Nepal and Japan have signed a labour pact under which Nepali workers residing in Japan will receive the status of 'Specified Skilled Workers' (SSW).

The signed pact will come into effect from April 1 and would not include those who went to Japan earlier.

Ram Prasad Ghimire, Joint Secretary at Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security and Masamichi Saigo, Japanese Ambassador to Nepal signed the&nbsp;pact on Monday.

As per the Memorandum of Cooperation, a separate unit will be established under the Department of Foreign Employment (DOFE) to facilitate the recruitment the process of Nepali workers with the status of residence of SSW including call for applicants, facilitating the Japanese side to conduct the language and skills tests and overseeing the deployment of successful applicants to Japan.

The MoC also states that a joint committee with representatives from both sides has been established to ensure the proper implementation of the MoC and to take necessary corrective measures to improve the recruitment, employment and repatriation of Nepali workers with the status of residence of SSW.

On the basis of the agreement, Japan is planning to take Nepal migrant workers to work in 14 sectors including industrial, nursing, construction and sanitation.&nbsp;

As per the Japanese plan, a total of 345,150 workers are expected to be flown in the first five years which includes 60,000 nurses and 53,000 workers for restaurants.

All those workers will flow to Japan from Nepal as per the South Korean model and they will be paid a minimum salary of Nepal rs. 200,000 per months after they match the eligibility criteria.

Nepal had proposed to send workers to Japan through the government during the discussion between the technical teams of the two countries on January 16 to decide the process for sending workers.

Japan will take those workers from Nepal, Vietnam, China, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Mongolia. Japan has already implemented a new visa system to take migrant workers.

Nepal and Japan have signed a labour pact under which Nepali workers residing in Japan will receive the status of 'Specified Skilled Workers' (SSW). The signed pact will come into effect from April 1 and would not include those who went to Japan earlier.

Nepal and Japan have signed a labour pact under which Nepali workers residing in Japan will receive the status of 'Specified Skilled Workers' (SSW). The signed pact will come into effect from April 1 and would not include those who went to Japan earlier. Ram Prasad Ghimire, Joint Secretary at Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security and Masamichi Saigo, Japanese Ambassador to Nepal signed the pact on Monday. As per the Memorandum of Cooperation, a separate unit will be established under the Department of Foreign Employment (DOFE) to facilitate the recruitment the process of Nepali workers with the status of residence of SSW including call for applicants, facilitating the Japanese side to conduct the language and skills tests and overseeing the deployment of successful applicants to Japan. The MoC also states that a joint committee with representatives from both sides has been established to ensure the proper implementation of the MoC and to take necessary corrective measures to improve the recruitment, employment and repatriation of Nepali workers with the status of residence of SSW. On the basis of the agreement, Japan is planning to take Nepal migrant workers to work in 14 sectors including industrial, nursing, construction and sanitation. As per the Japanese plan, a total of 345,150 workers are expected to be flown in the first five years which includes 60,000 nurses and 53,000 workers for restaurants. All those workers will flow to Japan from Nepal as per the South Korean model and they will be paid a minimum salary of Nepal rs. 200,000 per months after they match the eligibility criteria. Nepal had proposed to send workers to Japan through the government during the discussion between the technical teams of the two countries on January 16 to decide the process for sending workers. Japan will take those workers from Nepal, Vietnam, China, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Mongolia. Japan has already implemented a new visa system to take migrant workers.

Nepal, Japan ink labour agreement

Japanese exports declined for the third straight month in February while imports also fell, according to government data Monday, indicating a possible slowdown in the world's third-biggest economy.

Exports slipped 1.2 per cent from a year earlier to 6.38 trillion yen ($57 billion) and imports declined even more sharply -- by 6.7 per cent to 6.05 trillion yen.

"Concerns remain for the immediate future given worries over the global economy and weak demand in the IT sector," Asuka Sakamoto, an economist at Mizuho Research Institute, told AFP.

The weak import figure is also a source of concern as it may reflect declining orders for companies as they reduce production domestically, added Sakamoto.

Analysts will be closely watching export and corporate investment data for further clues on the economy's health, she said.

Exports to China increased 5.5 per cent while imports dropped 15.8 per cent, as imports declined of clothes, metal products and parts for audiovisual products.

Japan's politically sensitive surplus with the United States slipped 0.9 per cent from a year earlier to 624.9 billion yen.

With the European Union, Japan logged a 58.2 billion yen surplus.

Overall, the country logged a 339 billion yen trade surplus in February, the first surplus for five months.

Japanese exports declined for the third straight month in February while imports also fell, according to government data Monday, indicating a possible slowdown in the world's third-biggest economy.

Japanese exports declined for the third straight month in February while imports also fell, according to government data Monday, indicating a possible slowdown in the world's third-biggest economy. Exports slipped 1.2 per cent from a year earlier to 6.38 trillion yen ($57 billion) and imports declined even more sharply -- by 6.7 per cent to 6.05 trillion yen. "Concerns remain for the immediate future given worries over the global economy and weak demand in the IT sector," Asuka Sakamoto, an economist at Mizuho Research Institute, told AFP. The weak import figure is also a source of concern as it may reflect declining orders for companies as they reduce production domestically, added Sakamoto. Analysts will be closely watching export and corporate investment data for further clues on the economy's health, she said. Exports to China increased 5.5 per cent while imports dropped 15.8 per cent, as imports declined of clothes, metal products and parts for audiovisual products. Japan's politically sensitive surplus with the United States slipped 0.9 per cent from a year earlier to 624.9 billion yen. With the European Union, Japan logged a 58.2 billion yen surplus. Overall, the country logged a 339 billion yen trade surplus in February, the first surplus for five months.

Japan's exports decline for third straight month

A social media campaign against employers forcing women to wear high heels to work has been picking up the pace in Japan, drawing support from tens of thousands of people, including more than 15,000 signatures in an online petition Thursday.

Yumi Ishikawa, a 32-year-old actress and model, involuntarily started the protest movement by tweeting a message in late January about suffering from wearing heels every day, which has received around 100,000 likes or retweets.&nbsp;

“I want to lose the custom that a woman must wear heels and pumps at work someday... Why do I have to work while my feet hurt,” she tweeted.

Following the huge wave of support, she created the hashtag #KuToo - a mixture of "kutsu" (shoe in Japanese) and "kutsuu" (pain), and a play on the universal #MeToo movement.

Many women responded with messages illustrating their own experiences and expressing similar complaints, with some of them even posting pictures of sores on their feet caused by daily use of heels.

Ishikawa then started a petition on Change.org with the aim of getting support against firms differentiating between genders while establishing rules of etiquette for its employees, and ending the custom of women having to wear high heels due to their detrimental impact on health and productivity.&nbsp;

The campaign started a week ago, has received a promising response from the public with more than 15,000 signatures – well on its way to the target of 25,000.

Most companies and public organizations in Japan have a dress code requiring its employees to wear a suit and dark-coloured shoes for men, and skirts and heels for women.

However, a growing number of firms of public entities are relaxing the norms for its employees on grounds of comfort, following initiatives such as those set out by the authorities in Tokyo allowing employees to do away with jackets and ties during the summer and even letting them wear sneakers.

The global #MeToo movement went viral from October 2017 as a hashtag on social media in an attempt to demonstrate the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment, especially in the workplace.

A social media campaign against employers forcing women to wear high heels to work has been picking up the pace in Japan, drawing support from tens of thousands of people, including more than 15,000 signatures in an online petition Thursday.

A social media campaign against employers forcing women to wear high heels to work has been picking up the pace in Japan, drawing support from tens of thousands of people, including more than 15,000 signatures in an online petition Thursday. Yumi Ishikawa, a 32-year-old actress and model, involuntarily started the protest movement by tweeting a message in late January about suffering from wearing heels every day, which has received around 100,000 likes or retweets. “I want to lose the custom that a woman must wear heels and pumps at work someday... Why do I have to work while my feet hurt,” she tweeted. Following the huge wave of support, she created the hashtag #KuToo - a mixture of "kutsu" (shoe in Japanese) and "kutsuu" (pain), and a play on the universal #MeToo movement. Many women responded with messages illustrating their own experiences and expressing similar complaints, with some of them even posting pictures of sores on their feet caused by daily use of heels. Ishikawa then started a petition on Change.org with the aim of getting support against firms differentiating between genders while establishing rules of etiquette for its employees, and ending the custom of women having to wear high heels due to their detrimental impact on health and productivity. The campaign started a week ago, has received a promising response from the public with more than 15,000 signatures – well on its way to the target of 25,000. Most companies and public organizations in Japan have a dress code requiring its employees to wear a suit and dark-coloured shoes for men, and skirts and heels for women. However, a growing number of firms of public entities are relaxing the norms for its employees on grounds of comfort, following initiatives such as those set out by the authorities in Tokyo allowing employees to do away with jackets and ties during the summer and even letting them wear sneakers. The global #MeToo movement went viral from October 2017 as a hashtag on social media in an attempt to demonstrate the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment, especially in the workplace.

Japanese women mobilise online against having to wear high heels to work

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/carlos-ghosn-out-on-bail-will-be-under-strict-monitoring-202032">Former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn</a> is seeking court permission to attend a board meeting at the Japanese automaker while out on bail, local media reported Monday.

Ghosn wants to attend a Tuesday meeting at the company's headquarters in the city of Yokohama, Kyodo news agency reported, citing one of his lawyers.

The office of Ghosn's lead lawyer Junichiro Hironaka declined to comment.

Nissan said it could not confirm that Ghosn was seeking to attend the meeting but that it would be "for the court to decide" whether its former chief could be present.

Several Japanese newspapers also reported that Ghosn would seek to attend the meeting.

Nissan removed Ghosn as chief shortly after his shock November 19 arrest, but he cannot be officially removed from his seat on the board without a shareholder meeting.

The company has scheduled one for April 8, but Ghosn retains the right to attend board meetings until then.

But he must also obtain the court's approval, which may prove challenging given the stringent measures that govern his release on bail.&nbsp;

Under the terms of his release, he is forbidden from contacting people who could be involved in his case, including Nissan executives likely to attend board meetings, such as CEO Hiroto Saikawa.

Ghosn, who paid nearly $9 million in bail money, must also live in a residence that is monitored from the outside by camera, and can only access a non-internet connected computer at his lawyer's office.

The 65-year-old was released on bail on March 6 after more than 100 days in detention.

He faces three charges of financial misconduct over allegations he under-reported his compensation and sought to transfer personal losses to Nissan's books.

Former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn is seeking court permission to attend a board meeting at the Japanese automaker while out on bail, local media reported Monday. Ghosn wants to attend a Tuesday meeting at the company's headquarters in the city of Yokohama, Kyodo news agency reported, citing one of his lawyers.

Former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn is seeking court permission to attend a board meeting at the Japanese automaker while out on bail, local media reported Monday. Ghosn wants to attend a Tuesday meeting at the company's headquarters in the city of Yokohama, Kyodo news agency reported, citing one of his lawyers. The office of Ghosn's lead lawyer Junichiro Hironaka declined to comment. Nissan said it could not confirm that Ghosn was seeking to attend the meeting but that it would be "for the court to decide" whether its former chief could be present. Several Japanese newspapers also reported that Ghosn would seek to attend the meeting. Nissan removed Ghosn as chief shortly after his shock November 19 arrest, but he cannot be officially removed from his seat on the board without a shareholder meeting. The company has scheduled one for April 8, but Ghosn retains the right to attend board meetings until then. But he must also obtain the court's approval, which may prove challenging given the stringent measures that govern his release on bail. Under the terms of his release, he is forbidden from contacting people who could be involved in his case, including Nissan executives likely to attend board meetings, such as CEO Hiroto Saikawa. Ghosn, who paid nearly $9 million in bail money, must also live in a residence that is monitored from the outside by camera, and can only access a non-internet connected computer at his lawyer's office. The 65-year-old was released on bail on March 6 after more than 100 days in detention. He faces three charges of financial misconduct over allegations he under-reported his compensation and sought to transfer personal losses to Nissan's books.

Carlos Ghosn wants to attend Nissan board meeting: Report

At least 87 passengers in a high-speed ferry were injured in an apparent collision with a marine animal in the sea of Japan on Saturday, coastguards and media said.

Five people were seriously injured in the accident, which occurred just before the hydrofoil was due to arrive on Sado island after a short trip from the mainland, the Japan Coast Guard said.

It is likely the ferry hit a whale, as both humpbacks and minkes are often found in the area, public broadcaster NHK quoted a marine wildlife expert as saying.

"It was a huge impact," a passenger told public broadcaster NHK. "One person was bleeding."

There was damage to the back of the vessel, local media said, but the ferry -- with 121 passengers and four crew on board -- reached its destination without outside help, local media said.

At least 87 passengers in a high-speed ferry were injured in an apparent collision with a marine animal in the sea of Japan on Saturday, coastguards and media said.

