Japan eyes making firms' accounts receivable tradable on Net
February 8, 2006Japan is considering making companies' accounts receivable tradable on the Internet to make it easier for small businesses to manage cash, government officials said Wednesday. At present, accounts receivable can only be traded in the form of paper certificates.
FOCUS: Japan, N. Korea drift toward further uncertainties after talks
February 8, 2006Japan and North Korea looked headed toward further uncertainties Wednesday after five days of bilateral talks in Beijing failed to bring them any closer to resolving problems that have prevented the countries to establish diplomatic ties. While the full impact of the just-concluded talks has yet to be assessed, many agree on one point -- the lack of progress in them will likely lead to tougher Japanese public opinion against North Korea.
Japan presents sumo equipment to Bulgarian sumo federation
February 8, 2006Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso on Wednesday presented popular Bulgarian wrestler Kotooshu with a collection of sumo loin clothes and sumo equipment that Japan is donating to the Bulgarian Sumo Federation to upgrade the country's sumo infrastructure. The gift, worth 6.3 million yen, includes 150 pieces of loin clothes, seven sumo rings and a sumo mat, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
Olympics: Japan hoping to bounce back strongly in Turin
February 8, 2006Just as its successful Winter Olympic campaign on home soil in Nagano is fading into a distant memory, Japan is looking to rebound from a dismal showing four years ago with a mixture of promising youngsters and seasoned veterans. World record-owning speed skater Joji Kato holds the banner for the Japanese delegation at the Turin Games opening on Friday after the country won one silver and one bronze in Salt Lake City, the country's lowest medal count since taking just one bronze in Calgary in 1988.
Japan, N. Korea make little progress but promise to meet again
February 8, 2006Japan and North Korea concluded five days of bilateral talks Wednesday after making little headway over problems preventing them from normalizing diplomatic ties, but agreed to continue talking under a three-track format. Major differences remained over key issues during their talks in the Chinese capital, including the dispute over the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents, negotiators from the two countries said.