Hideyuki Harada has been mayor of Fukuroi for 19 years. Six times he has been elected to his post. This is a man who knows a thing or two about how to handle people and he is charm personified as a dozen or so Irish journalists join him at city hall the day before Japan and Ireland meet in their World Cup Pool A encounter ten minutes down the road.

President Akio Toyoda promised shareholders a revived Toyota despite the production disruptions from the earthquake and tsunami that decimated north eastern Japan on March 11, and first offered his prayers for those killed.

Struggling to boost profits amid increased competition, McDonald’s is adding a new item to its menu in Japan: the shrimp burger.

Japanese car giant Honda was today starting to build vehicles at its second UK plant, after it was completed on time.