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July 12, 2026
 

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Francis Tang
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and trade minister Ryosei Akazawa at Sensoji Temple in Tokyo's Asakusa district on Sunday
BUSINESS
Oct 26, 2025
Akazawa and Lutnick reunite to discuss trade deal ahead of Trump visit
Trade minister Ryosei Akazawa and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick visited Tokyo’s landmark Sensoji Temple before heading to Tokyo Skytree for a working lunch on Sunday.
Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama is scheduled to meet U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 24, 2025
Katayama talks taxes and debt without saying too much
In comments Friday, Japan’s new finance minister steered clear of controversy and commitments.
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa will help maintain a close connection with the United States.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 22, 2025
Takaichi’s economic picks reflect balancing act with party and U.S. in mind
Differences on policy have been deemphasized for the time being.
Nikkei 225 stock index breaks record and nears the 50,000 mark on Tuesday just ahead of the vote on the next prime minister.
BUSINESS / Markets
Oct 21, 2025
Nikkei 225 retreats as Takaichi becomes prime minister
Tokyo stocks hit a record earlier in the day only to give up most of the gains.
Pedestrians walk past an electronic quotation board displaying numbers of the Nikkei 225 stock index outside a brokerage in Tokyo on Monday.
BUSINESS / Markets
Oct 20, 2025
Nikkei 225 breaks 49,000 and hits record as political stability returns
The benchmark index rose more than 3% in strong trade throughout the day.
Steel products are the target of two anti-dumping probes Japan has begun so far this year.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 15, 2025
Japan turns to anti-dumping measures as international trade gets complicated
An uptick in number of probes this year indicates an evolving strategy.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announces his intention to resign on Sept. 7.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 15, 2025
Ishiba to leave office with a mixed record on the economy
The outgoing prime minister achieved a few successes and left some important business unfinished.
The 'Takaichi trade' is in doubt and Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi faces challenges from opposition parties.
BUSINESS / Markets
Oct 14, 2025
China-U.S. trade war and political turmoil in Japan weigh on Tokyo stocks
The Nikkei 225 fell as much as 1,500 points, and closed the day down 2.58%, at 46,847.32.
A Ford F-150 pickup truck on the assembly line at a factory in Dearborn, Michigan. The Japanese government might be considering the purchase of some of the pickup trucks to meet its obligations as part of a trade deal with the United States.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 10, 2025
Ford F-150 might be imported by the Japanese government: report
The pickup trucks would be used by local transport ministry offices for construction and road patrols.
Tokyo stocks have been rallying in recent months even as uncertainties build locally and globally.
BUSINESS / Markets
Oct 9, 2025
Buzz builds for a 50,000 Nikkei 225 as index breaks yet another record
Benchmark has hit nine all-time highs in about six weeks.
Sanae Takaichi, leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has said that the government bears responsibility for both fiscal and monetary policy.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 9, 2025
BOJ meddling by Takaichi seen as unwise and ineffective
It’s her versus the markets and inflation-weary Japanese households.
Tokyo stocks staged a powerful rally on Monday. On Tuesday, they rallied again, then retreated.
BUSINESS / Markets
Oct 7, 2025
‘Takaichi trade’ stalls as political reality calls for wait-and-see approach
Tokyo stocks zoomed to a new record and then quickly retreated.
A monitor in Tokyo shows the Nikkei 225 index closing Monday at 47944.76, up 2,175.26 points from the previous week.
BUSINESS / Markets
Oct 6, 2025
‘Takaichi trade’ takes Nikkei to record high
Takaichi is a proponent of expansionary fiscal spending and monetary easing, which is believed to have fueled market optimism and led to the rally.
The U.S. government shut down on Wednesday, though essential services are still being offered.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 2, 2025
U.S. federal shutdown affects Americans in Japan and diplomatic talks
Some consular services are being offered, but the U.S. Embassy site is not being regularly updated
Signs of recovery in consumer spending have some analysts looking for a rate increase as soon as October.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 30, 2025
Bank of Japan rate increase looking more likely
The Cabinet Office is becoming more positive on consumer spending.
Former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi at a debate at the Japan National Press Club with other candidates for the Liberal Democratic Party presidency on Sept. 24
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 29, 2025
Takaichi moots U.S. tariff deal do-over when asked about $550 billion pledge
The woman who could become Japan’s next prime minister raises questions about the agreement.
Concern about prices in Japan is at or near record highs.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 26, 2025
Inflation and ‘food situation’ concerns top key Japan survey
Rising prices have not been this much of a worry since just after the 1973 oil shock.
U.S. President Donald Trump is rolling out a number of new tariffs on Oct. 1.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 26, 2025
Japan might be spared Trump’s 100% tariffs on pharmaceuticals
The country has a most-favored-nation agreement with the U.S. that should cover these products.
Jared Baeten, Gilead Sciences' senior vice president and virology therapeutic area head, hopes regulatory approval elsewhere for lenacapavir as a preexposure prophylaxis — for reducing the risk of contracting HIV — could lead to real discussions toward ending HIV in Japan.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 22, 2025
Twice-a-year injection could make HIV prevention easier, developer argues
Without the need to take a daily pill, adherence could improve, says an executive from Gilead Sciences, which developed such an injection.
BOJ Gov. Kazuo Ueda said it would take a century for the bank to sell all its ETFs at the pace proposed.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 19, 2025
Bank of Japan to start unloading ETFs in surprise move that rattles market
After the announcement, the Nikkei 225 fell from a record high and the yen strengthened.
China’s demand for Soviet-style apartments shows limits to revival
Apartments built during a Soviet Union-inspired construction drive in the 1970s and 1980s tend to suffer from poor insulation and outdated plumbing, but they are seeing a revival in interest due to their attractive locations.
Japanese scientists identify neural mechanism that may explain why we dislike people
The aggressive mouse (left) used in the experiment and a mouse defending itself
Japanese payment processor’s collapse hits banks and restaurants
Zentoshin served around 200,000 shops, many of which rely on early payments to maintain cash flow, raising concerns over their financial stability following the disruption.
Over 70% of accommodations in Japan say they are understaffed amid tourism influx
The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached a high of 42.68 million in 2025.
Lenders seek $700 million after Japanese payments firm’s collapse
The financial failure of Osaka-based Zentoshin has left 63 creditors with claims totaling ¥115.16 billion, according to Tokyo Shoko Research.
Japan’s largest exhibition of women photographers rights a wrong in cultural history
Miwa Yanagi’s “Elevator Girl House” series skewers the superficiality of gender roles through staged images.
Over 70% of accommodations in Japan say they are understaffed amid tourism influx
The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached a high of 42.68 million in 2025.
‘Princess Mononoke’ comes alive in Super Kabuki staging
The “Princess Mononoke” adaptation was created under Shochiku’s Super Kabuki initiative, a modern form of kabuki with more technology in staging and open to pop culture collaborations.
The beating heart inside ‘Human Vapor’
Different forms of love and connection form the emotional backbone of Netflix’s “Human Vapor,” says actor Shun Oguri, who plays troubled detective Kenji Okamoto.
Japan bets on character IP to drive global growth
Born on social media platforms in 2022, Opanchu Usagi has become a major hit, especially among Generation Z.

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One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
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