At least 87 passengers in a high-speed ferry were injured in an apparent collision with a marine animal in the sea of Japan on Saturday, coastguards and media said. Five people were seriously injured in the accident, which occurred just before the hydrofoil was due to arrive on Sado island after a short trip from the mainland, the Japan Coast Guard said. It is likely the ferry hit a whale, as both humpbacks and minkes are often found in the area, public broadcaster NHK quoted a marine wildlife expert as saying. "It was a huge impact," a passenger told public broadcaster NHK. "One person was bleeding." There was damage to the back of the vessel, local media said, but the ferry -- with 121 passengers and four crew on board -- reached its destination without outside help, local media said.

At least 87 injured after boat collides with 'marine creature' in Japan

A 116-year-old Japanese woman who still enjoys studying math and playing board games has been recognised as the world's oldest person, the Guinness World Records said Saturday.

Kane Tanaka was born on 2 January 1903, the year when the Wright brothers launched humanity's first powered flight, according to Guinness.

Tanaka's recognition was celebrated at the nursing home where she lives in western Japan's Fukuoka by city mayor Soichiro Takashima and other well-wishers.

Asked what moment she was the most happy in life, she replied: "Now."

She married Hideo Tanaka in 1922, giving birth to four children and adopting a fifth.

Kane normally wakes each morning at 6 am and passes the afternoons by studying mathematics and practicing calligraphy.&nbsp;

"One of Kane's favourite pastimes is a game of Othello and she's become an expert at the classic board game, often beating rest-home staff," Guinness said.

Japan has one of the world's highest life expectancies and has been home to several people recognised as among the oldest humans to have ever lived.

They include Jiroemon Kimura, the longest-living man on record, who died soon after his 116th birthday in June 2013.

The oldest verified person ever -- Jeanne Louise Calment of France -- died in 1997 at the age of 122, according to Guinness.

A 116-year-old Japanese woman who still enjoys studying math and playing board games has been recognised as the world's oldest person, the Guinness World Records said Saturday.

A 116-year-old Japanese woman who still enjoys studying math and playing board games has been recognised as the world's oldest person, the Guinness World Records said Saturday. Kane Tanaka was born on 2 January 1903, the year when the Wright brothers launched humanity's first powered flight, according to Guinness. Tanaka's recognition was celebrated at the nursing home where she lives in western Japan's Fukuoka by city mayor Soichiro Takashima and other well-wishers. Asked what moment she was the most happy in life, she replied: "Now." She married Hideo Tanaka in 1922, giving birth to four children and adopting a fifth. Kane normally wakes each morning at 6 am and passes the afternoons by studying mathematics and practicing calligraphy. "One of Kane's favourite pastimes is a game of Othello and she's become an expert at the classic board game, often beating rest-home staff," Guinness said. Japan has one of the world's highest life expectancies and has been home to several people recognised as among the oldest humans to have ever lived. They include Jiroemon Kimura, the longest-living man on record, who died soon after his 116th birthday in June 2013. The oldest verified person ever -- Jeanne Louise Calment of France -- died in 1997 at the age of 122, according to Guinness.

Japanese woman confirmed as world's oldest person at 116

Eight years after the Fukushima nuclear meltdown in Japan, radioactive particles collected from the site are undergoing new forensic investigation in Britain in an effort to understand the exact sequence of events.

A 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck on March 11, 2011, off the Japanese coast, triggering a tsunami that killed some 18,000 people and the world`s worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986. Meltdowns at three of the Fukushima Daiichi plant`s six reactors spewed radiation into the air, soil and ocean, forcing over 100,000 residents to flee. Many have still not returned.

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is currently collaborating with British researchers to learn more about the state of the radioactive particles created by the meltdown.

Dr Yukihiko Satou from the JAEA oversaw the transportation of particles collected from within the restricted zone, very close to the disaster site, to Britain. 
"The particles were fundamentally extracted from those attached to soil, dust and debris," Satou told Reuters.

Encased in protective tape, the samples were brought to the Diamond Light Source, Britain`s national synchrotron, or cyclic particle accelerator, near Oxford.&nbsp;

Here electrons are accelerated to near light speeds until they emit light 10 billion times brighter than the sun, then directed into laboratories in `beamlines` which allow scientists to study minute specimens in extreme detail.

Researchers have created a 3D map of a radioactive sample using the synchrotron, allowing them to see the distribution of elements within the sample. 
Understanding the current state of these particles and how they behave in the environment could ultimately determine if and when the area could be declared safe for people to return.

The head of the team leading the analysis, Tom Scott of Bristol University, said the particles have a structure like a pumice, a very light, porous volcanic rock.

"Studying... this glassy matrix tells us how available within the environment they are," he said.

The British and Japanese governments have awarded funding to the research team to examine larger particles closer to the site of the meltdown at Fukushima to better define radiation risk in the surrounding area.

The research could have significance beyond nuclear accidents, the team said, because the techniques employed could also be used to image particles in air pollution to better understand the risk they pose to human health.

Eight years after the Fukushima nuclear meltdown in Japan, radioactive particles collected from the site are undergoing new forensic investigation in Britain in an effort to understand the exact sequence of events.

Eight years after the Fukushima nuclear meltdown in Japan, radioactive particles collected from the site are undergoing new forensic investigation in Britain in an effort to understand the exact sequence of events. A 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck on March 11, 2011, off the Japanese coast, triggering a tsunami that killed some 18,000 people and the world`s worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986. Meltdowns at three of the Fukushima Daiichi plant`s six reactors spewed radiation into the air, soil and ocean, forcing over 100,000 residents to flee. Many have still not returned. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is currently collaborating with British researchers to learn more about the state of the radioactive particles created by the meltdown. Dr Yukihiko Satou from the JAEA oversaw the transportation of particles collected from within the restricted zone, very close to the disaster site, to Britain. "The particles were fundamentally extracted from those attached to soil, dust and debris," Satou told Reuters. Encased in protective tape, the samples were brought to the Diamond Light Source, Britain`s national synchrotron, or cyclic particle accelerator, near Oxford. Here electrons are accelerated to near light speeds until they emit light 10 billion times brighter than the sun, then directed into laboratories in `beamlines` which allow scientists to study minute specimens in extreme detail. Researchers have created a 3D map of a radioactive sample using the synchrotron, allowing them to see the distribution of elements within the sample. Understanding the current state of these particles and how they behave in the environment could ultimately determine if and when the area could be declared safe for people to return. The head of the team leading the analysis, Tom Scott of Bristol University, said the particles have a structure like a pumice, a very light, porous volcanic rock. "Studying... this glassy matrix tells us how available within the environment they are," he said. The British and Japanese governments have awarded funding to the research team to examine larger particles closer to the site of the meltdown at Fukushima to better define radiation risk in the surrounding area. The research could have significance beyond nuclear accidents, the team said, because the techniques employed could also be used to image particles in air pollution to better understand the risk they pose to human health.

UK, Japan scientists study radioactive Fukushima particles

A new <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/former-nissan-chief-carlos-ghosn-leaves-tokyo-jail-on-bail-after-3-and-a-half-month-detention-201557">bail application for Carlos Ghosn</a> includes an offer for him to be monitored by surveillance cameras to ensure he does not flee Japan or tamper with evidence, his lawyer said, according to a report from Dow Jones Newswires supplied to EFE on Monday.&nbsp;

Ghosn, who has been detained by prosecutors since November 19, is determined to win bail after having two earlier applications turned down, Junichiro Hironaka said at a news conference Monday. Ghosn replaced his previous lawyer with Hironaka, who is known for winning several high-profile defence cases in Japan after he was denied bail for the second time in late January.&nbsp;

Hironaka said Ghosn was willing to face the inconvenience of being monitored to earn his release. He did not specify where the cameras would be placed or who would monitor him. The new application was submitted last Thursday. A ruling is likely this week.&nbsp;

Ghosn earlier offered to wear an ankle monitor to limit his movements, but prosecutors said the proposal was irrelevant because Japan does not use such devices.&nbsp;

"We have presented our own convincing application showing there is no flight risk or risk of tampering with evidence," Hironaka said.&nbsp;

Ghosn's case has highlighted long detention periods in Japan, where prosecutors have greater leeway to hold and question suspects than their counterparts in many Western countries.&nbsp;

Prosecutors have charged Ghosn with failing to report more than $80 million in deferred compensation on eight years of Nissan Motor Co.'s financial reports and with causing Nissan to pay a Saudi businessman who helped Ghosn with a personal financial problem. Ghosn was stripped of his title as chairman of Nissan in November.&nbsp;

Ghosn says he is innocent of the charges. In a January court hearing, he called discussions about the compensation "hypothetical" and not subject to reporting rules, and he said the Saudi businessman's company "was appropriately compensated" for "critical services that substantially benefited Nissan."&nbsp;

Hironaka, who is known as "the razor" for his string of past legal victories, said he was confident of winning bail for his client, the Dow Jones report added.&nbsp;

"I'm now 73 years old, but I want to test how sharp the razor still is," he said.

A new bail application for Carlos Ghosn includes an offer for him to be monitored by surveillance cameras to ensure he does not flee Japan or tamper with evidence, his lawyer said, according to a report from Dow Jones Newswires supplied to EFE on Monday.

A new bail application for Carlos Ghosn includes an offer for him to be monitored by surveillance cameras to ensure he does not flee Japan or tamper with evidence, his lawyer said, according to a report from Dow Jones Newswires supplied to EFE on Monday. Ghosn, who has been detained by prosecutors since November 19, is determined to win bail after having two earlier applications turned down, Junichiro Hironaka said at a news conference Monday. Ghosn replaced his previous lawyer with Hironaka, who is known for winning several high-profile defence cases in Japan after he was denied bail for the second time in late January. Hironaka said Ghosn was willing to face the inconvenience of being monitored to earn his release. He did not specify where the cameras would be placed or who would monitor him. The new application was submitted last Thursday. A ruling is likely this week. Ghosn earlier offered to wear an ankle monitor to limit his movements, but prosecutors said the proposal was irrelevant because Japan does not use such devices. "We have presented our own convincing application showing there is no flight risk or risk of tampering with evidence," Hironaka said. Ghosn's case has highlighted long detention periods in Japan, where prosecutors have greater leeway to hold and question suspects than their counterparts in many Western countries. Prosecutors have charged Ghosn with failing to report more than $80 million in deferred compensation on eight years of Nissan Motor Co.'s financial reports and with causing Nissan to pay a Saudi businessman who helped Ghosn with a personal financial problem. Ghosn was stripped of his title as chairman of Nissan in November. Ghosn says he is innocent of the charges. In a January court hearing, he called discussions about the compensation "hypothetical" and not subject to reporting rules, and he said the Saudi businessman's company "was appropriately compensated" for "critical services that substantially benefited Nissan." Hironaka, who is known as "the razor" for his string of past legal victories, said he was confident of winning bail for his client, the Dow Jones report added. "I'm now 73 years old, but I want to test how sharp the razor still is," he said.

Former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn offers to accept camera surveillance in bid for bail

Washington's North Korea envoy Stephen Biegun was to meet Wednesday with officials from Japan and South Korea to discuss the outcome of the Hanoi summit last week, amid new evidence that Pyongyang is rebuilding a rocket launch site.

Biegun was to meet separately in Washington with Lee Do-hoon, Seoul's chief nuclear envoy, and Japan's Kenji Kanasugi, with a three-way meeting also expected, according to the US State Department.

Their talks take place after US President Donald Trump abruptly cut short the February 27-28 summit in Vietnam with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un amid fundamental differences between the two sides over dismantling North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

The summit, their second in under a year, broke up without even a joint statement, and each sought to blame the other's intransigence for the deadlock.

Both sides pledged to continue talking, but no new meetings have been scheduled.

State Department Spokesman Robert Palladino declined Tuesday to say whether contacts between Washington and Pyongyang have resumed since the summit.

On Monday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he hopes to be able to send a team to Pyongyang in "the next couple weeks," while acknowledging there had been no commitment from Pyongyang on resuming talks.&nbsp;

The US, Japan and South Korea were confronted with a fresh challenge when new photographs released Tuesday appeared to show that Pyongyang may be pursuing the "rapid rebuilding" of a long-range rocket site at Sohae, after having pulled back nuclear-related activity.

The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies said the renewed activity, recorded two days after the summit, may "demonstrate resolve in the face of US rejection" of the North's request for an easing of sanctions.

The site, dormant since August 2018, "has been used in the past for satellite launches, which use ICBM technology banned under UN Security Council resolutions," CSIS said.

The State Department declined to address the reports Wednesday.

Washington's North Korea envoy Stephen Biegun was to meet Wednesday with officials from Japan and South Korea to discuss the outcome of the Hanoi summit last week, amid new evidence that Pyongyang is rebuilding a rocket launch site.

