Among various incidents which prompted Dreamliner aircraft to be grounded have been the incineration of the auxiliary power unit on an empty JAL aircraft and later a forced landing of an ANA jet with another major electrical problem.

A little publicized class action court case is going on in the Supreme Court in Australia, which may have long-term ramifications for smaller Japanese health food exporters.

As is our custom, we are going to kick off the year by making some predictions about where we think Japan, her people, and companies are headed this year.

Today we take a look back at some of the key events that shaped 2012, including those relevant to non-Japanese living here.

With the online shopping boom companies and individuals in Japan are moving on to the Internet in a big way, and where they are headed, crooks are sure to follow.

Our overall first-time traveler rating for Jetstar is that they offer great value and despite the occasional teething problems look to have a good operation -- certainly the staff were very friendly.

Shock waves went through the Japanese share market last week after ratings of Sony and Panasonic, two of Japan's bedrock electronics manufacturing companies, have been cut to junk grade.

With Toronto-based Kobo, Rakuten would be able to "do an Amazon" and bypass Japan's consumption tax laws by selling Japanese-language ebooks from abroad.

Sometime later this week, our sister publication, Metropolis will mark a significant milestone: its JapanTourist.jp website will surpass Lonely Planet for the sheer number of articles available about Japan in English.

Reading the newspapers over the last few weeks, one could be forgiven for thinking that Japan is suffering a plague of corruption and insider dealing, especially by its bureaucrats.