News On Japan

Japan bank lending in June hits record

Jul 09 (NHK) - Struggling businesses and other clients have left Japanese banks with record outstanding loans for a third straight month.

Companies and individuals have been borrowing more to cope with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

A report by the Bank of Japan shows the average amount of loans in June stood at 570 trillion yen, or 5.3 trillion dollars.

That's up more 6.2 percent from a year before and the highest since January 2000, when comparable data became available.

Banks have expanded their lending since March to support cash-strapped companies and private businesses.

Major banks marked an 8.6-percent increase in lending.

BOJ officials believe loans have increased not only to large corporations, but also small- and mid-sized companies.

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An explosion and fire have halted a combustion test of Japan's new Epsilon S solid-fuel rocket at the Tanegashima Space Center in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima. (NHK)

Kozo Iizuka, a former senior official convicted in a 2019 car crash in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, that killed two people and injured nine others, has died at the age of 93. Iizuka passed away in October, reportedly due to natural causes.

The Governor of Hyogo Prefecture in western Japan has expressed his view that there were no illegalities in his election campaign. The remark came as some are accusing him of violating the public offices election law over the use of a PR company in the campaign. (NHK)

Cough medicine shortages have been ongoing for over a year in Japan, creating significant challenges for both patients and healthcare providers. Hospitals and pharmacies report dwindling stocks, with some relying on alternative solutions like medicated patches.

A renowned Japanese photographer based in New York, Yasuomi Hashimura, known for his groundbreaking contributions to American advertising photography, died after being pushed on the street by a man.

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The 'Itami Madan' festival promoting multicultural harmony across national boundaries was held on Saturday in Itami, Hyogo Prefecture, featuring the 'janggu,' a traditional Korean drum.

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Hifumi Kato, affectionately known as 'Hifumin,' has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records for the longest-running chess puzzle column in a magazine.