Japan Todayj -- Jan 15
Toyota will pay $180 million to settle U.S. government allegations that it failed to report and fix pollution control defects in its vehicles for a decade.
The company also agreed in court to investigate future emissions-related defects quickly and report them to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a timely manner.
“Toyota's actions undermined the EPA's self-disclosure system and likely led to delayed or avoided emissions-related recalls,” Audrey Strauss, the acting U.S. Attorney in Manhattan said Thursday in a prepared statement.
The Japanese automaker's actions from 2005 to 2015 brought financial benefits and excessive vehicle pollution, the statement said.
The company was accused in a government lawsuit of delays in filing 78 emissions defect reports as required by the Clean Air Act. The reports covered millions of vehicles, and some of them were as many as eight years late, the statement said.
The lawsuit was filed Thursday and settled on the same day, according to the statement.
News source: Japan Todayj
Mar 06
Fast Retailing said Thursday that beginning March 12, all prices of its Uniqlo and GU brand apparel will be cut by around 9%.
(Japan Today)
Mar 06
The drop in passenger numbers on shinkansen trains and aircraft amid the COVID-19 pandemic is putting commercial facilities at stations and airports in a difficult situation, forcing many of them to close temporarily or for good, but some are offering new services appropriate for a post-pandemic era in order to survive. (Japan Times)
Mar 06
The Bank of Japan’s head-scratching surge this week came to a halt Friday, as the stock erased earlier gains to fall by its limit. ()
Mar 04
The COVID-19 pandemic has driven a shamisen business to the edge of a precipice. What does the future hold for Japan's traditional performing arts industry?
(NHK)
Mar 04
The future of growing sprouts is totally artificially lit and doesn't require any sunlight. (Mashable)
Mar 02
Two Americans accused of helping former Nissan Motor chairman Carlos Ghosn flee Japan have arrived at Narita Airport near Tokyo, after being extradited by US authorities. Michael Taylor, a former Green Beret, and his adult son Peter face charges, including enabling a suspect to escape.
(NHK)
Mar 02
Yahoo Japan and messaging app provider Line have officially merged, creating a new tech giant.
(NHK)
Mar 02
Japanese flea market app Mercari will sell products in China through Alibaba Group Holding's e-commerce platforms, accelerating its expansion overseas.
(Nikkei)
Feb 28
Japan’s Mizuho Bank stopped service at some of its automated teller machines (ATMs) on Sunday after the machines devoured customers’ cash cards and bank books. (Japan Times)
Feb 28
Fans show up for sold out U.S. premiere of anime film "Demon Slayer,” which broke records as highest grossing film in Japanese history. (Associated Press)
Feb 27
Toyota Motor Corp. said Friday it will put on sale in the spring its hydrogen-powered fuel cell system, which could be used by train and ship operators as well as power companies. (Japan Times)
Feb 26
On the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the benchmark Nikkei Average briefly dropped by more than 1,000 points at one time on Friday from the previous day's close.
(NHK)
Feb 26
A chip shortage is biting at Japan's big carmakers. (Reuters)
Feb 26
Japanese trading house Mitsubishi Corp. decided Thursday to withdraw from the Vinh Tan 3 coal-fired power plant project in Vietnam amid growing international concern about climate change, Nikkei has learned. (Nikkei)
Feb 25
An Istanbul court on Wednesday sentenced three Turks to four years and two months in prison for helping smuggle former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn in a musical instrument case to Lebanon from Japan. (yahoo.com)
Feb 25
Nippon Steel’s announcement is the latest example of the challenges faced by the steel industry in developed economies: overcapacity and environmental regulations. (yahoo.com)
Feb 25
Suzuki Motor Corp. Chairman Osamu Suzuki will retire after leading the Japanese automaker for more than 40 years and making it into a global player with an overwhelming dominance in the Indian car market, the firm said Wednesday.
(Japan Times)
Feb 25
It’s no secret that the best Japanese whisky can be hard to find – even in Japan. Despite all the limited-edition bottles and the re-releases of old single malts, the good stuff is in chronically short supply. In fact, there’s even less Japanese-made whisky out there than you think. (timeout.com)
Feb 25
Since 1999, the Bank of Japan has done virtually everything imaginable to defeat deflation. It pumped untold trillions of dollars of liquidity into markets, cornered government bond trading, hoarded stocks and pushed interest rates negative. (forbes.com)
Feb 25
Japan's SG Holdings, operator of the Sagawa Express courier service, looks to switch all of its roughly 7,000 minicars to electric models by 2030 with the goal of reducing carbon emissions more than 10%. (Nikkei)