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Japanese economic performance

109 eventsActive since 24 Jul 2026Updated 6h agoEconomic
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economic6h ago

Bank of Japan Deputy Governor discusses inflation risks

Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino addressed business leaders in Saitama prefecture on August 27 regarding potential inflationary pressures. He identified the Middle East conflict, funding demands for artificial intelligence infrastructure, and the weaker yen as primary factors that could drive inflation higher. The statements reinforced market expectations for further monetary tightening, though Himino avoided providing a direct signal regarding a potential interest rate hike in September.

economic11h ago

Japanese regulators register platform to trade unlisted shares

Japan’s Financial Services Agency registered Smartround Securities as a brokerage to facilitate secondary market trading for unlisted shares. This initiative aims to broaden private markets and increase capital flow to domestic startups, which previously relied primarily on IPOs or third-party acquisitions for liquidity. Industry experts, including Sylvain Thieullent of Horizon Trading Solutions and Jeremy Tan of Tiger Fund Management, noted that the platform is intended to improve the quality of the IPO pipeline and enhance corporate governance through increased transparency and digitized records.

economic12h ago

BOJ deputy governor Himino calls for 'timely' rate hike

Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino stated on August 27, 2026, that the central bank should raise interest rates in a timely manner. Himino argued that this approach would help avoid a spike in inflation that might necessitate abrupt rate hikes later. He emphasized that the bank must pay greater attention to upside risks to prices, as underlying inflation deviating above the 2% target would negatively impact the economy.

economic12h ago

Japan allocates tourist tax revenue for wildlife and pest control projects

The Japanese government expected to raise 130 billion yen (US$817.7 million) in the 2026 financial year following a July 1 increase in the International Tourist Tax from 1,000 yen to 3,000 yen per person. While the government originally justified the tax increase to address overtourism and promote resort development, funds were also allocated to projects including bear attack prevention and the eradication of an invasive beetle. Critics raised concerns that these specific environmental and pest control measures offered limited direct benefit to the travellers who paid the levy.

economic18h ago

JFE Engineering becomes first Japanese firm to build offshore wind farm frames

JFE Engineering became the first Japanese company to begin supplying steel tubes used as monopile anchoring structures for offshore wind farms. This development marked a step toward Japan's established target of increasing the domestic content of its wind farms to 65% by 2040. Previously, these anchoring structures were sourced from Europe and China rather than being manufactured within Japan.

economic18h ago

Kioxia to invest $6.3bn in new memory production facility in Japan

Japanese memory chip maker Kioxia Holdings announced plans to construct a new production facility at its site in northern Japan. The project required an investment expected to exceed 1 trillion yen, or approximately $6.27 billion. This strategic move followed similar output increases by Korean competitors Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. As the third-largest holder of the global NAND market share, Kioxia’s expansion positioned the company to maintain its competitive standing in the semiconductor industry.

economic18h ago

Japan credit unions report bond losses as long-term interest rates rise

Seventeen regional credit unions in Japan, known as shinkin banks, reported financial losses as of August 27, 2026. These losses were triggered by rising long-term interest rates, which eroded the value of the institutions' bond holdings. The decline in the value of these assets created headwinds for the small business fundraising activities typically supported by these lenders.

economic18h ago

Mitsubishi Motors-Nissan alliance faces uncertainty after ten years

As the 10th anniversary of Nissan Motor’s investment in Mitsubishi Motors approached, market speculation regarding potential new capital partners intensified. Nissan’s initial investment in October 2016 occurred ten years prior to the current assessment of the partnership’s limited results. During this period, Mitsubishi Motors experienced a market capitalization decline of approximately 40%.

economic20h ago

Japan seeks to increase H3 rocket launches to compete with SpaceX

Japan’s science ministry planned to request a budget increase of approximately $148 million to boost the launch frequency of the H3 heavy-lift rocket. This initiative aimed to increase launches to between six and eight times per year, a move designed to challenge SpaceX's dominance in the satellite launch market. By increasing capacity, the ministry sought to reduce the interval between launches to as little as two weeks.

economic20h ago

An analysis of the scale and sustainability of Japan's pension fund

The Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), the world's largest public pension fund, faced challenges in outperforming the market two decades after its founding. GPIF President Kazuto Uchida worked to increase the fund’s agility to address these performance difficulties. Additionally, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama suggested that the fund increase its investment in government bonds, a proposal that generated significant attention.

