2006.05.08

Japan to boost pop culture diplomacy (AFP). Japan is planning a campaign to improve its image abroad by promoting its pop culture, including a possible international prize in Japanese-style manga comics. 2006.05.08

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Buffett keen to invest abroad, eyes Japan (Reuters). Billionaire investor Warren Buffett says he wants to use some of his firm's $40 billion cash to invest in overseas companies, and pinpoints Europe and Japan. 2006.05.08

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Japanese Stocks Rise After 3-Day Holiday (AP). Japanese stocks rose today, resuming their climb after markets were closed for a three-day national holiday, but traders said further gains might be hard to come by as the dollar fell into the 111-yen range. 2006.05.08

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Total Land Value in Japan Rises for 1st Time in 15 Years (Wall Street Journal). In a sign Japan is emerging for asset deflation, the total value of land in the country rose 1.4% on the year as of January. 2006.05.08

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Japan-USA (Kyodo) Prime Minister Koizumi wants to discuss future of the bilateral alliance when he next meets with President Bush. 2006.05.08

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Japan-Gasoline (Kyodo) Gasoline prices in Japan hit 15-year high. 2006.05.08

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Charity helps DPRK Escapees find freedom. [Radio Australia] The journey to flee North Korea may be perilous, but the will of many people to escape the hunger and repression in the communist state far ouweights the dangers. For many North Koreans, the uncertainty of successfully seeking asylum in China or South Korea is paramount. Yet the odds have improved somewhat thanks to an informal network of activists who try against formidable obstacles to help North Korean refugees in crisis. They're known as the Underground Railroad. Reverand Tim Peters has become the public face of this operation and he does so at great personal risk. 2006.05.08

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