Tuna fetches 3.8 mil. yen in year's 1st auction at Tokyo fish market
January 4, 2006A 191-kilogram bluefin tuna fetched 3.82 million yen ($32,800) in the first auction at Tokyo's Tsukiji fish market on Thursday morning as food wholesale markets opened for business for the new year across Japan. This year's highest successful bid, which is equivalent to about 20,000 yen per kg, compares with 5.85 million yen paid for a 234-kg tuna, or 25,000 yen per kg, in last year's first auction at the market, officially known as the Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market.
Japanese carmakers mark record high sales in U.S. market in 2005
January 4, 2006U.S. sales at three major Japanese carmakers rose to record highs for 2005 while their U.S. rivals continued to struggle due to poor performances of their sport utility vehicles, a research firm said Wednesday. The Japanese car manufacturers saw their market share increase to 32.2 percent, up 1.8 percentage points from 2004, as consumers seemed to prefer fuel-efficient vehicles given recent high oil prices, Autodata Corp. said.
Japan's monetary base grows 1.0% in December
January 4, 2006Japan's monetary base expanded 1.0 percent in December from a year earlier for the 59th straight monthly rise, the Bank of Japan said Thursday. The average daily balance of the monetary base -- cash in circulation plus current-account deposits held at the central bank by financial institutions and Japan Post -- rose to 113,046.6 billion yen in the reporting month, the BOJ said.
93% of local gov'ts reluctant to introduce online voting
January 4, 2006Most local governments in Japan are reluctant to introduce an online voting system, with 93 percent of them saying they are not planning to do so, an Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry survey showed Wednesday. They cited hefty spending for the introduction and doubts over credibility for the system, according to the survey.
Landslides kill 14 more in Indonesia, leave 200 missing
January 4, 2006At least 14 people were found dead and more than 200 others remain missing after landslides triggered by torrential rains over the past few days hit a hilly village in Indonesia's Central Java Province early Wednesday, a local government official said. The landslides come after flashfloods swept through villages at the foot of the Argopura Hills in East Java's Jember Regency on Monday, killing 77 people as of Wednesday and forcing around 3,000 people to seek refuge.
Rush of returning travelers from overseas peaks
January 4, 2006A rush of returning travelers who spent the New Year's holiday season overseas peaked at Narita airport in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, and Kansai airport in Osaka Prefecture on Wednesday. About 49,500 people are expected to return to Japan at Narita airport during the day, according to Narita International Airport Corp.
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ begins operating after 3-month delay
January 4, 2006The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ began operating Wednesday as the core unit of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., the world's largest financial group in terms of assets. The new bank debuted Sunday, three months after the initially scheduled Oct. 1, when the financial group was created through the merger of Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group Inc. and UFJ Holdings Inc.
U.S., Japan to discuss Japan's new role in Iraq: U.S. official
January 4, 2006A senior U.S. official said Tuesday that Washington and Tokyo have agreed to hold consultations this spring on Japan's new role in Iraq, as Japanese ground troops are expected to complete their operations in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah in May. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to several news outlets, expressed hope that Japan would not ''disappoint'' the United States, alluding to Japan's continued contribution to Iraq's reconstruction.