[hr]

[threecol_two]

Giant panda at Ueno Zoo shows signs of pregnancy

I’m still emotionally recovering from the tragic death of Ueno Zoo’s newborn panda cub last year, but it looks like good news may be on the way. Despite the complete apathy pandas seem to show towards mating, the zoo’s giant panda, Shin Shin, may be exhibiting signs of pregnancy. I’m cautiously optimistic about the situation, but suspected panda pregnancies are often false positives. I’m not ready to have my heart broken again :( [via News On Japan]

[/threecol_two] [threecol_one_last]

Sony’s Bread and Butter? It’s Not Electronics: Sony is probably most famous for its TVs, computers, and game consoles with exciting launch titles, but the company has actually lost billions of dollars making those products over the years. Investors have recently been urging the Japanese company to stop with electronics altogether and focus on its more profitable businesses: insurance and entertainment. Like a good neighbor, Sony is there.

Japan and South Korea Bar U.S. Wheat Imports: People have been wary of genetically modified organisms—or GMOs, for short—since the technology was introduced in the 20^th century. After an unexpected spread of a GMO wheat strain in the US, Japan and other countries are turning away wheat from the US. I’m not sure that anybody will really notice since so little bread in Japan seems to have any actual wheat in it.

[/threecol_one_last]

[hr]

[threecol_one]

Endangered whale meat imported from Iceland used for Japan dog treats: NGOs: People tend to single out Japan as whale enemy number 1, but it turns out that Japan is one of many countries around the world that still hunts whale. Case in point, environmental activists revealed earlier this week that high-end Japanese dog treats are made from whale . . . from Iceland. Trust me, you do not want to know what’s in the cat treats. [via Reddit]

Suntory Not Selling a Drop of Liquor Operations: Japanese business giant Suntory recently got the go ahead to take one part of its business, Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd., public, but is keeping its liquor operation private. Suntory whisky has grown enormously popular around the world in recent years, so it’s understandable that Suntory wants to keep a business that happens 12-25 years at a time away from the fleeting whims of the market.

[/threecol_one] [threecol_two_last]

Japanese politicians are time lords! Government considers speeding time up by two hours

People go to great lengths to gain any kind of advantage on the stock market, but at some point it becomes absurd. One of those absurd proposals comes from the Governor of Tokyo, who is suggesting that Japan move its standard time ahead by two hours. While it might just seem like daylight saving time on crack, this plan would make Japan’s financial markets the first to open in the world. Of course, once Japan assembles its army of girls leaping through time, it will all be moot.

[/threecol_two_last]

[hr]

Header photo by Ricky Brigante

[hr]

[threecol_two]

Retractable Tsunami Breaker Construction and First Test Underway off Coast of Wakayama: People in Japan are always working on technology to mitigate the effects of earthquakes and tsunami, but it’s become a much more serious endeavor since the horrific 3/11 disaster. Last month, a brand new, retractable barrier was built and tested out. I have no doubt that these barriers have benefited from years of experience with Japan’s retractable bidet technology.[/threecol_two] [threecol_one_last] Japan’s AV biz to thrive under TPP : A lot of the times, trade agreements between countries have unexpected consequences. It looks like for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement currently being worked on, one of the unforeseen results could be more direct competition between US and Japanese pornography. Finally, the free market can decide which country’s smut reigns supreme.

Japan’s 50 Richest: Without a doubt, Japan has its share of millionaires and billionaires, as proven by Forbes’ “50 Richest” list. UNIQLO tycoon Tadashi Yanai tops the list for yet another year, proving that big money isn’t in oil, finance, or tech: it’s in casual, designer clothing. [via News On Japan][/threecol_one_last]

[hr]

[threecol_one]North Korea ‘moves mid-range missile’: As Kim Jong-un gears up North Korea’s military for another round of threats and scare tactics, Japan and other Asian countries are hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. Kim is still only in his second year as leader of the DPRK, so here’s hoping that this is just his terrible twos.

Campaigns on Multiple Fronts Against Whale Hunting: Whaling remains a hot button issue internationally as the U.N.’s International Court of Justice in the Hague hears a case against Japan about whale hunting. While it’s doubtful that anything will be decided for certain (or that anything will change at all), it’s still the most high-level court in which the issue has ever been discussed.[/threecol_one] [threecol_two_last]

Have Japan’s Anti-Smoking Laws Gone Too Far? Smokers Begin to Feel the Pressure: Japan has long been known as a smoker’s paradise, but the Japanese attitude towards smoking has been changing over the years. Now, smokers are beginning to feel squeezed out, almost discriminated. My advice: take solace in knowing that no matter how stigmatized, unhealthy, and polluting smoking is, it still makes you look cool. Joe Camel told me so![/threecol_two_last]

[hr]