Tokyo, Aug. 30 (Jiji Press) — The Japanese and U.S. governments put into effect on Friday a protocol amending the bilateral tax treaty to avoid double taxation and prevent tax evasion, some six years after they agreed on it in 2013. The two sides exchanged ratification documents at the Japanese Foreign Ministry on the day. The protocol exempts interest payments….Read more

By AKANE OKUTSU, Nikkei Staff Writer   TOKYO — Japan is encouraging its companies to work with African startups, hoping to raise its profile on a continent often called the global economy’s “last frontier” and offer a counterweight to Chinese influence there.   The Tokyo International Conference on African Development, a triennial event led by the Japanese government, opens on Wednesday….Read more

By JUN WATANABE, Nikkei staff writer   TOKYO — Japan’s trio of leading banks will form collaboration agreements this week with various African financial services providers, paving the way for greater Japanese corporate investment on the continent.   Africa’s potential beckons Japanese companies, not only for resource and infrastructure projects but also its growing consumer markets. Yet Japan’s banks have made few inroads….Read more

Yomiuri wrote on Saturday that data released by the Treasury Department on Thursday shows that Japan edged out China as the largest holder of U.S. bonds in June with $1.12 trillion worth compared with $1.11 trillion worth held by China. The paper wrote that there is a view among economists that the continued trade friction between Washington and Beijing has….Read more

Tokyo, Aug. 15 (Jiji Press) — Japanese companies operating in Hong Kong are increasingly worried about the effects on their businesses of massive protests gripping the city. The Foreign Ministry issued a Level 1 travel warning on Wednesday, calling on travelers to the territory to be very careful. The protests, over a bill to allow extradition of criminal suspects to….Read more

NHK reported on Tuesday afternoon that in reaction to Japan’s plan to impose restrictions on exports of semiconductor-related products to South Korea, the ROK foreign ministry spokesman expressed “serious concern” and “regret” as the measure may “have a negative impact” on bilateral relations. The spokesman demanded that Japan not go ahead with the measure. TBS and Fuji TV aired similar….Read more

A Kyodo News dispatch on Tuesday evening cited Japanese government sources saying that Japan is considering imposing stricter export controls on more items bound for South Korea, possibly to include electronic parts and related materials that can be diverted to military use. However, certain government officials reportedly remain cautious about taking further steps, since this will likely exacerbate bilateral tensions.

Yomiuri wrote that concern is spreading in Japanese business circles that the GOJ’s planned imposition of stricter export controls on semiconductor-related materials bound for South Korea will have an impact on the economies of both Japan and South Korea because it could disrupt the supply chains established by Japanese companies. Nikkei quoted Chairman Sakurada of the Association of Corporate Executives….Read more

MUFG Bank has become the first Japanese financial institution to be designated a yuan-clearing bank.   China’s central bank granted the designation after a summit between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sideline of the G20 meeting in Osaka, Japan.   Japanese businesses can now settle their yuan-denominated transactions through MUFG instead of using financial….Read more

Pinole, California, June 18 (Jiji Press) — A ceremony took place in Pinole, northern California, on Monday to celebrate the completion of a large-scale network for charging electric vehicle batteries, a project joined by Japanese firms Nissan Motor Co. and Kanematsu Corp. The demonstration project, led by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, or NEDO, is designed to….Read more