Japan

For the sixth year in a row, the Lexus LS was named the best overall vehicle in the 2013 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, with only 59 problems per 100 vehicles sold. The industry averages 113 problems per 100 vehicles sold. The study, which looks at problems experienced in the first 90 days of vehicle ownership, was redesigned in 2013 to better reflect issues related to new technologies and features. As a result, Lexus fell to third overall behind Porsche & GMC after being first for the past two years — here’s a snapshot of the results: In related news, the Yoshiwara (TABC) plant in Japan, which produces the Lexus LX and Toyota Land Cruiser, received a Gold Plant Assembly Line Quality Award. Read more about the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study

© 2004-2013 Rebecca Bollwitt - Miss604. This summer Vancouver will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Dancing on the Edge Festival that has brought over 400 different dance artists and choreographers to our stages. Talented members of the dance industry have traveled from across Canada, Japan, Germany, Venezuela, Mexico, Wales, the United States, Poland and China to join local artists each year. For this special milestone we’ll see 28 different choreographers and dance companies performing at Portside Park, Chinatown and Gastown and at the flagship festival location, the Firehall Arts Centre and the Scotiabank Dance Centre from July 4th until July 13th, 2013. 25 years ago, the contemporary dance scene in Vancouver was flying under the radar with few venues committed to showcasing the city’s growing talent. Dance companies and artists such as Kokoro Dance, Noam Gagnon, Crystal Pite, Alvin Erasga Tolentino, Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg, Wen Wei Wang, Peter Bingham, 605 Collective, Amber Funk Barton, Karen Jamieson, James Gnam, Joe Laughlin, Jennifer Mascall and Canadian dance companies and artists such as Compagnie Marie Chouinard, Fortier Danse, Dancemakers and Jose Navas were not well known names. All, along with many others, have been nurtured by the Dancing on the Edge Festival through its provision of production support and venues in which they could perform and hone their skills. Founded by Donna Spencer and Esther Rausenberg in 1988, the Dancing on the Edge Festival was established in response to the needs of local dance artists and since then it has been influential in establishing the success of contemporary dance artists and companies, putting many on the map nationally and around the world. [Source: Press Release] Vancouver’s dance companies and artists will shine while engaging the whole city during the 25th anniversary year. There will be ticketed shows along with public, site-specific events like Alvin Erasga Tolentino and Alison Denham who will perform 25 gestures within 25 minutes as a ritualistic meditative movement prayer every day at 12:00pm (location is to be announced). You can also catch Dusk Dances nightly at Portside Park/Crab Park with host Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg. From free performances like this to showcases at the Firehall Arts Centre and elsewhere around town, dance enthusiasts will love what’s in store. A full schedule can be found online. Tickets are now on sale and they include the EDGE 4 Pack ($85) or 8 Pack ($165) for 4 or 8 ticketed shows and a membership to the Dancing on the Edge Society, and single tickets which range from $22 to 28 depending on the event. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the Firehall Arts Centre box office at (604) 689-0926. If you would like to experience the Dancing on the Edge Festival I have two EDGE 4 PACKS to give away. One winner winner receive both so that they can pick up tickets to four shows of their choice along with a guest. Here’s how you can enter to win: Leave a comment here naming your favourite type of dance (1 entry) Post the following on Twitter (1 entry) RT to enter to win a pair of EDGE 4 Packs for @DOTEFestival from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/mccPZ I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, June 25, 2013. Follow the festival on Facebook and Twitter for more information. © 2004-2012 Rebecca Bollwitt - Miss604.com. If you are not reading this via official Miss604 channels, this content is being reproduced without permission. The post Dancing On the Edge Festival 2013 appeared first on Vancouver Blog Miss604.

The group's connection with Japan began in 1977, when the band first played to capacity crowds in the Far East.

