Air flight BR189 on a runway at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, causing no reported injuries. Approximately 260 people were on the Thai airline, while approximately 200 were aboard the EVA Air aircraft. Thai Airways explained that the incident occurred when the plane was moving toward taxiway L15. The winglet on the right…
- World News
Japan sees fastest wage growth in 30 years but weak household spending persists
In April, Japan experienced a rise in wages as major companies increased pay at the fastest rate in 30 years, responding to workers’ demands for higher salaries to cope with inflation. However, household spending remained weak, highlighting an uneven economic recovery. The wage data offers an early insight into the effects of the spring labour negotiations, known as “shunto,” and…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok considers Japanese central kitchen system for school lunches
Is there a solution to improve the quality of Thai schools’ cafeteria food? The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is exploring the possibility of implementing a central kitchen system, similar to the one used in Japan, to enhance the quality of school lunches in Thailand. The central kitchen concept was introduced by Nobuko Tanaka, a former Japanese school lunch specialist, during…
- World News
Japan on alert as Typhoon Mawar threatens floods and landslides
Torrential rains loom over Japan as Typhoon Mawar approaches, threatening to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds across the main islands. Having already caused significant damage in Guam earlier this week, Mawar has since weakened from its super typhoon status to a tropical storm. Taiwan’s coast also experienced the effects of Typhoon Mawar, with seawater flooding the streets of Suao,…
- Business News
Krungsri bank expects Thai government to boost Japanese investment
Krungsri, also known as the Bank of Ayudhya, believes that the new Thai government will continue to encourage Japanese investment in the country. Japan is currently Thailand’s largest foreign investor, contributing 28.6% of total investment, or 23.3 billion baht. As political parties form a coalition government, Japanese investors are closely monitoring the situation. Bunsei Okubo, the head of Japanese corporate and…
- Business News
Bank of Japan to maintain ultra-loose policy, downplays change expectations
The Bank of Japan’s Governor, Kazuo Ueda, has stated that the central bank will continue to maintain its ultra-loose monetary policy, as there remains a significant gap to achieve the 2% inflation target sustainably. Ueda’s comments downplay the expectations of a policy change in the near future. He told parliament, “We expect inflation to quite clearly slow below 2% toward…
- World News
Japan prime minister’s son to resign amid scandal of staged news conference photos
The son of Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Shotaro Kishida, will resign as his father’s aide following a scandal involving photographs of him and other family members pretending to hold a news conference at the official residence. The prime minister announced the decision, stating that his son’s behaviour was “inappropriate” for someone in an official position. Last week, a weekly…
- World News
Japan prepares to destroy North Korean satellite-launching missile
Japan is preparing to intercept any North Korean missile that enters its territory, according to a statement from the country’s defence ministry. This announcement comes after North Korea informed Japan of its intention to launch a satellite between May 31 and June 11. The defence ministry stated it would use its Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) or Patriot Missile PAC-3 to destroy…
- World News
4 killed in Japan gun and knife attack, suspect detained
Japanese police have detained a suspect who had been hiding in a building after allegedly killing four people, including two police officers, in a gun and knife attack near the city of Nakano in Nagano region. The man was taken into custody outside the farm property, with a fourth fatality confirmed overnight—an elderly woman who was found injured at the…
- World News
Hiroshima VR tour immerses visitors in atomic bomb’s devastating impact
In Hiroshima, Japan, a virtual reality tour is providing an immersive experience of the city before, during, and after the devastating atomic bomb attack on August 6, 1945. Hiroshi Yamaguchi, the 44 year old founder of the company behind the tours, believes that this experience can help people better understand the impact of the nuclear attack and the city that…
- Business News
Nitori flagship store to open at CentralWorld in August
Central Pattana Plc, a leading real estate developer, has announced plans to open a flagship store for Nitori, a popular Japanese furniture and home furnishings brand, at CentralWorld in August. The new Nitori store will occupy over 2,600 square metres of space in Zone I on the mall’s fifth floor. The Japanese brand also has plans to open a second…
- Business News
Micron to invest £3.7bn in Japan’s EUV tech for advanced chip production
Micron Technology revealed planned yesterday to invest up to 500 billion yen (US$3.7 billion) in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) technology in the coming years, supported by the Japanese government. The advanced EUV lithography chip-making machines will be utilised to manufacture 1-gamma chips, which are essential for the mass production of materials used in complex applications such as image processing networks. The…
- World News
G7 leaders convene in Hiroshima to discuss Russia sanctions, China strategy
G7 leaders have gathered in Hiroshima, Japan, to discuss tighter sanctions against Russia and protective measures against China’s “economic coercion”. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is hosting the summit in a city marked by its history of nuclear destruction. Over the course of three days, leaders, including US President Joe Biden, will work on presenting a united front on issues…
- World News
Japan’s boyband agency apologises for late founder’s sexual assault allegations
