Kana Watanabe

Featured in: Favicon

nikkei.com Favicon

mdpi.com

thelancet.com Favicon

jbc.org

asia.nikkei.com

Articles

In vino veritas: Australia wrestles with wine glut

Jun 29, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Rurika Imahashi |Kana Watanabe

SYDNEY/ISTANBUL -- Australia is swimming in historically high amounts of wine. France is paying vintners to turn the fruit of their labor into ethanol for perfume and rubbing alcohol. These are just two symptoms of a worldwide wine glut. Globally, consumption was down 7% in 2023 from its peak in 2017. Young people are cutting back on alcohol consumption, while people who still enjoy a drink are turning to higher quality wines.
Qatar should quit as Hamas mediator: Israeli minister

Jun 26, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Hidemitsu Kibe |Nikkei senior |Kana Watanabe

JERUSELEM -- Israel's Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat told Nikkei that Qatar should "immediately" withdraw from its role as a mediator of cease-fire negotiations with Hamas. Instead, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates should take over as go-betweens, he said during the interview Wednesday in Jerusalem.
Turkey slashes public investments 15% to rein in inflation

May 14, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Kana Watanabe

ISTANBUL -- Turkey's government will cut investments in public works by 15%, part of spending reduction measures aimed at combating soaring inflation. Public investment will be limited to infrastructure and other projects that are at least 75% completed, as well as to earthquake-related measures, government officials announced Monday.
K-lit's tales of inequality strikes chord with Japanese readers

Mar 7, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Kana Watanabe

TOKYO -- The Korean boom in Japan has spilled into the literary space as Japanese readers devour books by South Korean writers depicting social injustices and cruelties that often mirror their own lives. At a Junkudo bookstore in Tokyo's Ikebukuro neighborhood, South Korean books with pastel covers are on prominent display. Sales of South Korean literature climbed 5% in the year through January at the store.
South Korean tales of inequality strike chord with Japan readers

Mar 7, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Kana Watanabe

TOKYO -- The Korean boom in Japan has spilled into the literary space as Japanese readers devour books by South Korean writers depicting social injustices and cruelties that often mirror their own lives. At a Junkudo bookstore in Tokyo's Ikebukuro neighborhood, South Korean books with pastel covers are on prominent display. Sales of South Korean literature climbed 5% in the year through January at the store.
K-lit's tales of inequality strike chord with Japanese readers

Mar 7, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Kana Watanabe

TOKYO -- The Korean boom in Japan has spilled into the literary space as Japanese readers devour books by South Korean writers depicting social injustices and cruelties that often mirror their own lives. At a Junkudo bookstore in Tokyo's Ikebukuro neighborhood, South Korean books with pastel covers are on prominent display. Sales of South Korean literature climbed 5% in the year through January at the store.
As China debt looms, Kenya president seeks more diverse funding

Feb 12, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Kana Watanabe

TOKYO -- Kenya wants to broaden its development financing avenues, President William Ruto says as the African nation faces big debt repayments to China, adding "overreliance on one market is not good for any country."Ruto spoke with Nikkei during a visit to Japan last week to meet with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Japanese slurp up Vietnamese and Thai flavors in instant noodles

Sep 29, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Kana Watanabe |Yuki Masuda

TOKYO -- Instant noodles, a global pantry stable born in Japan more than six decades ago, are coming home as imports with added Southeast Asian flavors, and consumers are loving it. The trend took off during the pandemic as Japanese, unable to travel overseas, opted for the tastes of Vietnam or Thailand in the form of instant noodles that can be cooked in less than five minutes.
World must unite to resolve Afghanistan crisis: Pakistan diplomat

Jun 29, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Kana Watanabe

TOKYO -- The world shares a "common responsibility" to tackle the problems facing Afghanistan through dialogue, instead of trying to isolate the Taliban-controlled nation, Pakistani Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed Khan told Nikkei in an interview. "It becomes the common responsibility of the international community to come together, to see this as a challenge," Khan said during a recent visit to Tokyo. The foreign secretary is the top career diplomat at Pakistan's Foreign Ministry.