Last week, I detailed how Deckers Outdoor (DECK) could have tremendous upside if the UGG brand delivered this year. Today, my focus shifts to another retailer known for its footwear products that have been considered a fad at times. Crocs (CROX), which is known most for its open holed flip-flops, was one of the best investments in 2006 and part of 2007. Their bubble burst in 2007, sending shares from $75 to just $0.79 in late 2008. The company stayed around though, and shares now trade for more than $16. While this name has been dismissed by many, it may be one to think about going forward. The business still has solid growth ahead of it, led by strong performance in the Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan) region. Today, I'll detail why this stock could see $20 in the next year. A review of past results: Before I start looking forward,

Solar stocks have seen a sharp rally in 2013 due to improvement in solar panel prices, strong demand from Japan and China as well as better results being reported by companies such as Jinko Solar (JKS), JA Solar (JASO) and First Solar (FSLR). The strongest rally has been seen in companies with a strong installation/downstream business like First Solar, Sunpower and Canadian Solar (CSIQ). Chinese stocks rallied sharply yesterday after the Chinese government said that the grid companies and banks should support the solar companies during these difficult times. Even badly indebted and "zombie" companies such as LDK Solar (LDK) and Suntech (STP) saw a sharp stock rally. However, investing in these stocks would be foolish based on this statement, as the Chinese government keeps issuing such statements from time to time. The authorities in Beijing have become wary of supporting basket

After falling to Italy 2-1 in its Confederations Cup opener, Mexico is in a desperate situation as it takes the pitch on Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET in Castelao Stadium.Another loss will put an end to their hopes of advancing, and they are facing Brazil. The hosts look ready to roll through Group A. Brazil waltzed to a 3-0 win over Japan in the opener. However, it has always been Italy and Mexico who promised to give them a more severe test. After all, it was Mexico that has had the upper hand when these two have met recently. Check out the Group A standings as these teams prepare to play their second round of games. Group A Team Pts GD Brazil 3 3 Italy 3 1 Mexico 0 -1 Japan 0 -3 El Tri defeated Brazil in the gold medal match in the London Games, and they also won the last encounter between the first squads in a friendly last year. However, times have been changing for both. Mexico has suddenly encountered a dearth of scoring. In their last four matches (which includes three World Cup hexagonal contests) Mexico has notched a total of just two goals. They have also drawn eight of their last 10 matches. Considering El Tri's attack features Javier Hernandez and his 33 international goals in 51 games, this lack of production is stunning. Alas, Chicharito needs some help. When he notched this goal against Italy, he ran his international goal total in his last 11 games to eight: The Brazil squad that Mexico will face will be vastly different than the last time these two faced off. Not so much for the players on the pitch but the man on the sideline. Gone is Mano Menezes, as he has been replaced by the more aggressive Luiz Felipe Scolari. Scolari has infused life into the Brazilian attack, and Brazil has won their last two matches by a combined score of 6-0 with a win over Italy to go with the victory over Japan.While this has led to some brilliant attacking, it has also led to some sloppy defending, however. That offers a glimpse of hope that Mexico can end its offensive struggles. However, with Mexico's preferred lone-striker attack in a 4-2-3-1, El Tri will not be able to hang with Brazil's firepower. With players like Neymar, Oscar, Marcelo, Thiago Silva and Hulk all looking to gain revenge on the Olympic defeat, and with Mexico distracted by their struggling attempt to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, this match will be all Brazil. Brazil will win, 3-1.

Ubitus Inc., the worldwide technology leader in cloud gaming solutions, today announced it has empowered Google TV Set-top Boxes (STBs) of LG U+ for use with C-games cloud gaming, adding the latest product lineup to allow LG U+ subscribers to enjoy instant console game on demand in addition to their smartphones, tablets, connected TVs, STBs or PCs anytime, anywhere over the cloud.  Enabled by the new C-games offering, Google STB users with LG U+ tvG IPTV service subscription can start to indulge themselves with instant play of a rich library of game titles right away. Together with its global user base in the U.S., Germany, Japan, Korea, and Greater China, Ubitus continues to lead the market as the largest multi-platform N-screen cloud gaming provider with services running over on xDSL, Fiber, DOCSIS cable, WiFi and LTE networks around the world. "Ubitus commits to work with LG U+, one of our most valued customers, to jointly deliver the most advanced cloud gaming services to consumers on the devices/screens they prefer," said Wesley Kuo, CEO of Ubitus. "Coupled with LG U+'s superior network, Ubitus is also working tirelessly to keep optimizing low-latency cloud gaming mode on the Google TV platform so as to bring an amazing gaming experience on this revolutionary living room entertainment system." Every existing LG U+ tvG IPTV user with Google TV STB will be getting a firmware update for the new C-games offering and the new service will be pre-bundled on all the new Google TV STB offered by the service.

