Japan falls into recession

Japan – the world's third largest economy – has fallen into recession, hit by sluggish exports to China.

Japan’s Retail Sales Fall in October as Car Sales Drop

Japan’s retail sales fell in October by the most in 11 months as consumers purchased fewer cars and televisions, adding pressure on the government to stimulate an economy that may be entering a recession.

China to hold trade talks with Japan, South Korea

(Reuters) - China will hold ministerial talks on a free trade area (FTA) with Japan and South Korea at an East Asia Summit in Cambodia, a Chinese government spokesman said on Monday, in a step towards engagement with Japan after recent diplomatic tension.

Asia stocks fall as talks on US budget deal stall

BANGKOK (AP) — Asian stocks tumbled Thursday as hopes began to fade for a quick agreement among U.S. leaders to avoid a "fiscal cliff" that could derail the world's biggest economy.

Japan PM Noda Seeks Stimulus Package

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda ordered his Cabinet to draft an economic stimulus package Wednesday, in a move likely to further antagonize the opposition, who see the measure as a time-buying strategy by Mr. Noda to avert an early snap election.

Japan hints at South Korean bond buying freeze

Japan hinted Friday it could freeze its plan to buy South Korean government bonds as a deepening diplomatic rift over disputed islands threatened to spill over into economic ties.

Japan Growth May Slow to Half Previous Pace as Exports Wane

Japan’s economy probably grew last quarter at half the pace of the previous three months, a slowdown analysts predict is deepening as Europe’s debt crisis and the yen’s gains erode exports.

Japan Fukushima probe urges new disaster prevention steps, mindset

TOKYO (Reuters) - A government-appointed inquiry into Japan's Fukushima nuclear crisis raised doubts on Monday about whether other atomic plants were prepared for massive disasters, and delivered a damning assessment of regulators and the station's operator.

Japan's government could run out of cash by October

(Reuters) - Japan's government could run out of money by the end of October, halting all state spending including salaries, pensions and unemployment benefits, because of a standoff in parliament that has blocked a bill to finance the deficit.

Noda's tax success may fail to end Japan deadlock

(Reuters) - After years of policy paralysis in Japan, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has pushed a much-needed but unpopular sales tax hike through the lower house of parliament, but the chances of further reform in the world's third-largest economy seem unlikely.

Japan PM urged to be cautious about nuclear restarts

(Reuters) - Nearly a third of Japan's ruling party lawmakers are petitioning Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda to be cautious about restarting nuclear reactors given safety concerns after last year's earthquake and tsunami, an organizer said on Tuesday.

Japan PM reshuffles Cabinet over tax bill

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda reshuffled his Cabinet Monday, replacing five ministers in an attempt to gain opposition support for his plan to double the sales tax.

Japan's economy grows 1.0% on rebuilding spending

Japan's economy grew 1.0% between January and March compared with the previous three months, as government spending helped fuel a gradual recovery from last year's earthquake and tsunami. That translates to annualised growth of 4.1%, the Cabinet Office said.

Europe debt crisis biggest risk for Japan economy: Yoshihiko Noda

TOKYO: The European debt crisis is the biggest risk for the Japanese economy, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said in a weekend interview with Dow Jones Newswires, citing it as a factor behind the yen's strength.

Japan sets new safety standards for nuclear plants

TOKYO: The Japanese government approved new safety guidelines for nuclear power plants on Friday in a bid to restart reactors idled after the Fukushima disaster last year.

Japan Survey Finds Businesses Unexpectedly Pessimistic

TOKYO — Japanese business sentiment failed to improve as expected in the first quarter and is expected to remain muted in coming months, a survey by the central bank showed Monday, suggesting that the bank will remain under pressure to deliver more stimulus.

Japan Looks Beyond Its Borders for Investors

AIZU-WAKAMATSU, Japan — Mayor Shohei Muroi knows it is a tough sell to get new companies to invest in this struggling industrial city just 60 miles from Japan’s most notorious nuclear plant.So in September, Mr. Muroi did the unthinkable.

Sales tax increase approved by Japan's cabinet

The Japanese cabinet has passed a plan to double sales taxes in an attempt to control the soaring costs of public debts.

Yoshihiko Noda wins Japan leadership race

Japan's governing Democratic Party (DPJ) has chosen Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda as its leader, lining him up to become the country's sixth prime minister in five years.

Mr Noda secured victory in a run-off against Trade Minister Banri Kaieda, after a first-round vote in which no candidate won a clear majority.