Kawashima promoted to emperor's top aide

Kawashima promoted to emperor's top aide

TOKYO, Japan - File photos of Yutaka Kawashima (L), who was named as grand chamberlain at the Imperial House Agency on June 15, and Koichi Haraguchi (R), who was appointed the same day to take over Kawashima's post as head of court ceremonies at the agency. Kawashima, 65, a former vice foreign minister, replaces Makoto Watanabe, who retired the same day. Haraguchi, 66, was a former Japanese negotiator for normalizing ties with North Korea.

Core profit at Japan's 9 big life insurers hits record high

Core profit at Japan's 9 big life insurers hits record high

TOKYO, Japan - Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance Co. Executive Director Koichi Watanabe speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 27 on the group's business results for the first half of fiscal 2006. The combined core operating profit at Japan's nine major life insurers hit a record high for the April-September period, supported by the solid stock market and rising returns from bond investment.

Core profit at Japan's 9 big life insurers hits record high

Core profit at Japan's 9 big life insurers hits record high

TOKYO, Japan - Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance Co. Executive Director Koichi Watanabe speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 27 on the group's business results for the first half of fiscal 2006. The combined core operating profit at Japan's nine major life insurers hit a record high for the April-September period, supported by the solid stock market and rising returns from bond investment. (Kyodo)

6 of 9 major life insurers see core profits expand in FY 2006

6 of 9 major life insurers see core profits expand in FY 2006

TOKYO, Japan - Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance Co. Executive Director Koichi Watanabe speaks on the company's business results for fiscal 2006 at a press conference in Tokyo on May 30. Six of Japan's nine major life insurers saw their core operating profits expand in the 2006 business year ended March 31 from a year earlier, supported by improved conditions for their fund management following interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan. (Kyodo)

Kawashima promoted to emperor's top aide

Kawashima promoted to emperor's top aide

TOKYO, Japan - File photos of Yutaka Kawashima (L), who was named as grand chamberlain at the Imperial House Agency on June 15, and Koichi Haraguchi (R), who was appointed the same day to take over Kawashima's post as head of court ceremonies at the agency. Kawashima, 65, a former vice foreign minister, replaces Makoto Watanabe, who retired the same day. Haraguchi, 66, was a former Japanese negotiator for normalizing ties with North Korea. (Kyodo)