Latest Japan Headlines

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

Euler Hermes Finds ‘Imbalances’ Could Slow Growth of Global Economy

Sep 26 2006 // Euler Hermes ACI, the US subsidiary of the Euler Hermes group, a global credit insurance provider, has issued its latest analysis of the global economy which concludes that although the IMF outlook remains positive,...

Nissan Testing Safety System That Beams Warnings to Drivers

Sep 19 2006 // Drivers worried about missing a red light or being hit by cars darting out from hidden alleys in Japan may receive assistance from new technology being developed by Nissan.All the world’s automakers are working on...

Best Affirms Toa Re ‘A+’ Ratings

Sep 19 2006 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of “A+” (Superior) and the issuer credit rating of “aa-” of Japan’s Toa Reinsurance Company, Limited; however, the rating outlook is...

AXA Gives Donnet Greater Role in Japan, Asia-Pacific; Penn to Head Australia/NZ

Aug 17 2006 // France’s AXA Group has appointed Philippe Donnet to the position of AXA Group Regional CEO – based in Singapore – to oversee AXA’s principal insurance businesses in the Japan & Asia-Pacific...

Toyota Officials Being Investigated in Alleged Recall Negligence

Jul 12 2006 // Three Toyota officials are under a criminal investigation on suspicion of professional negligence in allegedly shirking recalls for eight years and not fixing a defect that may have caused an accident, Japanese police said...

Best Affirms Nipponkoa ‘A’ Ratings

Jun 26 2006 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of “A” (Excellent) and assigned an issuer credit rating of “a+” to Japan’s Nipponkoa Insurance Company Limited with a stable...

Quake Strikes SE Japan

Jun 12 2006 // An earthquake measuring magnitude 6.2 struck the Southeastern peninsula of Japan’s main Island, Honshu, early Monday morning (local time). No deaths have been reported but at least five people suffered minor...

S&P Reports on Japan Non-Life Sector

May 31 2006 // Japan’s non-life insurers posted largely improved profits in fiscal 2005, bouncing back from the previous year’s uncommonly harsh string of natural disasters, according to a report published today by Standard...

Best Affirms Tokio Marine, Nichido Fire ‘A++’ Rating

May 23 2006 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of “A++” (Superior) and the issuer credit rating of “aa+” of Japan’s Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Company Limited (TMNF)...

Converium Confirms Successful April 1 Non-U.S. Treaty Renewals

May 9 2006 // Swiss-based Converium recorded successful renewals of its of non-life treaties as of April 1. The Company said it “bound non-life contracts of US$ 272.2 million or 99.5 percent of the business that was up for...

Aflac’s Lake Named First Non-Japanese Tokyo Stock Exchange Director

Apr 26 2006 // Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) Chairman and President Taizo Nishimuro announced that Charles Lake, Aflac Japan vice chairman, has been selected as an external director. Lake, 44, will be the first non-Japanese appointed to...

Despite AIA Optimism USTR Change Raises Doubts on Doha Round

Apr 24 2006 // The American Insurance Association has issued a bulletin commending outgoing United States Trade Representative (USTR) Rob Portman for his leadership on trade negotiations. The AIA also welcomed his successor, Deputy USTR...

Illness Claims N.C. Philanthropist, Reinsurer, Maurice Sabbah

Apr 20 2006 // Maurice “Chico” Sabbah, a Greensboro, N.C. businessman and philanthropist whose risk-sharing insurance company had to pay more than $400 million to settle a lawsuit stemming from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist...

SCOR Scores Success with Asian Treaty Renewals

Apr 18 2006 // French reinsurer SCOR Group reported premium gains in its Asia-Pacific zone following treaty renewals at the beginning of April. Written premiums In Japan exceeded 7 billion yen ($59.3 million) up 6 percent compared to...

S&P Assigns ‘A-‘ Rating to Sompo’s Chinese Subsidiary

Apr 17 2006 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has assigned its “A-” long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings to China-based Sompo Japan Insurance (China) Co. Ltd.,...

Best Affirms Mitsui’s ‘A+’ Rating

Feb 23 2006 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has affirmed the “A+” (Superior) financial strength rating and assigned an issuer credit rating (ICR) of “aa” to Japan’s Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company Ltd....

Best Affirms Aioi ‘A’ Rating

Feb 1 2006 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has affirmed the financial strength rating of “A” (Excellent) and assigned an “a” issuer credit rating to Japan’s Aioi Insurance Company Ltd. with a stable...

RMS: 500,000 Japanese Dead Possible in Avian Flu Pandemic Outbreak

Jan 26 2006 // Risk Management Solutions Inc. (RMS) released the findings of an in-depth study that provides life and personal accident insurers in Japan with key benchmarks for the potential risk of human casualties from catastrophic...

S&P Reports on Japan Captives

Jan 23 2006 // According to a new report – “Tighter Regulations Spark Rating Demand In Japan’s Growing Captive Insurer Market” – published by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services; more attention is...

Japan Internet Mall Operator Considers Entering P/C Market

Jan 4 2006 // Rakuten, one of Japan’s top Internet shopping mall operators, has reportedly announced that it is considering entering the country’s nonlife insurance business to boost its growing financial operations. A...