Nihon Seimitsu Up Sharply on Strong Expectations
Nihon Seimitsu (7771), the top seller of metal wristbands in Japan, finished up 8% today at Y379, after reaching as high as Y469 during the day. Volume was 943, 000 shares. On May 30 the company had projected that its ordinary profit for the March 2007 year would be Y208 million, compared with a deficit of Y280 million yen in the recent period. The stock has a habit of achieving short-lived, one-day gains, however, so the share price may turn south tomorrow.

Anything Vodka Can Do, Shochu Can Do Better
"Japanese vodka," as shochu is sometimes called, has been gaining converts among Japan's young drinkers for some time now. It is now becoming popular in some areas of the United States as well. Shochu benefits from California's liquor laws, which allows beverages with under 25% alcohol content to be sold in establishments with only a beer and wine license. Takara Shochu is the leading name. (Seattle Weekly, May 31, 2006)

A Gently Warming Sun
This upbeat Forbes article by Tim Kelly on Japan's stock markets compares them with American bourses in the 1980s. US economic growth at 3%-4% was good, not great, yet stocks posted big gains. Kelly says the same will happen in Japan. He quotes Edwin Merner of the Atlantis Japan Growth Fund, who argues that smaller equities, notably those in electronic devices working on minituarization, will outpace the Sonys and Matsushitas. Merner also sees potential in firms involved in generic drugs, which the Japanese government will push to reduce health care costs for its aging population.