Japan’s leading boyband agency has issued a public apology in response to sexual assault allegations against its late founder, Johnny Kitagawa. Fans are now urging the company, Johnny and Associates, to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. In a recent statement, Kauan Okamoto, a Japanese-Brazilian singer, claimed that he was repeatedly molested by Kitagawa during his four-year tenure with…
- World News
Fumio Kishida’s unexpected political comeback in Japan
It seems that remembering the name of Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida may be worth it after all, despite the nation’s rapid turnover of leaders. Kishida’s premiership began positively in late 2021 but faced challenges when ties between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Unification Church became a focal point in the media after the killing of former leader…
- World News
Japan works towards opening NATO liaison office in Tokyo
Japan is progressing with plans to establish a NATO liaison office in Tokyo, according to Japan’s ambassador to the US, Koji Tomita. Speaking at an event held by the National Press Club in Washington, Tomita referred to a report by Nikkei Asia earlier this month, which stated that the US-led alliance intends to open the office – it’s first in…
- Business News
Japanese automakers struggle in China amid rapid shift to electric vehicles
The sales crisis for Japan’s automakers in China continues, as industry data reveals a rapid shift towards electric vehicles (EVs), resulting in a steep decline in gasoline-powered vehicle purchases. In the first quarter, total sales of Japanese auto brands in China dropped by 32% year-on-year, more than twice the rate of overall market contraction. While automakers such as Volkswagen AG…
- World News
5 year old Japanese boy recalls past life as Thai police officer
A five year old Japanese boy claims he has been reincarnated stating he can recall memories from his former life as a high-ranking Thai police officer in the northern province of Lampang. He added that he chose to be reborn in Japan. The reincarnation story of the five year old Japanese boy called Naoto went viral on social media after…
- World News
Japanese volleyball star Ishii Yuki announces retirement
Japanese volleyball star Yuki Ishii yesterday announced her retirement from the game and made known that the V-League Final Stage on April 8 will be her last competition. The official Facebook page of the Hisamitsu Springs volleyball team reported yesterday that Ishii will retire on June 30, and the final stage for her will be held on April 8. The…
- Tourism News
Take a Thai history trip on a cute Japanese train
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has organised a rail travel tourism programme under the concept of “retrace history,” serviced by cute KIHA 183 passenger trains recently donated by Japan, according to an announcement by government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri. The SRT has arranged the following programme in April to give tourists a new, educational experience and insight into Thailand’s history…
- Thailand News
Studio Ghibli co-founder accused of spending company funds on Thai girlfriend
Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki is caught up in a scandal after being accused of spending the Japanese animation studio’s money on his Thai girlfriend “Kanyada,” who he has been seeing since 2013. The current president of the company, Koji Hoshino, said he is retiring from the company at the end of June due to Suzuki’s misappropriation of company funds…
- World News
Thai Vietjet launches Bangkok – Okinawa route
The inaugural flight on Thai Vietjet Air‘s new Bangkok – Okinawa route took off from Suvarnabhumi Airport and land landed safely at Naha Airport in Japan yesterday. Budget carrier Thai Vietjet Air is currently the only airline servicing the nonstop route, flying on Thursdays and Sundays. Passengers on the inaugural flight were given a warm welcome from Miss Okinawa, Naha Airport…
- World News
Ghibli Park bars men from takes sexy pics with statues
It’s ok to love statues, but it’s not ok to LOVE statues. Visitors to Japan’s Ghibli Park will be prohibited from taking inappropriate photos with statues of characters from beloved animated films. The restriction comes after photos of men pretending to sexually assault young female characters were posted on Twitter last month. The photographs in question depicted a visitor capturing…
- World News
Sushi terrorism a growing problem in Japan
Sushi terrorism might not be a phrase in your daily vocabulary but it’s becoming an alarming issue in Japan. Defined as the act of handling sushi and utensils in a disgustingly unsanitary manner in conveyor belt sushi restaurants, sushi terrorism has been a trend in viral videos in Japan for the past month. The threat of sushi terrorism has caused…
- Hot News
High-speed rail project linking Bangkok to Chiang Mai expected to begin
Thailand and Japan’s collaborative high-speed rail project, linking Bangkok to Chiang Mai, is expected to begin soon after years of planning. The first phase of the project would see the railway run from Bangkok to Phitsanulok for over 380 kilometres, then continue to Chiang Mai for another 288 kilometres. As officials from both countries met, Japanese agencies say the first…
- World News
Married man murdered and dismembered mistress in Japan
A gruesome murder has shocked Japan after the dismembered body of a 33 year old single mother, Ayumi Ito, was discovered in the home of a married man with whom she was allegedly having an affair. Ito’s body parts were found on the balcony of the suspect’s home as well as more parts in his car. Police believe 31 year…
- World News
Metal sphere dubbed ‘Godzilla Egg’ washed onto Japanese beach
A mysterious metal sphere that washed ashore on a beach in Japan has left residents and authorities wondering what it could be. The sphere, approximately 1.5 metres wide, was spotted by a local man in the coastal city of Hamamatsu, who alerted the police after noticing the unusual object on Enshuhama beach. Authorities came to check it out and promptly…