disaster20h ago

The impact of the Kumamoto earthquake on a Japanese drone maker's profile

Following the earthquake that struck Kumamoto prefecture in late July 2026, the Japanese drone manufacturer Liberaware deployed its lightweight IBIS2 drones to assist with rescue and recovery operations. The involvement of Liberaware’s technology highlighted the ongoing progress and competitive challenges faced by the Japanese drone industry, which currently operates in a market dominated by Chinese manufacturers. According to reporting from August 27, 2026, the company utilized lessons learned from previous disasters during these relief efforts.

economic22h ago

Japan's Terra Charge to roll out Tesla-compatible EV charging stations

Japanese EV charging service provider Terra Charge announced plans to install 2,500 charging stations compatible with Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS). The rollout of this equipment is scheduled to begin in fiscal 2028 and conclude by fiscal 2033. This initiative was triggered by the company's objective to capture charging demand from Tesla vehicle owners within the Japanese market.

economic1d ago

Mitsubishi Corp. chief discusses corporate response to geopolitical risks

Mitsubishi Corp. CEO Katsuya Nakanishi stated that the Japanese trading house utilized its expertise to develop various scenarios in response to geopolitical risks. This discussion occurred as the company targeted a record net profit of 1.2 trillion yen ($7.5 billion) for the fiscal year ending March 2028. Nakanishi also noted that the prompts and questions provided by humans to artificial intelligence would become increasingly significant. The comments followed the seventh anniversary of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway first investing in the firm.

economic1d ago

Japan finance minister calls for investment from Australia

Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama addressed the Nikkei Asia Forum in Sydney on Wednesday to encourage Australian financial firms and investors to increase their presence in Japan. Katayama highlighted Japan’s recent regulatory reforms, which she noted facilitated the entry of more than 50 overseas financial institutions into the country over the last five years. The appeal was framed by the need to strengthen bilateral ties amid rising geopolitical tensions, global fragmentation, and the increasing influence of China.

economic1d ago

BOJ Governor Ueda to skip Jackson Hole; market focus shifts to G20

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda opted not to attend the annual Jackson Hole symposium, with board member Naoki Tamura attending on his behalf. Tamura, a noted hawk who has advocated for regular interest rate hikes to address inflation, represented the central bank during the gathering. Market focus has subsequently shifted toward a potential appearance by Ueda at next week’s G20 finance leaders' meeting in Asheville, North Carolina. This development occurred as participants sought signals regarding a potential rate hike to 1.25 percent at the BOJ's September 17–18 meeting.

economic1d ago

Japan's corporate services inflation accelerates in July

Japan's services producer price index rose 3.6 percent in July compared to the previous year, following a revised 3.4 percent gain in June. Data released by the Bank of Japan indicated that a tight labor market prompted firms to pass rising operational costs on to consumers. This acceleration in service-sector inflation occurred alongside increased core consumer inflation, which was driven by higher import costs resulting from a weak yen and the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

economic1d ago

Japan to weigh condo sale tax change to curb speculation

Japan’s land ministry announced plans to pursue tax code changes for fiscal 2027 to address rising urban home prices driven by speculative condominium transactions. This initiative followed a period where average prices for new condominiums in central Tokyo reached record highs during the first half of 2026, surpassing 100 million yen. The policy aimed to mitigate concerns that regular homebuyers were being priced out of the market due to intense demand for luxury units in cities like Tokyo and Osaka.

economic1d ago

40% of Japan department stores expect tourist spending to rise

Nearly 40% of Japanese department stores projected that international tourist spending would increase during the current fiscal year. This expectation was driven by a weak yen, which encouraged purchases of luxury goods among travelers. While there was a noted decline in visitors from China, stores reported that inbound traffic from Europe, the U.S., and Southeast Asia helped offset those losses.

economic1d ago

Japanese trading houses expand business into anime merchandise

Japanese trading houses expanded their business operations into the anime merchandise sector. This shift involved these companies entering the market for anime-related products.

economic1d ago

Bank of Japan expected to raise key rate to 1.25% in September

A majority of economists surveyed in late August expected the Bank of Japan to raise its key interest rate to 1.25% in September, marking a rapid shift from July when only 5% of respondents anticipated a move this quarter. This policy adjustment was driven by persistent selling pressure on the yen and concerns over inflation, which were exacerbated by the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. The shift in expectations was further bolstered by comments from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and the view that failing to act would destabilize markets. Analysts also noted that previous joint Japan-U.S. currency interventions were largely ineffective at addressing the underlying causes of the yen's weakness.

