A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7 has hit off Japan’s northeast coast, prompting a warning of a possible small tsunami. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued an alert for a tsunami of 50 centimeters for a region that includes Fukushima, which was heavily damaged by a March earthquake and tsunami. The agency said the […]
Quake Jolts Northeast Japan, 50cm Tsunami Warning Issued
Posted July 9th, 2011 at 10:00 pm (UTC-5)
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Policy Confusion Clouds Future of Second Japanese Nuclear Plant
Posted July 7th, 2011 at 2:25 am (UTC-5)
The future of a nuclear power plant in southwestern Japan is in doubt because of confusion caused by the government’s decision to order stress tests on all reactors in the country. Meanwhile, the president of the company that operates the plant says he may resign over revelations that employees sought to improperly influence a government […]
Japan May Allow Entry of North Korean Olympic Officials
Posted July 7th, 2011 at 12:35 am (UTC-5)
The Japanese government is considering an exception to its five-year-old ban on North Korean nationals entering the country to allow North Korean Olympic officials to visit Tokyo next week. The ban was imposed in 2006 to protest North Korea’s nuclear testing and its abduction of Japanese nationals. Tokyo will host a meeting of the Olympic […]
Japan to Run Stress Tests on Nuclear Power Plants
Posted July 6th, 2011 at 1:05 am (UTC-5)
The Japanese government says it will conduct stress tests on all the country’s nuclear reactors to determine whether they can withstand a natural disaster. Trade Minister Banri Kaieda told reporters Wednesday that tests will be conducted on all 54 operational reactors to ensure there will be no problems with power supplies. The decision follows a […]
Japan’s Cabinet Agrees on Second Disaster Recovery Budget
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 6:55 pm (UTC-5)
The Japanese Cabinet has approved a $25-billion special budget to finance relief and recovery from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The ministers agreed Tuesday not to issue new bonds to finance the second supplementary budget for this fiscal year but to use leftover funds from last year. The Cabinet will submit its plan to […]
Japanese Reconstruction Minister Quits Under Pressure
Posted July 5th, 2011 at 12:50 am (UTC-5)
Japan’s newly named reconstruction minister resigned Tuesday over remarks that offended survivors of the country’s March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Ryu Matsumoto stepped down after meeting with embattled Prime Minister Naoto Kan, only a week after Matsumoto was appointed to the post. It was the latest in a string of embarrassments for Mr. Kan, who […]
Japanese Scientists Announce Discovery of Rare Mineral Deposits
Posted July 4th, 2011 at 10:25 pm (UTC-5)
Japanese scientists say vast deposits of rare earth minerals, crucial in making electronic goods, have been found on the floor of the Pacific Ocean. A team of researchers from the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology announced the discovery Monday. The group said that deep sea mud in central and southeastern areas of the […]
First 787 Dreamliner Lands in Tokyo
Posted July 3rd, 2011 at 1:15 am (UTC-5)
U.S. aircraft maker Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner has landed in Tokyo from Seattle for test flights before its first commercial launch. The passenger jet, painted with the colors of All Nippon Airways, landed early Sunday and taxied to a hanger through a celebratory arch of water sprayed from two airport fire trucks. The wide-bodied twin-engine […]
Japan Restricts Energy Usage
Posted July 1st, 2011 at 4:25 am (UTC-5)
Japan’s government began restricting electricity consumption Friday in the Tokyo and Tohoku regions, more than three months after an earthquake and tsunami sent nuclear reactors into meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. Large companies, universities and department stores that violate the restrictions to cut energy usage by 15 percent will face fines of up to […]
Japan’s Industrial Production Rises
Posted June 28th, 2011 at 10:20 pm (UTC-5)
Japan’s industrial production rose 5.7 percent in May from the previous month in a sign of steady recovery from the March 11 quake and tsunami. The figure announced Wednesday is higher than the expected 5.5-percent increase. The production rose for a second consecutive month. In April it was up 1.6 percent. The government issued a […]
