
Japan receives first U.S. shale gas shipment
Author: Dr. Phyllis Yoshida
Categories: Energy and Technology
On January 8, Jiji Press reported that “a tanker carrying 70,000 tons of shale-based LNG arrived at a thermal power plant in Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, run by Chubu Electric Power Co. The gas was loaded in Louisiana on Dec. 7 and transported to Japan via the Panama.” This shipment is a major event in U.S.-Japan relations; it is the first U.S. shale gas to reach Japan.
Tags: crude oil, diversification, energy, energy costs, energy exports, energy security, exports, gas, Japan, jera, jiji press, oil, oil exports, phyllis yoshida, shale, shale gas, United States

Interview with Sasakawa USA’s Dr. Phyllis Yoshida featured in newsletter
Categories: Energy and Technology, In the News
An interview with Sasakawa USA’s Dr. Phyllis Yoshida, Fellow for Energy and Technology, recently was featured in the December 2016 issue (Issue No. 13) of the APEC Oil and Gas Security Newsletter. Click through to read the full interview.
Tags: APEC, aperc, Asia Pacific Energy Research Centre, energy, energy and technology, energy relations, energy security, in the news, Interview, news, ogs, oil, oil and gas, oil and gas security, phyllis yoshida

Kim Jong-un’s Sword of Damocles
Author: Shigemura Toshimitsu
Categories: In-Depth with Nippon.com
In the wake of multiple missile launches and a fifth nuclear test by North Korea, Pyongyang watcher Shigemura Toshimitsu offers insights into Kim Jong-un’s motivations while calling for a dramatic escalation of international sanctions.
Tags: Chairman, China, DPRK, embargo, kim dynasty, kim il-sung, kim jong-il, kim jong-un, Korea, missiles, North Korea, Nuclear, nuclear tests, nuclear weapons, oil, Pyongyang, sanctions, sasakawa yohei, Security Council, South Korea, sword of damocles, UN, United Nations

As Iran Prepares to Reengage, Japan is Waiting
Author: Miyata Osamu
Categories: In-Depth with Nippon.com
On July 14, 2015, an agreement was reached in negotiations between Iran and the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council concerning the end of its nuclear energy program, and preparations began for the lifting of international economic sanctions. Japan, which has participated in the sanctions since 2006, has started paving the way as well. The restoration of economic relations with Iran, home to the fourth-largest volume of petroleum deposits and reportedly the largest volume of natural gas reserves on the planet, would be enormously important to Japan, which could acquire a reliable petroleum supplier and thereby help ensure its own energy security.
Tags: Economy, energy, gas, imports, Iran, Japan, japan-iran, natural gas, oil, petroleum, sanctions, Security Council, un security council, United Nations

Yen, oil help Bank of Japan in battle for 2% inflation
Author: Nikkei Asian Review
Categories: Daily Japan News
Bank of Japan officials are optimistic about the chances of reaching their 2% inflation goal, thanks to the falling yen and oil prices.