Rare earths have Japan scurrying With the government leading the way, Japanese manufacturers are finding alternative sources of rare earths. The elements are crucial for manufacturing next-generation cars and other high-tech products. And China, sitting on top of most of the world's deposits, is using its riches as both a carrot and stick in the game of international politics.
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Earnings illustrate corporate resilience The Great East Japan Earthquake, floodwaters in Thailand and a strong yen made last fiscal year a trying one for Japanese firms. But the ongoing stream of earnings results is showing that many weathered the year well, or at least positioned themselves for a better fiscal 2012.
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Record-breaking solar car takes spin on New Tomei Expressway The solar car truly took to the expressway. Driving with nary a sound, its speed rose to 60 kilometers per hour, then to 80, then to 100. The vehicle was Tokai University's Tokai Challenger, whose world-class performance could not be displayed on the strictly regulated public roads of Japan. The scamper on an unobstructed road, with Mt. Fuji watching over it, was surely a satisfying experience for the crew as well as the car.
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