Japan current account surplus falls to its lowest since 1996, Reuters says

February 8, 2012

TOKYO (TR) – Japan’s current-account surplus fell 44 percent in 2011 from the previous year to $125 billion (9.63 trillion yen); that is its lowest since 1996 and its biggest fall on record, Reuters reported.

Japan posted its first trade deficit since 1980 last year after suffering the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami, which paralyzed most of the nation’s nuclear energy output and greatly increased the cost of energy. Additionally, the slowing global economy and Eurozone debt crisis are driving up the value of the yen as traders seek safety, further raising the cost of the nation’s exports. Read more

Written by Michael Blaskoski · Filed Under News Blog

Tokyo men arrested for employing 15-year-old Chiba girl in prostitution service

November 15, 2011

TOKYO (TR) – Kanagawa prefectural police arrested two men from Tokyo for violating the Child Welfare Act after it was discovered that an out-call sex service under their management was utilizing a teenage girl, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Nov. 15). Read more

Written by CJ · Filed Under Tokyo Daily

Post-traumatic stress

May 10, 2011

Click cartoon to enlarge

(Cartoon by Politicomix, May 10, 2011)

Written by CJ · Filed Under Cartoon Blog

Tokyo rad

April 1, 2011

Click cartoon to enlarge

(Cartoon by Politicomix, April 1, 2011)

Radiation leaks from the damaged nuclear reactor cores at the Fukushima Nucelar Power Station have sparked panic as far away as Europe and the United States.

The radiation levels are indeed high, but dangerous (at the moment) only in the area immediately surrounding the plant. Once the weather warms up a bit in Tokyo, Japanese are expected to irradiate themselves normally.

Written by CJ · Filed Under Cartoon Blog