Japanese Politics & Culture

Japan’s job prospects worsened at the fastest pace in 17 years in January as the deepening recession prompted companies to cut production and fire workers. (Bloomberg)

A huge number of frogs were found dead last fall in a pond in Japan due to infection with ranavirus, the first confirmed case in Japan of the killer virus infecting amphibians, a researcher said Friday. (AP)

It turns out that North Korea and the global financial crisis were not the only topics on Prime Minister Taro Aso’s mind during summit talks Tuesday in Washington with President Barack Obama. He also tried to sell the U.S. leader on Shinkansen technology; Obama’s reaction to the pitch was also keenly awaited back in Japan. (Asahi)

Due to a strong yen and the global economic downturn, is Japan receiving fewer tourists, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). The number of tourists from overseas during January dropped by 18.4 percent from the previous year to 580,800, the sixth consecutive monthly decrease year-on-year. (Mainichi)

A court ordered the Japanese government to pay 5.6 billion yen ($57.7 million) to compensate people whose lives are disrupted by the noise of warplanes at a U.S. air base on the southern island of Okinawa, the Defense Ministry said. (AP)

“In the old days,” laments the retired mobster, with a broad smile, slicked hair and a heavily tattooed body, “the yakuza served a useful purpose in society to solve civil disputes and keep the streets clean.” He draws on his cigarette, the stub of an amputated little finger visible in his beefy hand. “Now”, he goes on, “it has lost its samurai spirit to moneymaking.” (The Economist)

Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka admits he badly needs to shape up if he is to help defending champions Japan win a second straight World Baseball Classic (WBC) title next month. (AFP)

Fired engine plant worker Kouichirou Fukudome shouts slogans with dozens of protesters outside truck maker Isuzu’s towering headquarters, all demanding they get their jobs back. (Japan Times)

Japan won the Nordic combined team event Thursday at the Nordic skiing world championships, while the United States withdrew after one jumper was disqualified for losing his bib. Advertisement Quantcast Norihito Kobayashi defeated Germany’s Tino Edelmann in a sprint to the finish to give Japan its first medal of the championships. Japan finished the 20-kilometer relay in 48 minutes, 32.3 seconds. Germany had the same time, with Norway 3.6 seconds back in third. (Honolulu Advertiser)

Anybody who doubts that the global economy is facing its most serious downturn since the 1930s should take a look at the latest trade figures from Japan. Exports last month were 46 per cent lower than they were a year ago – a phenomenal drop for a country that is so heavily dependent on sales of its industrial products overseas. (The Age)