Washington's North Korea envoy Stephen Biegun was to meet Wednesday with officials from Japan and South Korea to discuss the outcome of the Hanoi summit last week, amid new evidence that Pyongyang is rebuilding a rocket launch site. Biegun was to meet separately in Washington with Lee Do-hoon, Seoul's chief nuclear envoy, and Japan's Kenji Kanasugi, with a three-way meeting also expected, according to the US State Department. Their talks take place after US President Donald Trump abruptly cut short the February 27-28 summit in Vietnam with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un amid fundamental differences between the two sides over dismantling North Korea's nuclear weapons program. The summit, their second in under a year, broke up without even a joint statement, and each sought to blame the other's intransigence for the deadlock. Both sides pledged to continue talking, but no new meetings have been scheduled. State Department Spokesman Robert Palladino declined Tuesday to say whether contacts between Washington and Pyongyang have resumed since the summit. On Monday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he hopes to be able to send a team to Pyongyang in "the next couple weeks," while acknowledging there had been no commitment from Pyongyang on resuming talks. The US, Japan and South Korea were confronted with a fresh challenge when new photographs released Tuesday appeared to show that Pyongyang may be pursuing the "rapid rebuilding" of a long-range rocket site at Sohae, after having pulled back nuclear-related activity. The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies said the renewed activity, recorded two days after the summit, may "demonstrate resolve in the face of US rejection" of the North's request for an easing of sanctions. The site, dormant since August 2018, "has been used in the past for satellite launches, which use ICBM technology banned under UN Security Council resolutions," CSIS said. The State Department declined to address the reports Wednesday.

US, North Korea envoy in talks after Pyongyang rocket site work revealed

Japan has given the green light to a controversial research process involving implanting animals with human stem cells that could eventually help grow human organs for transplant inside animal hosts.

The decision by the education and science ministry Friday to revise its guidelines means Japanese researchers can now apply for permits to carry out studies employing the technique, a ministry official told AFP.

The process involves implanting embryonic animals, likely first pigs, with human "induced pluripotent stem" (iPS) cells, which can transform into the building blocks of any part of the body.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>The process involves implanting embryonic animals, likely first pigs, with human 'induced pluripotent stem' (iPS) cells, which can transform into the building blocks of any part of the body</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The process involves implanting embryonic animals, likely first pigs, with human 'induced pluripotent stem' (iPS) cells, which can transform into the building blocks of any part of the body" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">×</a></div>
</div>
</div>

The idea is for the iPS cells to grow into transplantable human organs inside the animal embryos.

Japan had previously required researchers to terminate animal embryos implanted with human cells after 14 days "due to ethical concerns over the vague line between human beings and animals," the official said.

The old regulations also prevented researchers from placing the embryos into animal wombs to allow them to develop.

But the ministry has dropped both restrictions "as we have concluded that there is technically zero risks of producing a new organism mixing human and animal elements under the research," the official added.

Researchers will now, for instance, be allowed to create animal embryos with a human pancreas and transplant it into the womb of a pig, which could, in theory, result in the birth of a baby pig with a human pancreas.

In practice, where similar research has been carried elsewhere, the embryos have been terminated before delivery, avoiding the thorny moral issues raised by creating creatures that contain both human and animal cells.

Research involving the hybrids sometimes called "chimeras" -- after the monster in Greek mythology with a lion's head, goat's body and dragon's tail -- has been controversial elsewhere too.

Ethical questions have been raised about the status of animals containing human cells, and whether human iPS cells implanted into animals could develop into brain matter or reproductive organs.

But a shortage of transplantable human organs means researchers around the world are racing to create mixed human-animal embryos.

Japan has given the green light to a controversial research process involving implanting animals with human stem cells that could eventually help grow human organs for transplant inside animal hosts.

Japan has given the green light to a controversial research process involving implanting animals with human stem cells that could eventually help grow human organs for transplant inside animal hosts. The decision by the education and science ministry Friday to revise its guidelines means Japanese researchers can now apply for permits to carry out studies employing the technique, a ministry official told AFP. The process involves implanting embryonic animals, likely first pigs, with human "induced pluripotent stem" (iPS) cells, which can transform into the building blocks of any part of the body. The process involves implanting embryonic animals, likely first pigs, with human 'induced pluripotent stem' (iPS) cells, which can transform into the building blocks of any part of the body × The idea is for the iPS cells to grow into transplantable human organs inside the animal embryos. Japan had previously required researchers to terminate animal embryos implanted with human cells after 14 days "due to ethical concerns over the vague line between human beings and animals," the official said. The old regulations also prevented researchers from placing the embryos into animal wombs to allow them to develop. But the ministry has dropped both restrictions "as we have concluded that there is technically zero risks of producing a new organism mixing human and animal elements under the research," the official added. Researchers will now, for instance, be allowed to create animal embryos with a human pancreas and transplant it into the womb of a pig, which could, in theory, result in the birth of a baby pig with a human pancreas. In practice, where similar research has been carried elsewhere, the embryos have been terminated before delivery, avoiding the thorny moral issues raised by creating creatures that contain both human and animal cells. Research involving the hybrids sometimes called "chimeras" -- after the monster in Greek mythology with a lion's head, goat's body and dragon's tail -- has been controversial elsewhere too. Ethical questions have been raised about the status of animals containing human cells, and whether human iPS cells implanted into animals could develop into brain matter or reproductive organs. But a shortage of transplantable human organs means researchers around the world are racing to create mixed human-animal embryos.

Japan okays research using human cells in animals

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Thursday he fully backed <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-deal-with-kim-thwarted-by-north-korean-sanction-demands-200231">US President Donald Trump`s decision</a> to end his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un without an agreement.&nbsp;

"I fully support President Trump`s decision not to make the easy choice," Abe said following a telephone call with Trump.

"I am determined that I must meet Chairman Kim next," he added, reiterating his desire to have a summit with the North Korean leader.

Abe said Trump, at his meeting with Kim in Vietnam, had raised the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Koreans agents.&nbsp;

Abe has said Japan would not normalise diplomatic ties with Pyongyang or provide economic assistance until North Korea gave a full accounting of all those taken and return any abductees who are still alive.&nbsp;

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Thursday he fully backed US President Donald Trump`s decision to end his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un without an agreement.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Thursday he fully backed US President Donald Trump`s decision to end his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un without an agreement. "I fully support President Trump`s decision not to make the easy choice," Abe said following a telephone call with Trump. "I am determined that I must meet Chairman Kim next," he added, reiterating his desire to have a summit with the North Korean leader. Abe said Trump, at his meeting with Kim in Vietnam, had raised the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Koreans agents. Abe has said Japan would not normalise diplomatic ties with Pyongyang or provide economic assistance until North Korea gave a full accounting of all those taken and return any abductees who are still alive.

Japanese PM Abe says fully backs Trump over North Korea no deal

A majority of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/japans-okinawa-votes-against-controversial-us-base-move-exit-polls-199355">voters in a referendum on Okinawa</a> opposed a plan to relocate a US military base within the southern Japanese island, but the central government said on Monday it intended to press ahead with its construction plans.

Just over 70 per cent of voters opposed relocating the US&nbsp;Marines' Futenma air base within Okinawa in Sunday's non-binding referendum, with a turnout of 53 per cent. Okinawa governor Denny Tamaki was elected on that platform in September.

Okinawa is host to the bulk of US military forces in Japan, whose alliance with Washington is central to its security. Many Okinawa residents associate the bases with crime, pollution and accidents.

The governor is required to respect the outcome and notify the premier and the US&nbsp;president if the top response was backed by more than 25 per cent of eligible voters.

Tokyo's central government and Okinawa authorities have long been at loggerheads over the plan to move the airbase.

A US-Japan agreement calls for moving the base, which is surrounded by schools, hospitals and shops, to a less populated area, called Henoko, on the northern part of Okinawa.

However many Okinawa residents, indignant at what they see as an unfair burden, want the base off the island altogether.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters on Monday the government was taking the results seriously and would work to obtain the understanding of Okinawa residents, but that plans to move the base could not be deferred.

"We cannot avoid the necessity of moving Futenma, said to be the most dangerous base in the world," Abe said, noting that two decades had passed since the agreement to do so was made.

"We can't put this off any longer," he said.

Tamaki called on the government to accept the "firm decision" of the Okinawa people that the base relocation was unacceptable.

"I urge the government to change their view that relocating the base to Henoko is the only way and halt construction, along with more dialogue with us on closing Futenma and returning the land to us," Tamaki said.

The referendum result was unlikely to derail the central government's stance, said former Chuo University professor Steven Reed.

"It's not a matter of local government policy. It's a matter for foreign policy. The deal has been made," he said.

The outcome could give a bit of a boost to the struggling opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) - the largest among Japan's opposition groups - ahead of an upper house election this year, Reed said.

The CDPJ opposes the Futenma relocation plan.

"It could make a substantial difference in the next election in Okinawa and it could make some difference nationwide," he said.

Support for the CDPJ was just under 6 per cent in a February survey by public broadcaster NHK, dwarfed by about 37 per cent for Abe's Liberal Democratic Party.

A majority of voters in a referendum on Okinawa opposed a plan to relocate a US military base within the southern Japanese island, but the central government said on Monday it intended to press ahead with its construction plans.

A majority of voters in a referendum on Okinawa opposed a plan to relocate a US military base within the southern Japanese island, but the central government said on Monday it intended to press ahead with its construction plans. Just over 70 per cent of voters opposed relocating the US Marines' Futenma air base within Okinawa in Sunday's non-binding referendum, with a turnout of 53 per cent. Okinawa governor Denny Tamaki was elected on that platform in September. Okinawa is host to the bulk of US military forces in Japan, whose alliance with Washington is central to its security. Many Okinawa residents associate the bases with crime, pollution and accidents. The governor is required to respect the outcome and notify the premier and the US president if the top response was backed by more than 25 per cent of eligible voters. Tokyo's central government and Okinawa authorities have long been at loggerheads over the plan to move the airbase. A US-Japan agreement calls for moving the base, which is surrounded by schools, hospitals and shops, to a less populated area, called Henoko, on the northern part of Okinawa. However many Okinawa residents, indignant at what they see as an unfair burden, want the base off the island altogether. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters on Monday the government was taking the results seriously and would work to obtain the understanding of Okinawa residents, but that plans to move the base could not be deferred. "We cannot avoid the necessity of moving Futenma, said to be the most dangerous base in the world," Abe said, noting that two decades had passed since the agreement to do so was made. "We can't put this off any longer," he said. Tamaki called on the government to accept the "firm decision" of the Okinawa people that the base relocation was unacceptable. "I urge the government to change their view that relocating the base to Henoko is the only way and halt construction, along with more dialogue with us on closing Futenma and returning the land to us," Tamaki said. The referendum result was unlikely to derail the central government's stance, said former Chuo University professor Steven Reed. "It's not a matter of local government policy. It's a matter for foreign policy. The deal has been made," he said. The outcome could give a bit of a boost to the struggling opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) - the largest among Japan's opposition groups - ahead of an upper house election this year, Reed said. The CDPJ opposes the Futenma relocation plan. "It could make a substantial difference in the next election in Okinawa and it could make some difference nationwide," he said. Support for the CDPJ was just under 6 per cent in a February survey by public broadcaster NHK, dwarfed by about 37 per cent for Abe's Liberal Democratic Party.

Japan to push ahead with US base relocation despite Okinawa referendum result

More than 70 per cent of voters in Japan’s Okinawa islands objected in a referendum to the relocation of a US military base within the region, according to the results announced on Monday.

The referendum had been called the day before by the local government to consult the local population on the relocation of the US Navy's Futenma airbase, and its result once again highlights the majority rejecting the US military presence in Okinawa.

Despite the clear opposition to the transfer of the base, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday that he will go ahead with the project, saying “we cannot delay this any further” in statements to the media.

The Futenma base is currently located in the urban centre of Ginowan, on the main island of Okinawa, and Japan and the US agreed in 1996 to move it to the more remote Henoko Bay after a series of incidents.

However, the relocation has been delayed due to opposition from residents and local politicians who argue that the project would have a high environmental impact and say that both this base and other US bases should be moved out of their territory.

In the referendum, 72.2 per cent of voters rejected the move while 19.1 per cent supported the plan amidst a 52.48 per cent turnout.

"This is the first time that opposition specifically to the plan… was clearly shown so it bears significant meaning," said Okinawa prefecture Governor Danny Tamaki, who called on the central government to consider the resolution of the people and “stop the relocation work," in statements to the local media.

The ordinance approved by the regional authorities stipulated that if the most-voted option obtained a quarter of the votes, the local government should communicate it to the Japanese leader and United States President Donald Trump.

However, because of the referendum’s symbolic and non-binding nature, Abe is unlikely to withdraw a plan around which the central and regional governments are engaged in long political and court battles.

"We have spent many years holding dialogue with people in the prefecture," Abe said on Tuesday, adding that he will continue his “utmost efforts towards a reduction of the burden" of the US military presence on the inhabitants of the subtropical archipelago.

Okinawan authorities took the case to several courts to try to overturn the project with legal arguments based on the base's environmental impact, but Japan's Supreme Court ruled in Tokyo's favour in 2016.

About one-fifth of Okinawa's main island is US military land.

The region is also home to more than half of the nearly 47,000 US military personnel in Japan and 74 per cent of its military installations in the country.

More than 70 per cent of voters in Japan’s Okinawa islands objected in a referendum to the relocation of a US military base within the region, according to the results announced on Monday.

