JapanSaturday, May 18, 08:05NHK has learned that Japan’s Kyoto University plans to set up a research center for cancer immunotherapy to be headed by Nobel laureate Tasuku Honjo. Honjo, a distinguished professor at Kyoto University, jointly received last year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of a cancer therapy by inhibition of…
Corporate Japan braces for second year of falling profits
TOKYO — Japan’s companies are expected to earn less in combined net profit for the year ending March 2020, as the weakening Chinese economy and the yen’s strength take their toll on machinery makers and other exporters. Total net profits are forecast to fall 1.4% to 28.45 trillion yen ($259 billion) for a second straight year of decline, according to Nikkei, which…
Uniqlo discloses all garment factories for first time
TOKYO — Uniqlo operator Fast Retailing, Japan’s biggest clothing retailer by sales, has disclosed all of its major suppliers for the first time in a move toward greater transparency that shows its rising presence in South and Southeast Asia. The new list of core sewing factories contains the names and addresses of 242 workshops in 11 countries. China…
A visit to one of the most multilingual societies on Earth
On Australia’s remote north-central coast, the small community of Maningrida is remarkable for many reasons. It boasts dramatic coastal scenery, world-renowned bark and sculptural artists, skilled weavers and textile printers, and unique local wildlife. But Maningrida is extraordinary for another reason: it is one of the most linguistically diverse communities in the world, with 15 languages spoken or…
‘Ghost restaurants’ ride Asia’s food delivery boom
TOKYO — Low-cost virtual restaurants are opening across Asia, fueled by a multibillion-dollar boom in food delivery that has emboldened entrepreneur chefs daunted by the risk associated with going into business. China, India Japan and other countries in the region have seen a rise in these “ghost” restaurants, which have no storefronts and serve only…
New direct flights connecting Vietnamese cities with SE Asian tourism hotspots launched
Budget carrier AirAsia on Friday inaugurated a new nonstop service between the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang and Thailand’s tourism hub of Chiang Mai, as no-frills Vietjet announced a direct flight between Ho Chi Minh City and the Indonesian resort island of Bali. The AirAsia flight FD906 carrying 180 passengers took off from the…
Japan’s Reiwa frenzy picks up as businesses get ready for new era
TOKYO — Japan discovered on Monday the new era beginning on May 1 will be called Reiwa, and businesses wasted no time in responding. Unlike the somber national mood that prevailed during the transition to the present Heisei era after the death of the Emperor Showa (Hirohito), the new era is being welcomed with a…
Overseas students need smart choice for success
TOKYO — Nguyễn Tuấn Anh, 36, may never forget the hard time he went through as a student before he became a director of a company in Japan. Anh came to Japan to study in 2002 on a scholarship programme by Asahi Newspaper of Japan. In order to get free accommodation and tuition paid for…
New era name to be announced 11:30 on Monday
Japanese people now have a time for the unveiling of the name of the country’s new era, which will start when the new Emperor takes the throne on May 1. The Chief Cabinet Secretary says the long-awaited announcement will be made at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Monday. Yoshihide Suga says before that, he’ll meet with…
India Tech: How Reliance’s low-cost mobile service is transforming society
BANGALORE — When Byju Raveendran launched his eponymous education business in 2011, he took a decidedly analog approach to promoting it. He spoke at packed cricket stadiums across India and traveled overseas to pitch his unique learning method to the Indian diaspora. Aspiring middle-class parents flocked to hear his inspirational talks, where he told crowds…