Tokyo - As the world is dragged into a financial crisis ignited by the US subprime loan problem, economists are reminded of the banking crisis that hit Japan, beginning in the late 1980s, triggered by the burst of the country's real estate bubble.

But analysts in Japan remain optimistic about the US situation, saying that the US may not have to repeat Japan's suffering if it acts swiftly and appropriately.

The United States is passing through a similar period as Japan did 20 years ago, they said. Back then, Japan's asset-inflated economy collapsed, balance sheets turned unstable, and it became difficult for the financial system to recover without public funding.

Tokyo - Stocks ended morning trading lower in Japan Thursday on uncertainties over the US government's bailout package that passed the Senate earlier in the day.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 125.61 points, or 1.1 per cent, to 11,242.65.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 18.41 points, or 1.67 per cent, at 1,082.72.

Tokyo - A fire before dawn Wednesday in an Osaka sex shop

Tokyo - The Tokyo stock market was higher in early trading Wednes

Tokyo - Optimism in Japan's industry is at its lowest point in five years, a quarterly survey by the country's central bank said Wednesday.

For the first time since 2003, the Bank of Japan's Tankan index, a a business sentiment survey of 10,000 companies, turned negative in the July-September quarter.

The index slipped from plus 5 in the previous quarter to minus 3, indicating that pessimists have the upper hand as the global downturn threatens Japan's export markets and the country's economy hovers on the brink of recession.

Tokyo- Japanese stocks tumbled more than 4 per cent Tuesday to a three-year low, leading an Asia-Pacific sell-off in reaction to Wall Street's historic plunge.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 483.75 points, or 4.12 per cent, to close at 11,259.86.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues fell 40.46 points, or 3.59 per cent, to 1,087.41.