The ubiquitous Housing Board flat, home to the majority of the population in Singapore, has become part of the art of a contemporary Japanese artist. In Akira Yamaguchi's book, Singa-planet, HDB blocks are seen as historical monuments sprouting out of their green natural setting.

LinkedIn Corp. has established its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore and plans to set up a Japan office later this year, as the company seeks to grow its regional footprint. The headquarters will serve as a gateway for regional expansion, and support LindkedIn's existing operations in Australia and India.

Korea, China and Japan will establish tourism routes linking the countries, as agreed in a trilateral tourism ministers' meeting. They also agreed to cooperate in minimizing the effects of natural disasters and terrorism, and develop a crisis management manual and tourism promotion programs.

On Monday, May 30, the completion ceremony of the Japanese Language Programs for Foreign Service Officers and Public Officials, which are conducted jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japan Foundation, will be held inside the offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak went to Japan's disaster-struck region to express their sympathy to residents and to kick off a new period of cooperation in a region beset with both long-playing historical grievances and recent geopolitical squabbling.

The purpose of the seminar was to shed more light on the positive relationship between Japan and Kuwait, to strengthen the bridge between the two countries especially in the economic field, and to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Kuwait and Japan.

Gov. Bob McDonnell is touting the virtues of Virginia wine on a trade mission in Asia. Virginia wines have been served at dinners with ministers and business executives, while wine events introduced restaurants, merchants and retailers to some of the products from its vineyards.

The story highlights the undaunted spirit of the Japanese people, who always try to overcome difficult situations instead of blaming fate and others, as can be seen in the aftermath of the recent natural disasters in Japan.