Wanting to ramp up its stagnant tablet sales, Microsoft’s (NASDAQ:MSFT) Surface RT will be getting an update courtesy of chips made by Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM), the largest chip supplier for smartphones and tablets. New versions of the Surface will be based on the Snapdragon processor by Qualcomm, known for delivering fast wireless data connections, reports Bloomberg. The current chip that Microsoft uses for its Surface, Nvidia’s (NASDAQ:NVDA) Tegra chip, will continue to be used in some versions of the Surface. NEW! Discover a new stock idea each week for less than the cost of 1 trade. CLICK HERE for your Weekly Stock Cheat Sheets NOW! Thus far, sales of the Surface RT have been far from impressive, especially considering the technology with which it comes equipped. The RT is the first Microsoft product to use chips that work on ARM Holdings (NYSE:ARMH) technology, a company that dominates in smartphones and tablets. Microsoft is hoping that Qualcomm’s LTE wireless connections, combined with ARM Holdings technology, will prove enticing to customers. However, breaking into the $64 billion tablet market dominated by those run on Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS and Google’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android operating system has proven extremely difficult. Microsoft currently holds less than 1 percent of the tablet market share, compared to Apple’s whopping 40 percent. Yet Microsoft has a multi-pronged approach in place. It was reported yesterday that Microsoft plans to offer the Surface RT at discounted prices to universities and schools around the world. NEW! Discover a new stock idea each week for less than the cost of 1 trade. CLICK HERE for your Weekly Stock Cheat Sheets NOW! Typically priced at $499, the RT will be available for a mere $199 to faculty and administration. This undercuts Apple’s own discounted price for its iPad 2, which is currently offered to colleges for $399—twice as much as the Surface RT. Microsoft will offer this deal to seemingly every major nation. On the list will be, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China (via Digital China), Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States. Additionally Microsoft announced that it will give away 10,000 Surface RT tablets to teachers attending the International Society for Technology Education in August. NEW! Discover a new stock idea each week for less than the cost of 1 trade. CLICK HERE for your Weekly Stock Cheat Sheets NOW! Although these discounted prices seem like a way to help boost sales of the RT, one can’t help but wonder if it’s a convenient means for Microsoft to make room for the newer models of the Surface — equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon. Don’t Miss: 8 Companies Dominating Online Video. Read the original article from Wall St. Cheat Sheet

Fun while it lasted and over too soon, the Manny Ramirez era in Taiwan reportedly has ended.Brandon DuBreuil, the engine behind the previously indispensable Manny Does Taiwan blog reports that Ramirez has been removed from the roster of the EDA Rhinos, his team in Taiwan, and might be looking for work in Japan. The Chiba Lotte Marines, others report, might be interested.Is there going to be a "Manny Does Japan" blog? One can hope.Ramirez's contract was to end June 30, but Focus Taiwan reports Manny is due to leave the country Friday. Homesickness has been cited vaguely as a reason, but then we have the Japan speculation. That's not Manny's home, of course. He's a good, old-fashioned, red-blooded North American by way of New York, Miami and the Dominican Republic. Playing here, or near here, apparently isn't an option right now. Regardless, the urge to play ball apparently still burns in Ramirez, who at 41 years old batted .352/.422/.555 with eight home runs in 206 plate appearances over 49 games Read more Manny Ramirez news

Welcome to Screen Rant’s “Geek Picks,” where we collect the finest movie-related geekery from around the Web. Today you’ll find some interesting candy from Japan; Brad Pitt/World War Z strip trivia; a Fresh Prince parody from the farm; Jimmy Fallon demos the PS4; and Jamie Foxx channings all over your tatum. All that and more on this edition of SR’s Geek Picks! To kick things off, BuzzFeed has 10 Wonderful Archived Artworks From Disney Afternoon. If you have any Geek Picks of your own, please send them to srgeekpicks(at)gmail(dot)com and you may be featured on a future post! - Japanese Toilet Candy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPLl8gHPFAY - Zachary Quinto presents BREAKUP AT A WEDDING – Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmDqfRT58c8 From Zachary Quinto (Star Trek‘s Spock) and the producers of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Margin Call comes the hilarious new comedy from ...Click to continue reading SR Geek Picks: Channing Your Tatum Music Video, ‘Fresh Prince’ Parody & More