2 Japanese food firms to set up instant noodle JVs in India, Nigeria

2 Japanese food firms to set up instant noodle JVs in India, Nigeria

TOKYO, Japan - Masatoshi Ito (L), president of Ajinomoto Co., and Kazuo Obata, president of Toyo Suisan Kaisha Ltd., shake hands after a news conference in Tokyo on Dec. 18, 2013. They announced that their companies have agreed to set up instant noodle joint ventures in India and Nigeria as they aim to meet growing demand and catch up with foreign rivals.

Alternative plan for 2020 Tokyo Olympic stadium

Alternative plan for 2020 Tokyo Olympic stadium

TOKYO, Japan - Pritzker Prize winning architect Toyo Ito (L) and Anthropologist Shinichi Nakazawa give a press conference in Tokyo on May 12, 2014. Ito proposed a plan to renovate the existing National Stadium, instead of building a whole new stadium, for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

2010 Praemium Imperiale laureates

2010 Praemium Imperiale laureates

TOKYO, Japan - The 2010 laureates of the Praemium Imperiale arts prize, (from L) Italian artist Enrico Castellani, German artist Rebecca Horn, Japanese architect Toyo Ito, Italian pianist Maurizio Pollini and Italian actress Sophia Loren, attend the award ceremony at Meiji Kinenkan hall in Tokyo on Oct. 13, 2010. The annual award by the Japan Art Association was inaugurated in 1989 in honor of late Prince Takamatsu, uncle of Emperor Akihito.

Praemium Imperiale laureates

Praemium Imperiale laureates

TOKYO, Japan - Winners of the annual Praemium Imperiale arts prize, (from left) Italian actress Sophia Loren, Italian pianist Maurizio Pollini, Japanese architect Toyo Ito, German artist Rebecca Horn and Italian artist Enrico Castellani, pose for photos in Tokyo on Oct. 12, 2010. The award by the Japan Art Association was inaugurated in 1989 in honor of Prince Takamatsu.

Former Sumitomo Bank President Ibe dies at 92

Former Sumitomo Bank President Ibe dies at 92

OSAKA, Japan - File photo shows Kyonosuke Ibe, a former president of Sumitomo Bank, a predecessor to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., who died April 16 at 92. Ibe was known for his role in arranging the 1976 absorption of financially troubled trading house Ataka Corp. by C. Ito & Co., now Itochu Corp., and bailing out ailing automaker Toyo Kogyo Co., now Mazda Motor Corp., in the 1970s.

2010 Praemium Imperiale laureates

2010 Praemium Imperiale laureates

TOKYO, Japan - The 2010 laureates of the Praemium Imperiale arts prize, (from L) Italian artist Enrico Castellani, German artist Rebecca Horn, Japanese architect Toyo Ito, Italian pianist Maurizio Pollini and Italian actress Sophia Loren, attend the award ceremony at Meiji Kinenkan hall in Tokyo on Oct. 13, 2010. The annual award by the Japan Art Association was inaugurated in 1989 in honor of late Prince Takamatsu, uncle of Emperor Akihito. (Kyodo)

Praemium Imperiale laureates

Praemium Imperiale laureates

TOKYO, Japan - Winners of the annual Praemium Imperiale arts prize, (from left) Italian actress Sophia Loren, Italian pianist Maurizio Pollini, Japanese architect Toyo Ito, German artist Rebecca Horn and Italian artist Enrico Castellani, pose for photos in Tokyo on Oct. 12, 2010. The award by the Japan Art Association was inaugurated in 1989 in honor of Prince Takamatsu. (Kyodo)

Former Sumitomo Bank President Ibe dies at 92

Former Sumitomo Bank President Ibe dies at 92

OSAKA, Japan - File photo shows Kyonosuke Ibe, a former president of Sumitomo Bank, a predecessor to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., who died April 16 at 92. Ibe was known for his role in arranging the 1976 absorption of financially troubled trading house Ataka Corp. by C. Ito & Co., now Itochu Corp., and bailing out ailing automaker Toyo Kogyo Co., now Mazda Motor Corp., in the 1970s.