THE JAPAN TIMES – March 2, 2016 – KYOTO – A one-year trial run for taxis aimed at non-Japanese tourists started Tuesday in the city of Kyoto, the first such service in Japan aimed at enhancing the experience for overseas visitors.

Egyptian Streets – March 1st, 2016 – Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi urged Japanese investors and tourists to come to Egypt  in his speech to Japan’s parliament on Monday, saying he is bringing a “message of cooperation and brotherhood” on behalf of the Egyptian people.

Malay Mail Online – February 29, 2016 ― The yen strengthened as investors digested the Group of 20’s statement on the global outlook, after Japan’s currency and monetary policy were singled out as a source of concern by some ministers at the meeting. New Zealand’s dollar retreated.

THE FINANCIAL TIMES – February 26, 2016 – Japan Post Bank, the former state-owned financial group that collects the deposits of more than 100m account holders, will be hit significantly harder than the rest of the banking sector by the country’s negative interest rate policy, say people familiar with the matter.

torrentfreak.com – February 25, 2016 – Police in Japan have arrested 44 people suspected of being involved in illegal Internet file-sharing. Raids in over 90 locations across the country targeted individuals suspected of downloading and distributing a wide range of content including movies, music, anime, manga and software. If convicted they face fines and up to ten years in jail.

REUTERS – February 23, 2016 – Growth in Japan’s manufacturing activity slowed sharply in February as new export orders contracted at the fastest pace in three years, a worrying sign that overseas demand is deteriorating rapidly as China’s economy slows, a preliminary survey showed on Monday (Feb 22).

The China Post – February 22, 1016 – Electronics giant Sharp Corp. is scheduled to hold a board meeting on Thursday to choose between bailout proposals tendered by Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. (鴻海) and a Japanese government fund, according to Japanese media.

CoinDesk – February 19, 2016 – Financial services giant Mizuho has announced a second blockchain technology trial to be focused on syndicated loans.

LA Daily News – February 18, 2016 – Ramen by Omae is a small restaurant in a largish mall with a big sense of history. You’ll find it crammed on the takeout menu, where the small selection of dishes is accompanied by tiny typeface descriptions: “The History of Ramen,” “The History of Tonkotsu Ramen,” “The History of Chicken Ramen” and “About Chef Omae.”

BROADSHEET – February 17, 2016 – Kate Walsh gets help from some of Sydney’s best chefs to teach us to cook from scratch.