TOKYO - When Carlos Ghosn arrived at Nissan in 1999, suppliers took the brunt of cost-cutting that helped revive the automaker. Two decades later, his successors are trying for another turnaround without the ability to pressure parts makers.
Nissan Motor Corp, like rivals, has been hit hard as the pandemic sapped global demand. But Japan's No.3 automaker has another problem: an aging line-up out of step with changing tastes, including growing appetite for sport utility vehicles in the United States and luxury brands in China.
The Japanese government plans to seek an early conclusion to talks with the administration of president-elect Joe Biden on its share of the cost of stationing US forces in the country. Biden is set to take office next month.
The two countries have not reached an agreement in working-level talks which started last month. It is unusual for the discussions to stretch to the following year.
A leadership race is underway among Japan's opposition ranks. Two of the largest opposition parties are set to merge next week, when a lawmaker from one of the two groups is named its head.
Nearly 150 members of the Diet have registered to join the new political party, including more than 100 in the Lower House. This means it will have nearly as many Lower House seats as its precursor, the Democratic Party of Japan, just before the party took power 11 years ago.
Japan's minister in charge of the coronavirus response has asked a government subcommittee on the virus for its views on easing restrictions on events.
Economic Revitalization Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi made the request at a meeting of the subcommittee in Tokyo on Wednesday. Other participants included health minister Kato Katsunobu and subcommittee chair Omi Shigeru.
The governor of the southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa has asked the country's defense minister to urge US troops stationed there to promptly provide information on coronavirus infections.
A number of US military-affiliated personnel have tested positive for the coronavirus, including those at the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station and Camp Hansen.
Japan's disaster management minister says areas stricken by torrential rains are suffering from a lack of volunteers to help the cleanup.
Takeda Ryota appeared on a NHK program on Sunday. He said that the number of people who have come forward to volunteer has been very low, because of concerns over the coronavirus.
TOKYO — Mazda has sought loans totaling about 300 billion yen ($2.8 billion) from Japan's three megabanks and other lenders to ride out the coronavirus epidemic, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said on Saturday.
The megabanks — Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Mizuho Financial Group — along with the Development Bank of Japan, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings and others are set to agree, with some already having extended the loans, the person said, declining to be identified because the information is not public.
Japan's Prime Minister Abe Shinzo is seeking more cooperation from the public to avoid close contact with others to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
Abe spoke to reporters on Tuesday, two weeks after he declared a state of emergency in Tokyo and six prefectures. The state of emergency was later expanded to cover the entire nation.