Japan

TOKYO, February 19. /TASS/: At least 73.9% of Japanese residents think that current relations with Russia are not in a good shape to a certain extent, the Kyodo news agency reported on Friday, citing results of a survey by the chancellery of the Japanese cabinet of ministers conducted from October through December 2020.

TOKYO (AP) — Seiko Hashimoto has appeared in seven Olympics, four in the winter and three in the summer — the most by any “multi-season” athlete in the games.

She made even more history on Thursday in Japan, where women are still rare in the boardrooms and positions of political power.

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were lower Wednesday as investors sold to lock in profits from the recent rally driven by hopes economies will gradually return to a pre-pandemic normal.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 dipped 0.8% to 30,216.27, even as the vaccination drive against COVID-19 began, starting with medical workers. South Korea’s Kospi dropped 1.1% to 3,128.81. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.6% to 6,874.90. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was virtually unchanged at 30,746.88. Trading was closed in Shanghai for a holiday.

TOKYO (AP) — Months after other major economies, Japan began giving the first coronavirus vaccines to front-line health workers Wednesday. Many are wondering if the campaign will reach enough people, and in time, to save a Summer Olympics already delayed a year by the worst pandemic in a century.

TOKYO (AP) — Global shares advanced on Tuesday, lifted by the economic recovery, vaccine rollouts and signs that new coronavirus cases may be abating.

U.S. markets were closed Monday for Washington’s Birthday, a national holiday. Shanghai remains closed for the Lunar New Year, until Thursday.

France’s CAC 40 edged up nearly 0.2% to 5,795.86 in early trading, while Germany’s DAX added 0.1% to 14,126.81. Britain’s FTSE 100 gained 0.3% to 6,774.58. U.S. shares were set to drift higher with Dow futures adding 0.6% to 31,600. S&P 500 futures rose 0.5% to 3,950.88.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Over half of Japanese firms believe the Tokyo Olympic Games should be cancelled or postponed, a survey by think tank Tokyo Shoko Research showed on Monday, casting further doubt over the fate of the troubled Games.

Japan is struggling to contain the coronavirus and lags behind western countries in rolling out vaccines, even as Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga vowed to get conditions in place to host the once-postponed Summer Olympics from July 23.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan on Sunday formally approved its first COVID-19 vaccine and said it would start nationwide inoculations within days, but months behind the U.S. and many other countries.

Japan’s health ministry said it had approved the vaccine co-developed and supplied by Pfizer Inc.

The announcement comes after a government panel on Friday confirmed that final results of clinical testing done in Japan showed that the vaccine had an efficacy similar to what overseas tests showed.

TOKYO (AP) — The Japanese economy grew at an annual rate of 12.7% in October-December, marking the second straight quarter of growth, amid a recovery from the slump caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to government data released Monday.

The world’s third-largest economy saw growth in consumption, government spending and exports for the final quarter of last year, compared to the previous quarter, the Cabinet Office said.

Japan’s seasonally adjusted gross domestic product had grown at a dramatic annualized rate of 22.9% in the July-September period.

TOKYO, February 14. /TASS/: The number of people injured as a result of Japan’s 7.3-magnitude earthquake on Saturday has reached 150, the country’s Kyodo agency announced on Sunday.

Earlier reports said 124 people were injured. Most of the injured were residents of the prefectures of Miyagi and Fukushima on the eastern coast of Japan’s largest island of Honshu, which bore the brunt of the disaster. The majority of victims were diagnosed with bruises sustained during falls.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan’s Health Ministry said on Sunday it has officially approved Pfizer Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine, the first such approval in the country as it steps up efforts to tame a third wave of infections in the run-up to the Summer Olympic Games.

The move had been widely expected after a government panel recommended approval on Friday, at which point Health Minister Norihisa Tamura said Japan would give its final approval as soon as possible.