Japan News

Thai Floods Impact May Last Longer than Japan’s Disaster

The impact from Thailand floods on Asia’s production networks may last longer and be deeper than that from Japan’s March earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis, a senior Asian Development Bank official said on Tuesday. Iwan Azis, head of ADB’s Office …

Japan OKs 3rd Extra Budget for Tsunami Recovery

Japan has approved a 12 trillion yen ($156 billion) extra budget to fund reconstruction after the March 11 disasters and nuclear crisis. The upper house president Kenji Hirata says the third supplementary budget for the fiscal year was approved Monday. …

Aerial View of Japan Tsunami Zone Shows Little Rebuilding

From 1,000 feet (300 meters) up, the view of the tsunami-battered Japanese seaside communities shows striking progress: much of the rubble, crumpled cars and other debris is gone. Yet seen from a helicopter Friday carrying Associated Press journalists, there are …

5.2 Quake Hits Japan’s Fukushima Prefecture

A moderate earthquake has shaken the northeastern Japanese prefecture where the much more massive earthquake and tsunami touched off the worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl earlier this year. The 5.2-magnitude quake struck Fukushima Prefecture overnight just after 2 a.m. local …

Japan Tsunami Debris Floating Toward Hawaii

Up to 20 million tons of tsunami debris floating from Japan could arrive on Hawaii’s shores by early 2013, before reaching the West Coast, according to estimates by University of Hawaii scientists. A Russian training ship spotted the junk – …

Japan Cabinet OKs $158B Extra Budget for Tsunami

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s Cabinet on Friday approved a 12.1 trillion yen ($158 billion) extra budget to help fund the reconstruction of Japan’s tsunami-battered northeast. The supplementary budget for the year through March approved Friday also earmarks about 2 trillion …

NRC to Use Safety Steps Learned from Fukushima

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will immediately begin implementing seven safety recommendations from an agency task force that developed them after studying Japan’s Fukushima reactor disaster, the NRC said on Thursday. The seven recommendations are among 12 presented by the …

Toyota’s Car Production Back at Pre-Tsunami Levels

Toyota’s global vehicle production has recovered to pre-tsunami levels as of last month, Japan’s top automaker said Thursday. The March 11 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan disrupted production at Toyota Motor Corp. and other automakers because parts suppliers in …

Strong Quake Rocks Northeast Japan

A strong earthquake has rocked northeastern Japan, which is still recovering from the devastating tsunami six months ago. The quake Thursday had a preliminary magnitude of 5.6. There were no immediate reports of damage and no tsunami warning was issued. …

Typhoon Passes Japan Tsunami Zone, Heads North

A powerful typhoon that left at least 13 people dead or missing, paralyzed commuter trains and dumped rain on tsunami-ravaged northeastern Japan was headed to the major northern island of Hokkaido on Thursday. Typhoon Roke caused no immediate problems other …