More than 70 per cent of voters in Japan’s Okinawa islands objected in a referendum to the relocation of a US military base within the region, according to the results announced on Monday. The referendum had been called the day before by the local government to consult the local population on the relocation of the US Navy's Futenma airbase, and its result once again highlights the majority rejecting the US military presence in Okinawa. Despite the clear opposition to the transfer of the base, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday that he will go ahead with the project, saying “we cannot delay this any further” in statements to the media. The Futenma base is currently located in the urban centre of Ginowan, on the main island of Okinawa, and Japan and the US agreed in 1996 to move it to the more remote Henoko Bay after a series of incidents. However, the relocation has been delayed due to opposition from residents and local politicians who argue that the project would have a high environmental impact and say that both this base and other US bases should be moved out of their territory. In the referendum, 72.2 per cent of voters rejected the move while 19.1 per cent supported the plan amidst a 52.48 per cent turnout. "This is the first time that opposition specifically to the plan… was clearly shown so it bears significant meaning," said Okinawa prefecture Governor Danny Tamaki, who called on the central government to consider the resolution of the people and “stop the relocation work," in statements to the local media. The ordinance approved by the regional authorities stipulated that if the most-voted option obtained a quarter of the votes, the local government should communicate it to the Japanese leader and United States President Donald Trump. However, because of the referendum’s symbolic and non-binding nature, Abe is unlikely to withdraw a plan around which the central and regional governments are engaged in long political and court battles. "We have spent many years holding dialogue with people in the prefecture," Abe said on Tuesday, adding that he will continue his “utmost efforts towards a reduction of the burden" of the US military presence on the inhabitants of the subtropical archipelago. Okinawan authorities took the case to several courts to try to overturn the project with legal arguments based on the base's environmental impact, but Japan's Supreme Court ruled in Tokyo's favour in 2016. About one-fifth of Okinawa's main island is US military land. The region is also home to more than half of the nearly 47,000 US military personnel in Japan and 74 per cent of its military installations in the country.

Japan’s Okinawa rejects transfer of US military base in a referendum

Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft successfully touched down on the asteroid Ryugu on Friday, which is some 340 million kilometers from Earth, to take samples that could provide clues on the origins of the solar system.

The Japan Space Exploration Agency (JAXA) reported that at 7:49 local time (22:49 GMT on Thursday) it began to receive data from the probe that confirmed its landing on the asteroid.

"Spacecraft state is normal. Based on this, we determined touchdown was successful! A detailed analysis will now be done," JAXA wrote on their Twitter feed, adding "the Doppler data showed the behaviour as expected and cheers went up with a clap!"

The landing took place from an altitude of 20 kilometers, where the probe had been circling the asteroid since last June, and its descend began on Thursday afternoon.

The landing operation was originally scheduled for last October, but was delayed to gather more information about Ryugu first.

Hayabusa2 was launched in December 2014 from the Tanegashima space center, in southwestern Japan, and is scheduled to return to Earth in late 2020.

At the end of June 2018 it arrived at the asteroid and was first located at a height of 20 kilometers, but also went as close at 6 kilometers to conduct the necessary preliminary studies to define the eventual landing site.

If the probe successfully returns to Earth with the samples, valuable clues about the origins of the solar system could be provided, the Japanese aerospace agency said.

The asteroid Ryugu - the name of a magical submarine palace from Japanese folklore - is about 900 meters in diameter and slightly cubic in shape.

Like other minor planets, it is considered to be among the oldest bodies in the solar system and therefore has the potential to provide information on the evolution of the universe.

The Japanese aerospace agency had already undertaken a similar mission, with the Hayabusa1 spacecraft, between 2003 and 2010 to take samples from a different type of asteroid.

That project was successfully completed after several technical problems and delays, including loss of contact with the spacecraft.

&nbsp;

Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft successfully touched down on the asteroid Ryugu on Friday, which is some 340 million kilometers from Earth, to take samples that could provide clues on the origins of the solar system.

Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft successfully touched down on the asteroid Ryugu on Friday, which is some 340 million kilometers from Earth, to take samples that could provide clues on the origins of the solar system. The Japan Space Exploration Agency (JAXA) reported that at 7:49 local time (22:49 GMT on Thursday) it began to receive data from the probe that confirmed its landing on the asteroid. "Spacecraft state is normal. Based on this, we determined touchdown was successful! A detailed analysis will now be done," JAXA wrote on their Twitter feed, adding "the Doppler data showed the behaviour as expected and cheers went up with a clap!" The landing took place from an altitude of 20 kilometers, where the probe had been circling the asteroid since last June, and its descend began on Thursday afternoon. The landing operation was originally scheduled for last October, but was delayed to gather more information about Ryugu first. Hayabusa2 was launched in December 2014 from the Tanegashima space center, in southwestern Japan, and is scheduled to return to Earth in late 2020. At the end of June 2018 it arrived at the asteroid and was first located at a height of 20 kilometers, but also went as close at 6 kilometers to conduct the necessary preliminary studies to define the eventual landing site. If the probe successfully returns to Earth with the samples, valuable clues about the origins of the solar system could be provided, the Japanese aerospace agency said. The asteroid Ryugu - the name of a magical submarine palace from Japanese folklore - is about 900 meters in diameter and slightly cubic in shape. Like other minor planets, it is considered to be among the oldest bodies in the solar system and therefore has the potential to provide information on the evolution of the universe. The Japanese aerospace agency had already undertaken a similar mission, with the Hayabusa1 spacecraft, between 2003 and 2010 to take samples from a different type of asteroid. That project was successfully completed after several technical problems and delays, including loss of contact with the spacecraft.

Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa2 lands on Ryugu asteroid, takes samples

Japan's foreign minister on Tuesday declared his country's support for Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has declared himself interim president in a challenge to ruling leader Nicolas Maduro.

"Our country has called for early elections... but unfortunately elections have not been held yet," Foreign Minister Taro Kono said at a press conference.

"Considering the circumstances, our country clearly backs provisional president Guaido. We once again call on the country to hold free and fair elections," Kono said.

The move by Tokyo comes amid a growing crisis in Venezuela, with increasing pressure on the country's embattled leader Maduro and the army.

On Monday, US President Donald Trump urged the Venezuelan military to back Guaido or "lose everything".

The US has called for Maduro to step aside, backing Guaido who has denounced the Venezuelan president's re-election last year as fraudulent.

The opposition figure declared himself interim president in January, and has now been recognised by around 50 countries.

He is locked in a standoff with Maduro over a US plan to send aid to Venezuela, which is in the grip of a humanitarian crisis due to shortages of food and medicine exacerbated by hyperinflation.

Guaido plans to sign up a million volunteers to bring the aid into the country, despite roadblocks set up by Maduro's government, which says it will receive 300 tonnes of aid from Russia this week.

Japan's foreign minister on Tuesday declared his country's support for Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has declared himself interim president in a challenge to ruling leader Nicolas Maduro.

Japan's foreign minister on Tuesday declared his country's support for Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has declared himself interim president in a challenge to ruling leader Nicolas Maduro. "Our country has called for early elections... but unfortunately elections have not been held yet," Foreign Minister Taro Kono said at a press conference. "Considering the circumstances, our country clearly backs provisional president Guaido. We once again call on the country to hold free and fair elections," Kono said. The move by Tokyo comes amid a growing crisis in Venezuela, with increasing pressure on the country's embattled leader Maduro and the army. On Monday, US President Donald Trump urged the Venezuelan military to back Guaido or "lose everything". The US has called for Maduro to step aside, backing Guaido who has denounced the Venezuelan president's re-election last year as fraudulent. The opposition figure declared himself interim president in January, and has now been recognised by around 50 countries. He is locked in a standoff with Maduro over a US plan to send aid to Venezuela, which is in the grip of a humanitarian crisis due to shortages of food and medicine exacerbated by hyperinflation. Guaido plans to sign up a million volunteers to bring the aid into the country, despite roadblocks set up by Maduro's government, which says it will receive 300 tonnes of aid from Russia this week.

Japan throws support behind Venezuela's Guaido

Panasonic, Sony, Nissan and now Honda: a recent exodus of Japanese firms from Britain is not solely down to Brexit, analysts say, but it has in many cases accelerated the decision to leave.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/honda-to-shut-only-british-factory-mulls-a-move-to-north-america-198289">Honda was the latest Japanese firm to send shockwaves</a> through British industry by announcing the end of its plant in Swindon, where around 3,500 workers have been producing the "Civic" for more than 24 years.

Officials rushed to divert blame from Brexit, with local MP Justin Tomlinson saying the decision was down to "global trends" and pointing out that Honda was transferring all European production back to Japan.

But while there are specific reasons behind each individual business decision, analysts said the spectre of Brexit was haunting Japanese firms across the board.

"Honda seems to have been preparing for this for a long time. Then Brexit happened, which might have pushed the company to make the decision now," said Seiji Sugiura, an analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute.

Both Sugiura and Satoru Takada, an auto analyst at TIW research firm based in Tokyo, noted that Honda had been debating what to do with the Swindon plant for some time.

"It has struggled in recent years. Then came Brexit," said Takada.

"The change in the business environment pushed the company to make the decision now," he added.

Honda's decision came hot on the heels of Nissan axing production at its Sunderland plant in northeastern England.

There are around 1,000 Japanese companies operating in Britain, supporting some 140,000 jobs.

And while firms from Japan are not the only ones pulling out from Britain, a long history of Japanese investment in the country stemming from Japan Inc's boom days in the late 80s makes the exodus all the more painful.

"I think Swindon's finished without Honda," said Sue Davis, a local resident. "My ex-husband works there, has done for 20 years."

Sugiura said Japanese carmakers were attracted by a business-friendly environment under Conservative leader Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s as well as by Britain's access to European markets.

"Originally they decided to go to Britain, rather than the continent, because it offered the merit of an integrated EU. Now, things are the exact opposite," the analyst told AFP.

'Country risk'

When it comes to the automakers, rapid changes in the car industry and the global trade environment are also factors in paring back operations, the analysts said.

A huge EU-Japan free trade agreement that came into effect this month also reduces the incentive for Japanese firms to operate in Europe by phasing out tariffs.

Takada also pointed out that Japanese firms have generally struggled in Europe where they are competing on the home turf of German giants like Volkswagen.

But it is not just carmakers deciding to scale back their presence. Electronics giants Sony and Panasonic have also announced shifts from Britain.

Major Japanese banks are pulling out of London and nuclear firm Hitachi last month announced a freeze in a major power plant in Wales.

Many of these firms said Brexit wasn't the only factor in their decision but it played a part.

"What are the reasons for this pullout? One of them is distrust in Britain itself -- its economy, politics and society are in disarray," said Yosuku Tsuchida, a researcher at Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting.

"It's country risk."

Tsuchida predicted that other firms using Britain as a base for continental Europe would consider pulling out.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pleaded for clarity for Japanese firms and said "the whole world" is hoping that a no-deal Brexit can be avoided.

Analyst Sugiura from Tokai Tokyo said the future for investment into Britain was far from bright.

"The lack of clarity in Brexit is discouraging businesses from making a fresh investment. Investing in the UK doesn't seem attractive anymore now."

"One has to question if Britain is now a suitable location to have a production hub," said Takada.

Panasonic, Sony, Nissan and now Honda: a recent exodus of Japanese firms from Britain is not solely down to Brexit, analysts say, but it has in many cases accelerated the decision to leave.

Panasonic, Sony, Nissan and now Honda: a recent exodus of Japanese firms from Britain is not solely down to Brexit, analysts say, but it has in many cases accelerated the decision to leave. On Tuesday, Honda was the latest Japanese firm to send shockwaves through British industry by announcing the end of its plant in Swindon, where around 3,500 workers have been producing the "Civic" for more than 24 years. Officials rushed to divert blame from Brexit, with local MP Justin Tomlinson saying the decision was down to "global trends" and pointing out that Honda was transferring all European production back to Japan. But while there are specific reasons behind each individual business decision, analysts said the spectre of Brexit was haunting Japanese firms across the board. "Honda seems to have been preparing for this for a long time. Then Brexit happened, which might have pushed the company to make the decision now," said Seiji Sugiura, an analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute. Both Sugiura and Satoru Takada, an auto analyst at TIW research firm based in Tokyo, noted that Honda had been debating what to do with the Swindon plant for some time. "It has struggled in recent years. Then came Brexit," said Takada. "The change in the business environment pushed the company to make the decision now," he added. Honda's decision came hot on the heels of Nissan axing production at its Sunderland plant in northeastern England. There are around 1,000 Japanese companies operating in Britain, supporting some 140,000 jobs. And while firms from Japan are not the only ones pulling out from Britain, a long history of Japanese investment in the country stemming from Japan Inc's boom days in the late 80s makes the exodus all the more painful. "I think Swindon's finished without Honda," said Sue Davis, a local resident. "My ex-husband works there, has done for 20 years." Sugiura said Japanese carmakers were attracted by a business-friendly environment under Conservative leader Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s as well as by Britain's access to European markets. "Originally they decided to go to Britain, rather than the continent, because it offered the merit of an integrated EU. Now, things are the exact opposite," the analyst told AFP. 'Country risk' When it comes to the automakers, rapid changes in the car industry and the global trade environment are also factors in paring back operations, the analysts said. A huge EU-Japan free trade agreement that came into effect this month also reduces the incentive for Japanese firms to operate in Europe by phasing out tariffs. Takada also pointed out that Japanese firms have generally struggled in Europe where they are competing on the home turf of German giants like Volkswagen. But it is not just carmakers deciding to scale back their presence. Electronics giants Sony and Panasonic have also announced shifts from Britain. Major Japanese banks are pulling out of London and nuclear firm Hitachi last month announced a freeze in a major power plant in Wales. Many of these firms said Brexit wasn't the only factor in their decision but it played a part. "What are the reasons for this pullout? One of them is distrust in Britain itself -- its economy, politics and society are in disarray," said Yosuku Tsuchida, a researcher at Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting. "It's country risk." Tsuchida predicted that other firms using Britain as a base for continental Europe would consider pulling out. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pleaded for clarity for Japanese firms and said "the whole world" is hoping that a no-deal Brexit can be avoided. Analyst Sugiura from Tokai Tokyo said the future for investment into Britain was far from bright. "The lack of clarity in Brexit is discouraging businesses from making a fresh investment. Investing in the UK doesn't seem attractive anymore now." "One has to question if Britain is now a suitable location to have a production hub," said Takada.

