Latest Japan Headlines

All the headlines from our Japan Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Commentary: Iran Confident It Is Winning Sanctions War

Sep 4 2012 // Despite ludicrous claims to the contrary, Western sanctions have hurt Iran’s crude oil exports, but it’s also not all gloom and doom.In unsurprising, but obviously factually incorrect, remarks, the director of...

Powerful Typhoon Bolaven Nears Japan’s Okinawa Island

Aug 27 2012 // The strongest typhoon to approach Okinawa in several years was bearing down on the southern Japanese island on Sunday as residents were told to stay indoors and warned its strong gusts could overturn cars and cause waves...

Fitch Notes Reinsurers More Risk-Focused For More Asian Catastrophes

Aug 23 2012 // Fitch Ratings has issued a statement which points out that the “spate of Asia-Pacific catastrophes in the past two years have prompted reinsurers to take stock of their existing portfolio and re-evaluate their...

Asia’s Iran Crude Oil Imports to Regain Levels Prior to EU Insurance Ban

Aug 22 2012 // Asia’s crude imports from Iran are set to recover in September to levels reached before a July 1 insurance ban by the European Union plunged trade with the Islamic Republic into uncertainty not seen in decades.Top...

Best Upgrades NIPPONKOA’s Ratings to ‘A+’; Affirms Subs

Aug 22 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to ‘A+’ (Superior) from ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) to “aa-” from “a+” of Japan’s...

Best Affirms Sompo Japan’s ‘A+’ Ratings; Subs Ratings

Aug 22 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “aa-” of Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. as well as the FSR of ‘A...

Insurance Deal Lets India Resume Shipping Iran Oil

Aug 15 2012 // India has joined Japan in offering government-backed insurance for ships carrying Iranian crude in order to bypass European sanctions that have nearly halved Iranian oil exports to key markets.The first Indian ship to...

ING Sees Quick Sales in Asian Insurance Break-up

Aug 9 2012 // Dutch banking and insurance group ING now expects a quick sale of parts of its $7 billion Asian insurance business as it seeks to repay state aid and meet European requirements for its 2008 state bail-out, its chief...

China Braces for Another Typhoon; Japan on Alert: AIR Analysis

Aug 8 2012 // According to catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide, residents along coastal cities in eastern China are preparing for their third typhoon in less than a week. Just last weekend, two powerful typhoons—Damrey and...

Aon Benfield Monthly Cat Report Highlights China Floods; Agriculture Losses

Aug 8 2012 // The latest report on the world’s catastrophes from Aon Benfield, the global reinsurance intermediary and capital advisor of Aon plc, highlights flooding in China that generated more than $8.3 billion in economic...

Japan’s All Nippon Airways Grounds Dreamliners, Citing Engine Corrosion Risk

Jul 24 2012 // Japan’s All Nippon Airways said on Monday it grounded part of its fleet of 787 Dreamliners after tests revealed a risk of engine corrosion, but Boeing Co, the aircraft’s manufacturer, said it does not expect...

Landers Quake Still Teaching Seismic Lessons

Jul 23 2012 // If you’ve never heard of the Landers earthquake that struck Southern California 20 years ago last month, you’re in good company. But, for an earthquake almost no one remembers, it has had a lasting impact on...

Rain, Floods Cause Heavy Damage in Southwest Japan: AIR Analysis

Jul 17 2012 // A report from catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide, analyzes the damages resulting from the heavy rains that have caused widespread flooding and mudslides from July 11 to July 16 on the Southern Japanese Island of...

Bid Deadline Nears for ING’s Asia Insurance Business

Jul 16 2012 // A wide range of suitors, from the son of Asia’s richest man and a former rugby player in New Zealand to more established players including AIA Group and Manulife Financial Corp, are expected to submit binding bids on...

South Korea Considering Resuming Iran Oil Imports: Gov’t. Sources

Jul 13 2012 // South Korea will soon decide on whether to resume Iranian crude imports after Tehran offered to ship and insure the oil to get around the impact of EU sanctions, two Korean government sources said on Friday.The EU oil...

Iran Oil Shipments Skirting Tanker Insurance Ban

Jul 12 2012 // Iran is shipping oil to China, its top buyer, despite a row over freight terms, and Japan has taken steps to resume imports in August as Tehran finds ways to get around Western sanctions on ship insurance for its...

Japan Insurers Expand Cover to Boost Iran Oil Shipping Capacity

Jul 11 2012 // Japanese insurers are expanding their maritime coverage to allow more domestic tankers to transport Iranian crude, as Tokyo looks to keep oil flowing despite tough Western sanctions, industry sources said on...

So. Korea to Halt Iran Oil Imports as EU Insurance Ban Bites

Jun 26 2012 // South Korea became the first major Asian consumer of Iranian crude to announce a halt to imports after the government said they would be suspended from July 1 due to a European Union ban on insuring tankers carrying...

Ratings Recap: Auto Owners, Stonebridge, Tokio Marine (U.S.), Courtesy, Young America, Old Glory

Jun 21 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A++’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa+” of Auto-Owners Insurance Company and its four wholly owned...

Best Affirms Aioi Nissay Dowa and Subs Ratings; Outlook Stable

Jun 18 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+” of Japan’s Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Company Limited (ADI) and its...