investment
Vending machines are ubiquitous in Japan. You’ll find them on most street corners, outside office blocks, lined up at bus stops, and even on the top of Mount Fuji. Prices vary, but the lowest you’ll find in Tokyo is usually the ‘one coin’ machines where everything costs just 100 yen (US$0.98). How can they sell them so cheap? Are they actually profitable? The answer is yes, and many ordinary business-minded folks are taking advantage of the opportunities they offer to put away a nice chunk of cash each month.
Tokyo’s selection as the site of the 2020 Olympics seems to have put all of Japan in a good mood. Economic analysts wondered if this optimism would carry over into the investment world, and indeed a modest market-wide rally seems to be building.
One corporation caught up in the surge, however, saw its entire stock price increase wiped out in less than an hour, with some saying the fluctuation was caused by its name.
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Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
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Japan triples departure tax, foreign tourists and locals now must pay more to leave country
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Yearly
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Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
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Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
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Kodama Shinkansen trains on popular Japan route get a whole new look this winter
Foreign hiker on Mt. Fuji loses consciousness and dies, becoming climbing season’s second fatality
Brand new Shinkansen bullet train unveiled in Japan… but it won’t carry passengers
Cup Noodle releases cold-water instant ramen in Japan, but can it really be made with just cold water?
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Cup Noodle and Columbia team up for a weird and wonderful T-shirt that’s very Japanese
Yakuza members arrested for building a road on mountain they don’t own
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
Yakuza members arrested for going to baseball game
Sanrio eco-friendly plushies are here for the earth-conscious lovers of all things kawaii
Japanese government sets up new group to deal with trading card boom
Beautiful exclusive Totoro tenugui towel is a gift from Disney to Ghibli physical media buyers
Japanese convenience store releases Japanese convenience store-flavor fried chicken
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