Brexit accelerating Japanese firms' exodus from UK: Report

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe nominated US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize last autumn after receiving a request from the US government to do so, the Asahi newspaper reported on Sunday.

The report follows Trump`s claim on Friday that Abe had <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-makes-his-case-for-nobel-peace-prize-complains-hell-never-get-it-197683">nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize</a> for opening talks and easing tensions with North Korea.

The Japanese leader had given him "the most beautiful copy" of a five-page nomination letter, Trump said at a White House news conference.

The US government had sounded Abe out over the Noble Peace Prize nomination after Trump`s summit in June last year with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the first meeting between a North Korean leader and a sitting US president, the Asahi said, citing an unnamed Japanese government source.

A spokesman for Japan`s Foreign Ministry in Tokyo said the ministry was aware of Trump`s remarks, but "would refrain from commenting on the interaction between the two leaders."

The White House had no immediate comment when contacted by Reuters.

The Nobel Foundation`s website says a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize may be submitted by any person who meets the nomination criteria, which includes current heads of states. Under the foundation`s rules, names and other information about unsuccessful nominations cannot&nbsp;

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe nominated US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize last autumn after receiving a request from the US government to do so, the Asahi newspaper reported on Sunday.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe nominated US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize last autumn after receiving a request from the US government to do so, the Asahi newspaper reported on Sunday. The report follows Trump`s claim on Friday that Abe had nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize for opening talks and easing tensions with North Korea. The Japanese leader had given him "the most beautiful copy" of a five-page nomination letter, Trump said at a White House news conference. The US government had sounded Abe out over the Noble Peace Prize nomination after Trump`s summit in June last year with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the first meeting between a North Korean leader and a sitting US president, the Asahi said, citing an unnamed Japanese government source. A spokesman for Japan`s Foreign Ministry in Tokyo said the ministry was aware of Trump`s remarks, but "would refrain from commenting on the interaction between the two leaders." The White House had no immediate comment when contacted by Reuters. The Nobel Foundation`s website says a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize may be submitted by any person who meets the nomination criteria, which includes current heads of states. Under the foundation`s rules, names and other information about unsuccessful nominations cannot

Japan PM Abe nominated Trump for Nobel Peace Prize on US request: Report

Trump claims Japanese PM Abe nominated him for Nobel Peace Prize

Japan's gaffe-prone Olympics Minister was forced to apologise Wednesday after suggesting that the leukaemia diagnosis of 18-year-old star swimmer Rikako Ikee could dampen enthusiasm for the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The shock announcement of Ikee — widely considered the poster girl for next year's Olympics — that she was battling the disease touched the hearts of Japanese everywhere and sparked an outpouring of well-wishes.

However, the minister, Yoshitaka Sakurada, appeared to voice sadness that Japan's medal tally might be affected as a result.

"She is a potential gold medallist, an athlete in whom we have great expectations. I'm really disappointed," said the 69-year-old, according to local media.

"When one person leads, she can boost the whole team. I am slightly worried that this type of excitement could wane."

Following a backlash from the public and opposition politicians, Sakurada sought to clarify his stance and admitted his comments "lacked consideration."

This is not the first time Sakurada has made unwanted headlines.

He attracted widespread ridicule when he admitted that he "does not use computers" in his professional life. He doubles as deputy chief of Japan's cybersecurity strategy.

Sakurada also sparked anger for ill-advised comments in 2016 when he described the "comfort women" forced to work in military brothels servicing Japanese wartime troops as "professional prostitutes."

Ikee shot to fame at last year's Asian Games, where she captured a record six gold medals to fire a warning for the 2020 Olympics in her home city.

The teenage superstar, who holds a string of national records, has been tipped to push for gold on several fronts, in particular in the women's 100 metres butterfly.

Ikee told fans she was determined to beat her illness after being forced to abandon her training camp on Australia's Gold Coast.

"If treated properly it's a disease that can be beaten," said Ikee, who confirmed she will withdraw from the Japanese championships in April.&nbsp;

"I will devote myself to my treatment and strive to be able to show an even stronger Rikako Ikee."

Japan's gaffe-prone Olympics Minister was forced to apologise Wednesday after suggesting that the leukaemia diagnosis of 18-year-old star swimmer Rikako Ikee could dampen enthusiasm for the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Japan's gaffe-prone Olympics Minister was forced to apologise Wednesday after suggesting that the leukaemia diagnosis of 18-year-old star swimmer Rikako Ikee could dampen enthusiasm for the Tokyo 2020 Games. The shock announcement of Ikee — widely considered the poster girl for next year's Olympics — that she was battling the disease touched the hearts of Japanese everywhere and sparked an outpouring of well-wishes. However, the minister, Yoshitaka Sakurada, appeared to voice sadness that Japan's medal tally might be affected as a result. "She is a potential gold medallist, an athlete in whom we have great expectations. I'm really disappointed," said the 69-year-old, according to local media. "When one person leads, she can boost the whole team. I am slightly worried that this type of excitement could wane." Following a backlash from the public and opposition politicians, Sakurada sought to clarify his stance and admitted his comments "lacked consideration." This is not the first time Sakurada has made unwanted headlines. He attracted widespread ridicule when he admitted that he "does not use computers" in his professional life. He doubles as deputy chief of Japan's cybersecurity strategy. Sakurada also sparked anger for ill-advised comments in 2016 when he described the "comfort women" forced to work in military brothels servicing Japanese wartime troops as "professional prostitutes." Ikee shot to fame at last year's Asian Games, where she captured a record six gold medals to fire a warning for the 2020 Olympics in her home city. The teenage superstar, who holds a string of national records, has been tipped to push for gold on several fronts, in particular in the women's 100 metres butterfly. Ikee told fans she was determined to beat her illness after being forced to abandon her training camp on Australia's Gold Coast. "If treated properly it's a disease that can be beaten," said Ikee, who confirmed she will withdraw from the Japanese championships in April. "I will devote myself to my treatment and strive to be able to show an even stronger Rikako Ikee."

Japan minister sorry for ill Olympic swimmer gaffe

Nissan Motor estimates that 9.2 billion yen ($83.24 million) was paid to the company's former president, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/carlos-ghosn-resigned-from-renault-on-january-22-192422">Carlos Ghosn</a>, the current president and CEO of the Japanese automobile manufacturer said on Tuesday.

Ghosn is currently in prison charged with underreporting his income for eight years.

Nissan President and CEO Hiroto Saikawa, speaking at a press conference where he presented the company's financial results for the last nine months of 2018, said the figures involving Ghosn were a conservative estimate.

Nissan decided to take into account these alleged payments accorded with<a href="http://www.wionnews.com/world/carlos-ghosn-resigned-from-renault-on-january-22-192422"> Ghosn </a>despite still not having settled the amount, which could vary, depending on the results of the investigations of the public prosecutor's office and the authorities to determine the exact sum, according to the firm's Chief Financial Officer Hiroshi Karube.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/japan-court-rejects-nissan-boss-carlos-ghosns-release-bid-189183">Ghosn has been in prison</a> in Tokyo since November 19, 2019, accused of not declaring a part of his income from Nissan Motor between 2011 and 2018.

The 64-year-old is also accused of having violated a Japanese business regulation by using Nissan to cover a series of personal financial losses during the 2008 crisis, and of making allegedly unjustified payments to a Saudi businessman.

Nissan replaced Ghosn with Saikawa as president, and Renault soon followed suit, replacing him with Jean-Dominique Senard as president.

Senard is scheduled to visit Tokyo this week and meet with Saikawa, who on Tuesday reiterated his willingness to work with the French executive.

Saikawa said that he hoped to further develop their alliance, and said he hoped to discuss and revise the existing Renault-Nissan and Mitsubishi alliance.

He said first he wanted to create trust and good communications between their operational teams, while also underlining the need to avoid granting excessive power to the leader of the alliance.

On being asked about his responsibility in the alleged irregularities by Ghosn, whom he worked with for a decade, Saikawa said he and other executives felt responsible for not having discovered it or not having stopped it.

The CEO of the Japanese company said they had to secure the future of their firm and the need to focus on managing the current situation and chart Nissan's course.

Nissan Motor estimates that 9.2 billion yen ($83.24 million) was paid to the company's former president, Carlos Ghosn, the current president and CEO of the Japanese automobile manufacturer said on Tuesday.

Nissan Motor estimates that 9.2 billion yen ($83.24 million) was paid to the company's former president, Carlos Ghosn, the current president and CEO of the Japanese automobile manufacturer said on Tuesday. Ghosn is currently in prison charged with underreporting his income for eight years. Nissan President and CEO Hiroto Saikawa, speaking at a press conference where he presented the company's financial results for the last nine months of 2018, said the figures involving Ghosn were a conservative estimate. Nissan decided to take into account these alleged payments accorded with Ghosn despite still not having settled the amount, which could vary, depending on the results of the investigations of the public prosecutor's office and the authorities to determine the exact sum, according to the firm's Chief Financial Officer Hiroshi Karube. Ghosn has been in prison in Tokyo since November 19, 2019, accused of not declaring a part of his income from Nissan Motor between 2011 and 2018. The 64-year-old is also accused of having violated a Japanese business regulation by using Nissan to cover a series of personal financial losses during the 2008 crisis, and of making allegedly unjustified payments to a Saudi businessman. Nissan replaced Ghosn with Saikawa as president, and Renault soon followed suit, replacing him with Jean-Dominique Senard as president. Senard is scheduled to visit Tokyo this week and meet with Saikawa, who on Tuesday reiterated his willingness to work with the French executive. Saikawa said that he hoped to further develop their alliance, and said he hoped to discuss and revise the existing Renault-Nissan and Mitsubishi alliance. He said first he wanted to create trust and good communications between their operational teams, while also underlining the need to avoid granting excessive power to the leader of the alliance. On being asked about his responsibility in the alleged irregularities by Ghosn, whom he worked with for a decade, Saikawa said he and other executives felt responsible for not having discovered it or not having stopped it. The CEO of the Japanese company said they had to secure the future of their firm and the need to focus on managing the current situation and chart Nissan's course.

Nissan says undeclared payments by Ghosn total over $83 million

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday that he and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uk-spain-recognises-venezuela-opposition-leader-guaido-as-acting-president-195050">German Chancellor Angela Merkel</a> share a responsibility to work towards global peace and prosperity, with both hoping for a prompt, democratic solution to Venezuela's leadership crisis.

Merkel, on a two-day visit to Japan, said that Germany recognises opposition leader Juan Guaido as the nation's interim president, joining many European nations, and said he should organise new elections as soon as possible.

"Guaido is the person with whom we are talking and who we expect to initiate an election process as quickly as possible, and he is the legitimate interim president for this task from the German perspective and also from the perspective of many European partners," Merkel told a news conference with Abe.

"And we hope that this process is as short as possible and of course peaceful," she added.

Abe emphasized his cooperation with Merkel during a visit aimed a forging an "alliance of multilateralists" to resist <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/iraqi-constitution-rejects-use-of-iraq-as-a-base-for-attacking-a-neighbouring-country-barham-saleh-195059">US&nbsp;President Donald Trump</a>'s "America First" approach to trade and China's pursuit of narrow national interests.

"Our responsibility towards working for global prosperity and security has merely increased," he said, adding that the two leaders would work for a global order "based on rules."

Merkel referred to an EU-Japan trade deal that entered into force on February 1, saying: "All in all, a trip at a time in which we have demonstrated that, even at times when multilateral agreements are in difficult straits, we are ready to conclude such things."

"..very good win-win situations can occur when all partners talk to each other. Of course, fairness and reciprocity are part of this, but that is what we advocate."

Abe did not comment on Guaido's status, but he said Japan wanted a stable, democratic and prompt solution to Venezuela's political crisis. Several European nations have joined the United States in recognising Guaido as interim president, intensifying a global showdown over Nicolas Maduro's socialist rule.

Merkel said Germany would do everything possible to avoid a no-deal Brexit, but she did not want to see Britain's divorce deal with the EU - the so-called Withdrawal Agreement - renegotiated.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Sunday she would seek a "pragmatic solution" to a parliamentary impasse over the terms on which Britain leaves the European Union when she tries to reopen talks with Brussels less than two months before Britain is due to leave the bloc on March 29.