economic1d ago

Japan plans to extract rare earths using nuclear reprocessing technology

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency and others developed a new technology capable of extracting rare-earth elements from liquids such as water and oil. This process utilizes an absorbent designed to chemically remove these materials from industrial waste. The development was reported on August 26, 2026, by Nikkei, noting that the technology creates the possibility for recovering valuable resources from industrial wastewater.

economic1d ago

Daikin to open new cooling equipment plant in Mexico

Daikin Industries announced plans to construct an additional factory in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi to produce cooling systems for data centers. The Japanese company targeted growing demand from hyperscalers in regions including Europe and India as AI infrastructure development continued globally. This expansion aimed to grow Daikin's sales footprint beyond its established North American market.

economic1d ago

Japan to trial blockchain technology for real-time stock and bond settlements

The Bank of Japan and associated government entities announced plans to develop a next-generation payment infrastructure utilizing blockchain technology. The project aimed to enable the instantaneous settlement of transactions for stocks and Japanese government bonds at any time of day. The framework was scheduled to launch within the next few years.

economic1d ago

Kikkoman reports higher profits from overseas operations than in Japan

Kikkoman reported that its profits from overseas operations exceeded those generated within Japan. The company attributed this performance to its pricing power in the United States and other international markets, which drove increased cash flow. Kikkoman has engaged in the production and sale of soy sauce globally for decades, including the operation of a factory located on the northern edge of the U.S. Corn Belt.

economic1d ago

Japan wholesale power prices set to surge 40% on LNG costs, IEA forecasts

The International Energy Agency forecasted that average wholesale electricity prices in Japan would rise by nearly 40% during the second half of 2026. This increase was attributed to higher costs for liquefied natural gas resulting from ongoing turmoil in the Middle East. As a nation heavily reliant on imported liquefied natural gas, Japan remained vulnerable to price fluctuations in the global market, where Asian prices typically tracked with crude oil.

economic1d ago

Daiwa Securities unit partners with Australian VC to invest in tech startups

Daiwa Corporate Investment, a subsidiary of Japan's Daiwa Securities Group, partnered with an Australian venture capital firm to launch the Sakura Fund. The fund aimed to raise $143 million in 2026 to invest in growth-stage Australian companies, specifically targeting sectors like quantum technology and food tech. The initiative highlighted companies such as Q-CTRL, a developer of GPS-free navigation systems, as potential investment targets.

economic1d ago

Japan's Terra Drone wins contract for Self-Defense Forces interceptors

Japanese manufacturer Terra Drone secured a contract to supply its B1 interceptor drones to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Deliveries of the domestically produced craft were scheduled to begin as early as September 2026. This procurement followed a broader push by Japan to develop its homegrown defense drone industry.

economic2d ago

Suzuki's new e-Sky mini EV exceeds BYD Racco in energy efficiency

On Monday, August 24, 2026, Japanese automaker Suzuki Motor unveiled the e-Sky, its first mini passenger electric vehicle. The vehicle features the highest power efficiency in its class, surpassing the performance of the BYD Racco. Suzuki scheduled the domestic market launch for November 2026, with plans for future exports to Europe.

economic2d ago

Japan to support oil pipelines that bypass Strait of Hormuz

On August 25, 2026, the Japanese government announced plans to assist Middle Eastern nations in constructing oil pipelines designed to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was scheduled to introduce this strategy at the Green Transformation Implementation Council meeting on Wednesday. The initiative was developed as part of a government effort to diversify oil import routes and bolster Japan's national energy security.

economic2d ago

Japanese bond ETFs attract record $1.5 billion in net inflows in 2026

Japanese bond exchange-traded funds (ETFs) drew a record $1.5 billion in net inflows during 2026, according to Morningstar data released on Tuesday. This surge was triggered by rising Japanese government bond (JGB) yields, which reached a 2.93% high for the 10-year note, the highest level since the mid-1990s. Investors, particularly from Europe, sought these assets to diversify away from traditional U.S. dollar holdings amid concerns regarding the dollar's status as a safe-haven asset.

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