Latest Japan Headlines

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

U.S. Analyst: China May Be ‘Likely Bright Spot’ in Asia Climate Action

Dec 31 2010 // The outcome of U.N. climate talks in Mexico this month should boost steps in Asia to curb greenhouse gas emissions, with China a likely bright spot in 2011, a senior analyst at a leading U.S. think tank said.The talks...

Japan’s Dai-ichi Life to Take over Australia’s Tower Group for $1.2 Billion

Dec 28 2010 // Japan’s Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co said it would buy the shares it does not already own in Tower Australia Group Ltd for 99.6 billion yen ($1.2 billion) as it seeks expansion overseas.Japan’s No.2 life insurer...

RMS Conducts Risk Analysis for SCOR’s Atlas VI Cat Bonds

Dec 13 2010 // Risk Management Solutions announced that it has successfully conducted the expert risk analysis for the second issuance of the Atlas VI bond (Series 2010-I Class A Notes) sponsored by French reinsurer SCOR Group.The...

UN Secretary General Urges Climate Agreement ‘Short of Perfect Deal’

Dec 8 2010 // Saying the health of the planet is at stake, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged 190 nations meeting in Mexico on Tuesday to agree to steps to fight climate change that fall short of a perfect deal.“We cannot...

Best Affirms ‘A’ Ratings of NIPPONKOA Insurance Company

Nov 30 2010 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a+” of Japan’s NIPPONKOA Insurance Company Ltd, both with stable outlooks.“The...

Best Affirms Aioi Nissay Dowa ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Stable

Nov 18 2010 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A ‘(Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a+” of Japan’s Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Company Limited, both with stable...

Best Assigns Aioi Insurance Company (China) ‘A-‘ Rating; Outlook Stable

Nov 12 2010 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and an issuer credit rating of “a-” to Aioi Insurance Company (China) Limited, both with stable outlooks.The ratings...

Ratings Roundup: Dah Sing, Qualitas, Nissan Global

Oct 28 2010 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of Bermuda-based Dah Sing Insurance Company Limited (DSI), both with stable outlooks....

Tide of History Runs against Would-be G20 ‘Grand Bargain’

Oct 20 2010 // Speculation of a grand bargain by the Group of 20 to rebalance the global economy is swirling ever faster thanks to China’s surprise decision to raise interest rates for the first time since 2007.Higher rates ought...

Aon Sees Catastrophes, Consolidation, Regulation in Asian Re Market

Oct 19 2010 // Aon Benfield launched a market update for the key Asia Pacific reinsurance hubs of Australia/New Zealand, Japan, Singapore and China at the recently concluded East Asian Insurance Congress (EAIC) in Bali.The announcement...

AIG to Sell Japan Life Units to Prudential (U.S.) for $4.8 Billion

Sep 30 2010 // American International Group said Thursday it will sell its two Japanese life insurance units to Prudential Financial Inc for $4.8 billion, marking another step in its efforts to repay U.S. taxpayers.The sale of AIG Star...

RMS Releases New Japan Typhoon Parametric Industry Loss Index

Sep 21 2010 // Risk Management Solutions has added to its Japan typhoon existing suite of parametric industry loss indices. The program “now includes the insurance industry’s five largest peril regions – U.S. hurricane...

AIR Tracking Typhoon Kompasu, Tropical Cyclones

Aug 31 2010 // According to catastrophe risk modeling firm AIR Worldwide, the sixth, seventh, and eighth named storms of the northwest Pacific season are approaching the Asian mainland bringing high winds and expected heavy rains.Typhoon...

Japan Analyzing Damage to Tanker in Hormuz Strait

Aug 19 2010 // Checks on a Japanese oil tanker, damaged by a mystery explosion near the Strait of Hormuz oil shipping route, found a soot-like substance in a large dent in its hull, the Transport Ministry in Tokyo said on Wednesday. (See...

Insurers Await Report on Japanese Tanker Attack

Aug 9 2010 // A suspected militant strike on a Japanese-owned tanker illustrates how vulnerable merchant ships are to attack on the high seas with navies stretched fighting Somali piracy, analysts and shipping sources said on...

Japan Tanker: Al Qaeda Claims Responsibility; Insurers Monitor Events

Aug 4 2010 // A militant group linked to al Qaeda said on Wednesday that a suicide bomber was responsible for a mysterious explosion on a Japanese-owned oil tanker a week ago near the Strait of Hormuz.But analysts are sceptical about...

Ozeki Named Executive VP of Chartis Far East

Aug 3 2010 // Chartis has appointed Makoto Ozeki to the newly created position of executive vice president and chief operating officer of Chartis Far East Holdings, which services Japan and Korea. Ozeki will be responsible for...

China’s Economy Set to Pass Japan’s as World’s Second Biggest

Aug 2 2010 // China is set to overtake Japan as the world’s second-largest economy in a resurgence that is changing everything from the global balance of military and financial power to how cars are designed.By some measures it...

Japan Tanker Shows How Getting Answers on Ship Security Not Easy

Jul 30 2010 // The confusion around what the owners initially called a possible “attack” on a Japanese tanker in the volatile Straits of Hormuz shows the difficulties markets and policymakers face reacting to security events...

Japan Supertanker Probe Reveals Crash Impact

Jul 29 2010 // A Japanese supertanker, which triggered fears of an attack in the sensitive Strait of Hormuz oil shipping route, collided with something, possibly a submarine or mine, UAE port officials inspecting the ship said on...