"There are definitely options for preserving the integrity of the single market, even when Northern Ireland isn't part of it because it is part of Britain, while at the same time meeting the desire to have if possible no border controls," Merkel said.

"To solve this point you have to be creative and listen to each other, and such discussions can and must be conducted," she added. "We can still use the time to perhaps reach an agreement if everyone shows good will."

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday that he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel share a responsibility to work towards global peace and prosperity, with both hoping for a prompt, democratic solution to Venezuela's leadership crisis.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday that he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel share a responsibility to work towards global peace and prosperity, with both hoping for a prompt, democratic solution to Venezuela's leadership crisis. Merkel, on a two-day visit to Japan, said that Germany recognises opposition leader Juan Guaido as the nation's interim president, joining many European nations, and said he should organise new elections as soon as possible. "Guaido is the person with whom we are talking and who we expect to initiate an election process as quickly as possible, and he is the legitimate interim president for this task from the German perspective and also from the perspective of many European partners," Merkel told a news conference with Abe. "And we hope that this process is as short as possible and of course peaceful," she added. Abe emphasized his cooperation with Merkel during a visit aimed a forging an "alliance of multilateralists" to resist US President Donald Trump's "America First" approach to trade and China's pursuit of narrow national interests. "Our responsibility towards working for global prosperity and security has merely increased," he said, adding that the two leaders would work for a global order "based on rules." Merkel referred to an EU-Japan trade deal that entered into force on February 1, saying: "All in all, a trip at a time in which we have demonstrated that, even at times when multilateral agreements are in difficult straits, we are ready to conclude such things." "..very good win-win situations can occur when all partners talk to each other. Of course, fairness and reciprocity are part of this, but that is what we advocate." Abe did not comment on Guaido's status, but he said Japan wanted a stable, democratic and prompt solution to Venezuela's political crisis. Several European nations have joined the United States in recognising Guaido as interim president, intensifying a global showdown over Nicolas Maduro's socialist rule. Merkel said Germany would do everything possible to avoid a no-deal Brexit, but she did not want to see Britain's divorce deal with the EU - the so-called Withdrawal Agreement - renegotiated. British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Sunday she would seek a "pragmatic solution" to a parliamentary impasse over the terms on which Britain leaves the European Union when she tries to reopen talks with Brussels less than two months before Britain is due to leave the bloc on March 29. "There are definitely options for preserving the integrity of the single market, even when Northern Ireland isn't part of it because it is part of Britain, while at the same time meeting the desire to have if possible no border controls," Merkel said. "To solve this point you have to be creative and listen to each other, and such discussions can and must be conducted," she added. "We can still use the time to perhaps reach an agreement if everyone shows good will."

Japan, Germany share responsibility to work towards global peace: PM Abe

Japanese car manufacturer Nissan announced Sunday it was cancelling plans to build its X-Trail SUV at its plant in northeast England despite Brexit assurances from the government.

"While we have taken this decision for business reasons, the continued uncertainty around the UK's future relationship with the EU is not helping companies like ours to plan for the future," Nissan Europe Chairman Gianluca de Ficchy said in a statement.

The car giant announced in 2016 that it planned to build the model at its plant in Sunderland, but will now assemble it instead at Nissan's global production hub in Kyushu, Japan.&nbsp;

"Other future models planned for Nissan Sunderland Plant -- the next-generation Juke and Qashqai -- are unaffected," added the statement.

"A model like X-Trail is manufactured in multiple locations globally, and can, therefore, be re-evaluated based on changes to the business environment," said Hideyuki Sakamoto, Nissan's executive vice president for manufacturing and supply chain management.

Japanese car manufacturer Nissan announced Sunday it was cancelling plans to build its X-Trail SUV at its plant in northeast England despite Brexit assurances from the government.

Japanese car manufacturer Nissan announced Sunday it was cancelling plans to build its X-Trail SUV at its plant in northeast England despite Brexit assurances from the government. "While we have taken this decision for business reasons, the continued uncertainty around the UK's future relationship with the EU is not helping companies like ours to plan for the future," Nissan Europe Chairman Gianluca de Ficchy said in a statement. The car giant announced in 2016 that it planned to build the model at its plant in Sunderland, but will now assemble it instead at Nissan's global production hub in Kyushu, Japan. "Other future models planned for Nissan Sunderland Plant -- the next-generation Juke and Qashqai -- are unaffected," added the statement. "A model like X-Trail is manufactured in multiple locations globally, and can, therefore, be re-evaluated based on changes to the business environment," said Hideyuki Sakamoto, Nissan's executive vice president for manufacturing and supply chain management.

Nissan cancels investment plan for UK plant

<h1></h1>

*By-&nbsp;Tom Harper

Nearly 30 years ago, Donald Trump complained on a US chat show about the trade practices of Japan. This was during Japan’s boom of the 1980s, which propelled it to become the world’s second-largest economy. Now, China has taken that spot – and Trump is using the same rhetoric to attack it.&nbsp;

China is the bugbear of Trumpian foreign policy. According to one Wall Street Journal commentator, the US president is seeking to unify the world against China just as Reagan sought to isolate the Soviet Union.

Today’s China, as America’s primary economic challenger, can be seen as the latest incarnation of the East Asian model of authoritarian state capitalism. This was pioneered by Japan with its industrialisation and development during the 19th century.

China’s current communist rulers see industrialisation as the “magic key” to Great Power status – made clear from the message behind the Made in China 2025 scheme which asserts:

Since the beginning of industrial civilisation in the middle of the 18th century, it has been proven repeatedly by the rise and fall of world powers that without strong manufacturing, there is no national prosperity. Building internationally competitive manufacturing is the only way China can enhance its strength, protect state security and become a world power.

Ironically, a variant of this approach has been praised by some British MPs, in their suggestion of the Singaporean model as an example for post-Brexit Britain to follow. But they overlook how such a model is one of state capitalism, rather than the free-market nirvana they perceive it to be.

For it is state capitalism which enabled Japan and China to become manufacturing powerhouses. They both started with cheap, poor quality goods, and then created more sophisticated innovations – see, for example, the recent moon landing of a Chinese probe, the Chang’e 4.&nbsp;

The particular nature of China’s challenge is that its authoritarian system&nbsp;undermines the assumption that capitalism and democracy go hand in hand. A capitalist China is not necessarily a democratic China.&nbsp;

The war that never came&nbsp;

The most notable parallel between the rise of Japan in the 1980s, and China today, is the rhetoric used to describe them. While this includes references to seemingly unfair practices alluded to by Trump, it is more drastically articulated in predictions that conflict lies ahead.

This was expressed by Trump’s economic advisor, Peter Navarro, in The Coming China Wars, and followed George Friedman’s 1989 bestseller The Coming War with Japan, which predicted a shooting war between the US and Japan by the turn of the century.

In addition, both today’s China – and Japan three decades ago – have been held up as a cause of economic malaise in the Western world, with politicians promising to “get tough” with these nations. Yet this repeated rhetoric also demonstrates the perils of following such a simplistic vision.

For a start, the predicted Japanese-American conflict was based on the assumption that the end of the Cold War would see a divergence between Japanese and American interests and a dissolution of their alliance. However, rather than falling as the former Soviet communist states did, China went from strength to strength. This served to reaffirm the necessity of America’s alliance with Japan as a counter-balance in Asia.

It was the alliance that granted the US a degree of leverage over Japan, as illustrated by the 1985 Plaza Accord, which, in strengthening the yen, has often been held up as one of the causes of Japan’s subsequent economic slump. Repeating this with China is a far more challenging proposition for Washington.

The similarities in the rhetoric between these periods also illustrate the flaws in placing the blame of current Western economic malaise solely on Japan or China. The former’s economic rise of the 1980s came in the period of deindustrialisation throughout much of the Western world, bringing social dislocation which has not been fully resolved.

Problems and populism&nbsp;

The West’s failure to resolve the transition from manufacturing was amplified by poor global infrastructure and the failure to resolve the causes of the 2008 crisis, which played a significant role in the rise of populism. The impact was palpable in the “Rust Belt” states of the US, and the old factory towns of northern England, focal points for Trump and Brexit respectively.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-8sgiDmy3Dc" width="560"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

These had also been among the perceived losers from the rise of Japan and China, with the belief that success in those countries came at the expense of the old industrial heartlands of the West. This is a sentiment which populist movements have been keen to exploit. Yet while the ascendant economic powers may change, the problems remain unsolved.

So while the rhetoric of the Japanese-American economic rivalry has compelling parallels with the current Sino-US trade conflict, it would be a mistake to follow these too closely. The underlying domestic structural factors behind current problems should not be overlooked in favour of externalising the causes.

Even if Trump achieves a perceived “win” over China, as his predecessors did with Japan, it does little to remedy these problems. Instead, it merely furthers temptation to blame an external “other” when the next wave of problems emerges.&nbsp;

*(Tom Harper joined the University of Surrey as a doctoral researcher after completing a masters in international relations at the University of Sussex. He is currently researching the role imperialism plays in Chinese foreign policy.)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/trumps-trade-war-with-china-is-a-blame-game-that-has-been-played-before-against-japan-109923">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

*By- Tom Harper Nearly 30 years ago, Donald Trump complained on a US chat show about the trade practices of Japan. This was during Japan’s boom of the 1980s, which propelled it to become the world’s second-largest economy.

*By- Tom Harper Nearly 30 years ago, Donald Trump complained on a US chat show about the trade practices of Japan. This was during Japan’s boom of the 1980s, which propelled it to become the world’s second-largest economy. Now, China has taken that spot – and Trump is using the same rhetoric to attack it. China is the bugbear of Trumpian foreign policy. According to one Wall Street Journal commentator, the US president is seeking to unify the world against China just as Reagan sought to isolate the Soviet Union. Today’s China, as America’s primary economic challenger, can be seen as the latest incarnation of the East Asian model of authoritarian state capitalism. This was pioneered by Japan with its industrialisation and development during the 19th century. China’s current communist rulers see industrialisation as the “magic key” to Great Power status – made clear from the message behind the Made in China 2025 scheme which asserts: Since the beginning of industrial civilisation in the middle of the 18th century, it has been proven repeatedly by the rise and fall of world powers that without strong manufacturing, there is no national prosperity. Building internationally competitive manufacturing is the only way China can enhance its strength, protect state security and become a world power. Ironically, a variant of this approach has been praised by some British MPs, in their suggestion of the Singaporean model as an example for post-Brexit Britain to follow. But they overlook how such a model is one of state capitalism, rather than the free-market nirvana they perceive it to be. For it is state capitalism which enabled Japan and China to become manufacturing powerhouses. They both started with cheap, poor quality goods, and then created more sophisticated innovations – see, for example, the recent moon landing of a Chinese probe, the Chang’e 4. The particular nature of China’s challenge is that its authoritarian system undermines the assumption that capitalism and democracy go hand in hand. A capitalist China is not necessarily a democratic China. The war that never came The most notable parallel between the rise of Japan in the 1980s, and China today, is the rhetoric used to describe them. While this includes references to seemingly unfair practices alluded to by Trump, it is more drastically articulated in predictions that conflict lies ahead. This was expressed by Trump’s economic advisor, Peter Navarro, in The Coming China Wars, and followed George Friedman’s 1989 bestseller The Coming War with Japan, which predicted a shooting war between the US and Japan by the turn of the century. In addition, both today’s China – and Japan three decades ago – have been held up as a cause of economic malaise in the Western world, with politicians promising to “get tough” with these nations. Yet this repeated rhetoric also demonstrates the perils of following such a simplistic vision. For a start, the predicted Japanese-American conflict was based on the assumption that the end of the Cold War would see a divergence between Japanese and American interests and a dissolution of their alliance. However, rather than falling as the former Soviet communist states did, China went from strength to strength. This served to reaffirm the necessity of America’s alliance with Japan as a counter-balance in Asia. It was the alliance that granted the US a degree of leverage over Japan, as illustrated by the 1985 Plaza Accord, which, in strengthening the yen, has often been held up as one of the causes of Japan’s subsequent economic slump. Repeating this with China is a far more challenging proposition for Washington. The similarities in the rhetoric between these periods also illustrate the flaws in placing the blame of current Western economic malaise solely on Japan or China. The former’s economic rise of the 1980s came in the period of deindustrialisation throughout much of the Western world, bringing social dislocation which has not been fully resolved. Problems and populism The West’s failure to resolve the transition from manufacturing was amplified by poor global infrastructure and the failure to resolve the causes of the 2008 crisis, which played a significant role in the rise of populism. The impact was palpable in the “Rust Belt” states of the US, and the old factory towns of northern England, focal points for Trump and Brexit respectively. × These had also been among the perceived losers from the rise of Japan and China, with the belief that success in those countries came at the expense of the old industrial heartlands of the West. This is a sentiment which populist movements have been keen to exploit. Yet while the ascendant economic powers may change, the problems remain unsolved. So while the rhetoric of the Japanese-American economic rivalry has compelling parallels with the current Sino-US trade conflict, it would be a mistake to follow these too closely. The underlying domestic structural factors behind current problems should not be overlooked in favour of externalising the causes. Even if Trump achieves a perceived “win” over China, as his predecessors did with Japan, it does little to remedy these problems. Instead, it merely furthers temptation to blame an external “other” when the next wave of problems emerges. *(Tom Harper joined the University of Surrey as a doctoral researcher after completing a masters in international relations at the University of Sussex. He is currently researching the role imperialism plays in Chinese foreign policy.) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Trump's trade war with China is a blame game that has been played before – against Japan

Qatar&nbsp;coach Felix Sanchez shrugged off comparisons to Pep Guardiola on Friday after masterminding a breathtaking <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-host-qatar-stun-japan-in-asian-cup-final-194478">Asian Cup victory</a> just three years before the 2022 World Cup on home turf.

Almoez Ali scored a tournament-record nine goals and the Maroons conceded only once as they swept to the first continental title in their history, beating Japan 3-1 in the final.

Ali said he saw shades of Manchester City's Guardiola in Sanchez, who coached Barcelona's youth players before joining&nbsp;Qatar's national academy in 2006 and working his way through the ranks.

"I've been working with him for nine years, he's highly intelligent," said the 21-year-old striker. "I compare him to Guardiola because he has the same ideas."

But Sanchez told AFP that Ali only made the comment "because I'm there (listening) and he wants to keep playing".

"I've worked with Almoez for a very long time and we have good relationship," the Spaniard said.

"He's very easy to coach because he's a hard worker and he deserves everything that has happened to him in this tournament."

Qatar&nbsp;upset former champions Saudi Arabia, Iraq and South Korea on their march to the final, but those weren't the only challenges they faced.

The Qataris were pelted with shoes and plastic bottles by a hostile home crowd as they beat the United Arab Emirates 4-0 in the semi-finals.

The UAE then lodged a protest over the eligibility of Ali and defender Bassam Al-Rawi which was dismissed just hours before the final.

Sanchez insisted he had "no concerns" about the eligibility row and also dismissed speculation that notoriously trigger-happy&nbsp;Qatar&nbsp;might replace him with a big-name coach before the World Cup.

"I'm very proud to be the&nbsp;Qatar&nbsp;national team coach. Today we made history. I'm only thinking about today. It's a great day for me and the players and the country," Sanchez said.

"There's always news about this person and that person but we're focused on our work and we have the full support of the QFA.

"So no concerns about the World Cup, it's in 2022 and you don't even know what's going to happen in two weeks."

Qatar coach Felix Sanchez shrugged off comparisons to Pep Guardiola on Friday after masterminding a breathtaking Asian Cup victory just three years before the 2022 World Cup on home turf.

Qatar coach Felix Sanchez shrugged off comparisons to Pep Guardiola on Friday after masterminding a breathtaking Asian Cup victory just three years before the 2022 World Cup on home turf. Almoez Ali scored a tournament-record nine goals and the Maroons conceded only once as they swept to the first continental title in their history, beating Japan 3-1 in the final. Ali said he saw shades of Manchester City's Guardiola in Sanchez, who coached Barcelona's youth players before joining Qatar's national academy in 2006 and working his way through the ranks. "I've been working with him for nine years, he's highly intelligent," said the 21-year-old striker. "I compare him to Guardiola because he has the same ideas." But Sanchez told AFP that Ali only made the comment "because I'm there (listening) and he wants to keep playing". "I've worked with Almoez for a very long time and we have good relationship," the Spaniard said. "He's very easy to coach because he's a hard worker and he deserves everything that has happened to him in this tournament." Qatar upset former champions Saudi Arabia, Iraq and South Korea on their march to the final, but those weren't the only challenges they faced. The Qataris were pelted with shoes and plastic bottles by a hostile home crowd as they beat the United Arab Emirates 4-0 in the semi-finals. The UAE then lodged a protest over the eligibility of Ali and defender Bassam Al-Rawi which was dismissed just hours before the final. Sanchez insisted he had "no concerns" about the eligibility row and also dismissed speculation that notoriously trigger-happy Qatar might replace him with a big-name coach before the World Cup. "I'm very proud to be the Qatar national team coach. Today we made history. I'm only thinking about today. It's a great day for me and the players and the country," Sanchez said. "There's always news about this person and that person but we're focused on our work and we have the full support of the QFA. "So no concerns about the World Cup, it's in 2022 and you don't even know what's going to happen in two weeks."

He's our Guardiola: Qatar coach Felix Sanchez hailed after stunning Asian win

Record-breaker Almoez Ali stars in Qatar's historic win in Asian Cup final

By Emil Kirchner

Two new landmark agreements between the EU and Japan come into effect on February 1, 2019: the Economic Partnership Agreement and the Strategic Partnership Agreement. The economic agreement is the largest bilateral trade deal ever made by the EU in terms of market size and will be the largest zone of free trade created in history.

It drastically reduces tariffs between the EU and Japan, paving the way for simpler and faster trade between the two, and therefore an increase in volume. The strategic partnership commits to security cooperation on issues like nuclear proliferation, regional security, international terrorism and organised crime, cyber-security, and energy and climate security.

As Han Dorussen and I explain in our new book EU-Japan Security Cooperation: Trends and Prospects, these agreements come at a crucial time in the development of international trade and global governance. Brexit has the UK trying to redefine its relationship with the EU and potentially forge its own trade policies with the rest of the world.

Perhaps more importantly, the new EU-Japan agreements stand in direct contrast to Donald Trump’s decision to introduce an “America First” trade policy. Since being elected president in 2016, Trump has emphasised bilateral deals, erected trade barriers and undermined international institutions like the World Trade Organisation. Indeed, it was the anticipation of Trump’s nationalist policies, and especially his withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, that gave renewed impetus to the EU and Japan’s lingering negotiations of the two agreements. Large trade agreements take a notoriously long time to negotiate and talks between the EU and Japan first began in 2013.

Japan and the EU – and Germany in particular – are export-driven economies and advocates of open trade. The protectionist stance of President Trump left them feeling vulnerable. So the new economic agreement is seen as strongly reaffirming the rules-based international trading system.

The concessions Japan offered to the EU on agricultural products are a blow to US farmers, who for a long time had been hoping to pry open this sealed market. The EU-Japan deal will emphasise Japan’s commitment to free trade and give further thrust to the newly-formed multilateral trade agreement known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which rose from the ashes of the TPP after the US withdrawal.

Opening up trade

The EU-Japan economic agreement will ultimately remove 97 per cent of the tariffs that Japan applies to European goods and 99 per cent of those applied by the EU. It is estimated that EU companies will save €1 billion a year in duties which they currently pay when exporting to Japan. A number of longstanding regulatory barriers, for example on car exports, will also be removed.

The agreement will open up the Japanese market of 127m consumers to key EU agricultural products and increase EU export opportunities in many other sectors such as financial services. As Japan will scrap duties on agricultural products, the Europeans stand to gain the most from exports of consumer products, such as cheese, pork, and wines.

Japan’s main interest in a trade deal with Europe was to increase its auto industry exports. The EU currently imposes a 10 per cent tariff on Japanese cars. Under the agreement, it will lower this to zero over eight years. 
 
Although cars and auto components account for about a fifth of Japan’s exports to Europe, Japanese car makers’ share of the European market is only about 10 per cent – much lower than in the US or Asia.

Besides these improvements, the economic agreement will strengthen cooperation between Europe and Japan in a range of areas. It will reaffirm their shared commitment to sustainable development and include for the first time a specific commitment to the Paris climate agreement.

EU firms already export more than €58 billion in goods and €28 billion in services to Japan every year. This will grow, and the strategic partnership will lead to the further deepening of EU-Japan relations and engagement across a wide range of global, regional and bilateral thematic issues. It reaffirms the shared values and common principles that form the basis of EU-Japan relations, including human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

Together, the EU and Japan’s economies account for about a third of global GDP. The new trade agreement should, therefore, serve to bolster the global economy, as well as marking a strong commitment to multilateralism by two of the world’s biggest economies.

 
(Emil Kirchner is Emeritus Professor, Department of Government, University of Essex)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/eu-japan-trade-deal-comes-into-force-to-create-worlds-biggest-trade-zone-110729">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

By Emil Kirchner Two new landmark agreements between the EU and Japan come into effect on February 1, 2019: the Economic Partnership Agreement and the Strategic Partnership Agreement.

By Emil Kirchner Two new landmark agreements between the EU and Japan come into effect on February 1, 2019: the Economic Partnership Agreement and the Strategic Partnership Agreement. The economic agreement is the largest bilateral trade deal ever made by the EU in terms of market size and will be the largest zone of free trade created in history. It drastically reduces tariffs between the EU and Japan, paving the way for simpler and faster trade between the two, and therefore an increase in volume. The strategic partnership commits to security cooperation on issues like nuclear proliferation, regional security, international terrorism and organised crime, cyber-security, and energy and climate security. As Han Dorussen and I explain in our new book EU-Japan Security Cooperation: Trends and Prospects, these agreements come at a crucial time in the development of international trade and global governance. Brexit has the UK trying to redefine its relationship with the EU and potentially forge its own trade policies with the rest of the world. Perhaps more importantly, the new EU-Japan agreements stand in direct contrast to Donald Trump’s decision to introduce an “America First” trade policy. Since being elected president in 2016, Trump has emphasised bilateral deals, erected trade barriers and undermined international institutions like the World Trade Organisation. Indeed, it was the anticipation of Trump’s nationalist policies, and especially his withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, that gave renewed impetus to the EU and Japan’s lingering negotiations of the two agreements. Large trade agreements take a notoriously long time to negotiate and talks between the EU and Japan first began in 2013. Japan and the EU – and Germany in particular – are export-driven economies and advocates of open trade. The protectionist stance of President Trump left them feeling vulnerable. So the new economic agreement is seen as strongly reaffirming the rules-based international trading system. The concessions Japan offered to the EU on agricultural products are a blow to US farmers, who for a long time had been hoping to pry open this sealed market. The EU-Japan deal will emphasise Japan’s commitment to free trade and give further thrust to the newly-formed multilateral trade agreement known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which rose from the ashes of the TPP after the US withdrawal. Opening up trade The EU-Japan economic agreement will ultimately remove 97 per cent of the tariffs that Japan applies to European goods and 99 per cent of those applied by the EU. It is estimated that EU companies will save €1 billion a year in duties which they currently pay when exporting to Japan. A number of longstanding regulatory barriers, for example on car exports, will also be removed. The agreement will open up the Japanese market of 127m consumers to key EU agricultural products and increase EU export opportunities in many other sectors such as financial services. As Japan will scrap duties on agricultural products, the Europeans stand to gain the most from exports of consumer products, such as cheese, pork, and wines. Japan’s main interest in a trade deal with Europe was to increase its auto industry exports. The EU currently imposes a 10 per cent tariff on Japanese cars. Under the agreement, it will lower this to zero over eight years. Although cars and auto components account for about a fifth of Japan’s exports to Europe, Japanese car makers’ share of the European market is only about 10 per cent – much lower than in the US or Asia. Besides these improvements, the economic agreement will strengthen cooperation between Europe and Japan in a range of areas. It will reaffirm their shared commitment to sustainable development and include for the first time a specific commitment to the Paris climate agreement. EU firms already export more than €58 billion in goods and €28 billion in services to Japan every year. This will grow, and the strategic partnership will lead to the further deepening of EU-Japan relations and engagement across a wide range of global, regional and bilateral thematic issues. It reaffirms the shared values and common principles that form the basis of EU-Japan relations, including human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Together, the EU and Japan’s economies account for about a third of global GDP. The new trade agreement should, therefore, serve to bolster the global economy, as well as marking a strong commitment to multilateralism by two of the world’s biggest economies. (Emil Kirchner is Emeritus Professor, Department of Government, University of Essex) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

EU-Japan trade deal comes into force to create the world’s biggest trade zone

A Japanese mayor who came under fire after telling his subordinate to burn down a building in the way of a road construction project offered to resign on Friday.

Fusaho Izumi, from Akashi city near Kobe in western Japan, was recorded ranting at a senior city official who was struggling to evict tenants and the owner of the building, as he sought to expand an existing road.

"Are you stupid?" he said in the tirade recorded in June 2017.

"Make them evict! You go and start a fire today and get arrested! Burn it! No joke! Go and destroy the building now!"

The recording was released to the local media this week. It immediately made national headlines and was replayed time and time again on television shows.

On Friday, Izumi told a nationally televised news conference his actions "must not be tolerated."

"After all the news reports, the city hall has received many calls. This is interrupting the city's operations. If the city hall cannot operate smoothly, it will cause trouble for local citizens," he said.

"It's clear that I lacked quality as a leader," he admitted.

A Japanese mayor who came under fire after telling his subordinate to burn down a building in the way of a road construction project offered to resign on Friday.

A Japanese mayor who came under fire after telling his subordinate to burn down a building in the way of a road construction project offered to resign on Friday. Fusaho Izumi, from Akashi city near Kobe in western Japan, was recorded ranting at a senior city official who was struggling to evict tenants and the owner of the building, as he sought to expand an existing road. "Are you stupid?" he said in the tirade recorded in June 2017. "Make them evict! You go and start a fire today and get arrested! Burn it! No joke! Go and destroy the building now!" The recording was released to the local media this week. It immediately made national headlines and was replayed time and time again on television shows. On Friday, Izumi told a nationally televised news conference his actions "must not be tolerated." "After all the news reports, the city hall has received many calls. This is interrupting the city's operations. If the city hall cannot operate smoothly, it will cause trouble for local citizens," he said. "It's clear that I lacked quality as a leader," he admitted.

Under-fire Japan mayor Fusaho Izumi resigns after ordering arson

At 93, Kim Bok-dong died as she had lived for many years: at the heart of the controversy over Japan's use of forced labour in its wartime brothels.

Kim, who died on Monday at a hospital in the South Korean capital of Seoul, was a fixture at weekly protests outside the Japanese embassy calling for a sincere apology and compensation.

She remained angry at Japan until the end, her supporters said.

"She suddenly opened her eyes yesterday and told a long story ... I couldn't decipher everything but one thing I could hear clearly was that we had to fight until the end," said Yoon Mee-hyang, who leads an advocate group for the women.

"Then she expressed strong anger toward Japan as she continued talking, before she regained her tranquillity," Yoon told Reuters.

Kim was among the two dozen known surviving South Korean "comfort women", a Japanese euphemism for women who were forced into prostitution and sexually abused at Japanese military brothels before and during World War Two.

Activists say they plan to march alongside Kim's casket past Japan's embassy on Friday, a demonstration that could further strain ties between Seoul and Tokyo.

The two Asian neighbours share a bitter history stemming from Japan's 1910-45 colonisation of the Korean peninsula.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said during his visit to Kim's funeral home on Tuesday it was "heartbreaking" that victims die without a resolution of the issue.

In a separate post on Facebook, Moon said Kim revealed a "hidden history" by becoming one of the first victims to come forward in 1992.

Kim was 14 when she was first sent to a military brothel, and forced to provide sex for Japanese soldiers also in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, according to Yoon.

"SINCERE APOLOGY"

Articulate and charismatic, Kim was a vocal critic of a 2015 deal in which Tokyo apologised to the victims and provided one billion yen ($9.1 million) to a fund in Seoul to help them.

Kim said it was not sincere because some Japanese leaders continued to deny the women were forced to work in brothels.

"We won't accept it even if Japan gives 10 billion yen. It's not about money. They're still saying we went there because we wanted to," Kim told a parliamentary session in September 2016.

Moon's government has said it will not seek to renegotiate the 2015 deal. Last year it vowed to shut down the Japan-sponsored fund and pursue a more "victim-oriented" approach.

Japan says the claims have been settled by past agreements and apologies, and that the continued dispute may threaten relations between the two countries.

Only 23 registered South Korean survivors are still alive, highlighting a sense of urgency behind efforts by the women to receive a formal apology and legal compensation from Japan while their voices can still be heard.

Just hours before Kim passed away, a fellow victim only identifiable by her surname Lee had died, Yoon said.

Kim's defence of victims' rights earned the respect of one South Korean diplomat involved in their case.

"She was clever and unwavering under any circumstances," said the diplomat who did not want to be named.

"All she wanted was genuine atonement, and we fully respected it and felt sorry even when she wasn't happy with our work."

At 93, Kim Bok-dong died as she had lived for many years: at the heart of the controversy over Japan's use of forced labour in its wartime brothels. Kim, who died on Monday at a hospital in the South Korean capital of Seoul, was a fixture at weekly protests outside the Japanese embassy calling for a sincere apology and compensation.

At 93, Kim Bok-dong died as she had lived for many years: at the heart of the controversy over Japan's use of forced labour in its wartime brothels. Kim, who died on Monday at a hospital in the South Korean capital of Seoul, was a fixture at weekly protests outside the Japanese embassy calling for a sincere apology and compensation. She remained angry at Japan until the end, her supporters said. "She suddenly opened her eyes yesterday and told a long story ... I couldn't decipher everything but one thing I could hear clearly was that we had to fight until the end," said Yoon Mee-hyang, who leads an advocate group for the women. "Then she expressed strong anger toward Japan as she continued talking, before she regained her tranquillity," Yoon told Reuters. Kim was among the two dozen known surviving South Korean "comfort women", a Japanese euphemism for women who were forced into prostitution and sexually abused at Japanese military brothels before and during World War Two. Activists say they plan to march alongside Kim's casket past Japan's embassy on Friday, a demonstration that could further strain ties between Seoul and Tokyo. The two Asian neighbours share a bitter history stemming from Japan's 1910-45 colonisation of the Korean peninsula. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said during his visit to Kim's funeral home on Tuesday it was "heartbreaking" that victims die without a resolution of the issue. In a separate post on Facebook, Moon said Kim revealed a "hidden history" by becoming one of the first victims to come forward in 1992. Kim was 14 when she was first sent to a military brothel, and forced to provide sex for Japanese soldiers also in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, according to Yoon. "SINCERE APOLOGY" Articulate and charismatic, Kim was a vocal critic of a 2015 deal in which Tokyo apologised to the victims and provided one billion yen ($9.1 million) to a fund in Seoul to help them. Kim said it was not sincere because some Japanese leaders continued to deny the women were forced to work in brothels. "We won't accept it even if Japan gives 10 billion yen. It's not about money. They're still saying we went there because we wanted to," Kim told a parliamentary session in September 2016. Moon's government has said it will not seek to renegotiate the 2015 deal. Last year it vowed to shut down the Japan-sponsored fund and pursue a more "victim-oriented" approach. Japan says the claims have been settled by past agreements and apologies, and that the continued dispute may threaten relations between the two countries. Only 23 registered South Korean survivors are still alive, highlighting a sense of urgency behind efforts by the women to receive a formal apology and legal compensation from Japan while their voices can still be heard. Just hours before Kim passed away, a fellow victim only identifiable by her surname Lee had died, Yoon said. Kim's defence of victims' rights earned the respect of one South Korean diplomat involved in their case. "She was clever and unwavering under any circumstances," said the diplomat who did not want to be named. "All she wanted was genuine atonement, and we fully respected it and felt sorry even when she wasn't happy with our work."

'Fight until the end': South Korean 'comfort women' campaigner dies at 93

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz on Monday decided to step down from his responsibility after nearly eight years following his team's 3-0 loss to Japan in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup.&nbsp;

"I think the simplest thing to do is to copy the old song: 'and now, the end is here'," the 65-year-old Portuguese said.

"I'm happy and proud to say I did it my way," he concluded.

The former Real Madrid coach had been hoping to deliver Iran's first continental title since 1976 in the United Arab Emirates but Japan scored three second-half goals to send them crashing out of the tournament.&nbsp;

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz on Monday decided to step down from his responsibility after nearly eight years following his team's 3-0 loss to Japan in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup.

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz on Monday decided to step down from his responsibility after nearly eight years following his team's 3-0 loss to Japan in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup. "I think the simplest thing to do is to copy the old song: 'and now, the end is here'," the 65-year-old Portuguese said. "I'm happy and proud to say I did it my way," he concluded. The former Real Madrid coach had been hoping to deliver Iran's first continental title since 1976 in the United Arab Emirates but Japan scored three second-half goals to send them crashing out of the tournament.

Asian Cup: Carlos Queiroz steps down as Iran coach after semi-final defeat

Japan on Monday defeated Iran 3-0 to reach the Asian Cup final, where they will be seeking their fifth title.

Yuya Osako scored twice in the second half, including a VAR-assisted penalty, and Genki Haraguchi netted in injury time to complete an emphatic win.

Japan will play either Qatar or hosts the United Arab Emirates in Friday's final in Abu Dhabi.

Japan on Monday defeated Iran 3-0 to reach the Asian Cup final, where they will be seeking their fifth title. Yuya Osako scored twice in the second half, including a VAR-assisted penalty, and Genki Haraguchi netted in injury time to complete an emphatic win.

Japan on Monday defeated Iran 3-0 to reach the Asian Cup final, where they will be seeking their fifth title. Yuya Osako scored twice in the second half, including a VAR-assisted penalty, and Genki Haraguchi netted in injury time to complete an emphatic win. Japan will play either Qatar or hosts the United Arab Emirates in Friday's final in Abu Dhabi.

Japan defeat Iran to reach Asian Cup final, eye fifth title

It was an agonising two hours and 27 minutes but Japanese tennis fans burst into tears and shouts of joy Saturday as <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/naomi-osaka-beats-petra-kvitova-to-win-australian-open-192967">Naomi Osaka sealed her second straight Grand Slam</a>.&nbsp;

Supporters in a packed Tokyo bar had a rollercoaster ride watching the action from the Australian Open final as their heroine Osaka contrived to give up three Championship points in the second set.

But as Osaka claimed victory and sunk to her knees in triumph and disbelief, fans let out the pent-up emotion following a thrilling see-saw <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/petra-kvitova-feels-a-winner-despite-australian-open-pain-193041">battle with eighth seed Petra Kvitova</a> from the Czech Republic.

They punched the air, clapped hands and gave each other hugs and high fives as shouts of joy rang around the B ONE bar in upmarket Ginza, replacing earlier chants of "Naomi! Naomi! Naomi!"&nbsp;

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe led his nation's congratulations, hailing an "impressive victory in a very tight game".

"I'm so proud of the birth of the new world queen," tweeted Abe.

In securing victory in Melbourne after her stunning win over Serena Williams in the US Open last year, Osaka also clinched the world number-one spot, the first Asian to do so.

Her US Open victory was the first by a Japanese player and she is now the youngest woman to win back-to-back majors since Martina Hingis in 1998 and the youngest number one since Caroline Wozniacki in 2010.

With her gutsy performance in Melbourne backing up her breakthrough in New York, Osaka confirmed herself as the new star in the women's game and fans were expecting her to kick on from here.

"She can win much, much more! I want her to win on grass... I want her to win at Wimbledon!" Masako Takeda said at the bar as she wiped away tears of joy.

Another fan, Aki Tani, praised Osaka for being "humble but playing boldly" on court.

"I'm so happy that we can tell she has grown so much over the past two years!" she said.

Nozomi Hirabayashi noted it was "unthinkable before" that a Japanese player could become the world's best.

"I'm so proud," he said. "I want her to win the next Grand Slam as she is very mentally strong." News flashes screamed across Japanese networks after the nail-biting match.

The Sankei newspaper tweeted: "She scored a remarkable win that makes us see 'the Era of Naomi' coming up." Osaka has a Japanese mother, a Haitian father and was raised in the United States.

She has dual Japanese-American citizenship and often replies to questions from Japan's media in English, apologising for not knowing the appropriate word when she speaks Japanese.

It was an agonising two hours and 27 minutes but Japanese tennis fans burst into tears and shouts of joy Saturday as Naomi Osaka sealed her second straight Grand Slam.

It was an agonising two hours and 27 minutes but Japanese tennis fans burst into tears and shouts of joy Saturday as Naomi Osaka sealed her second straight Grand Slam. Supporters in a packed Tokyo bar had a rollercoaster ride watching the action from the Australian Open final as their heroine Osaka contrived to give up three Championship points in the second set. But as Osaka claimed victory and sunk to her knees in triumph and disbelief, fans let out the pent-up emotion following a thrilling see-saw battle with eighth seed Petra Kvitova from the Czech Republic. They punched the air, clapped hands and gave each other hugs and high fives as shouts of joy rang around the B ONE bar in upmarket Ginza, replacing earlier chants of "Naomi! Naomi! Naomi!" Prime Minister Shinzo Abe led his nation's congratulations, hailing an "impressive victory in a very tight game". "I'm so proud of the birth of the new world queen," tweeted Abe. In securing victory in Melbourne after her stunning win over Serena Williams in the US Open last year, Osaka also clinched the world number-one spot, the first Asian to do so. Her US Open victory was the first by a Japanese player and she is now the youngest woman to win back-to-back majors since Martina Hingis in 1998 and the youngest number one since Caroline Wozniacki in 2010. With her gutsy performance in Melbourne backing up her breakthrough in New York, Osaka confirmed herself as the new star in the women's game and fans were expecting her to kick on from here. "She can win much, much more! I want her to win on grass... I want her to win at Wimbledon!" Masako Takeda said at the bar as she wiped away tears of joy. Another fan, Aki Tani, praised Osaka for being "humble but playing boldly" on court. "I'm so happy that we can tell she has grown so much over the past two years!" she said. Nozomi Hirabayashi noted it was "unthinkable before" that a Japanese player could become the world's best. "I'm so proud," he said. "I want her to win the next Grand Slam as she is very mentally strong." News flashes screamed across Japanese networks after the nail-biting match. The Sankei newspaper tweeted: "She scored a remarkable win that makes us see 'the Era of Naomi' coming up." Osaka has a Japanese mother, a Haitian father and was raised in the United States. She has dual Japanese-American citizenship and often replies to questions from Japan's media in English, apologising for not knowing the appropriate word when she speaks Japanese.

Australian Open: Japan tennis fans hail 'new Queen' Naomi Osaka

japan

Japan, News on Japan, stories on Japan, articles on Japan, Japan stories at Wion, Japan news, Japan latest news