Economy

14 September 2024
Power grids have become the primary bottleneck for expanding clean energy use in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
A crowded shopping street in Seoul's Myeongdong district.
Opinion

Japan shouldn't care that South Korea has higher GDP per capita

Both countries have to learn from each other, and focus on quality of life and happiness

13 September 2024
The nine candidates to lead Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party join an event in Tokyo on Sept. 12. From left in front row: Sanae Takaichi, Takayuki Kobayashi, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Shinjiro Koizumi, Yoko Kamikawa, Katsunobu Kato, Taro Kono, Shigeru Ishiba and Toshimitsu Motegi. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
Japan's leadership race

Japan's LDP kicks off leadership race to pick Kishida successor

Record candidate field faces 2-week battle to win support from ruling party members

12 September 2024
Japan's benchmark index Nikkei Stock Average rose sharply during trading on Sept. 12 in Tokyo after tech-led gains on Wall Street and as the yen weakened. (Photo by Yuji Murakami)
Equities

Japan stocks jump 3.4%, track Wall Street tech gains

Domestic shares unlikely to repeat historic August plunge, strategists say

12 September 2024
Many Japanese businesses, including Honda Motor, have operations in the Indian state of Rajasthan. (Photo by Ryosuke Hanada)
Interview

India's Rajasthan courts Japan auto industry with eye on EVs

State chief touts potential for business and tourism opportunities

12 September 2024
Japan's economy expanded an annualized 0.4% in July from the previous month, according to an estimate released by the Japan Center for Economic Research. (Photo by Yo Inoue)
Economy

Japan's July GDP grew 0.4% on solid exports: JCER

Inbound tourism-related demand also increased, while private consumption declined

11 September 2024
Comments by Bank of Japan policymaker Junko Nakagawa pushed up the yen on Sept. 11. (Photo by Arisa Moriyama)
Currencies

Yen surges to strongest this year on BOJ policymaker's remark

Junko Nakagawa signals central bank's readiness to raise rates if inflation on track

11 September 2024
Under pressure from investors, big landowners like hoteliers, railway operators and manufacturers are selling off real estate that is no longer central to their business.
The Big Story

Japan Inc.'s 25 trillion yen opportunity: Cashing in on real estate

Railway operator Seibu sets example by putting big Tokyo complex up for sale

11 September 2024
A concept model of the fighter jet being developed jointly by Japan, the U.K. and Italy is displayed at the Farnborough International Airshow in July. (Photo by Tsuyoshi Tamehiro)
Defense

Japan should allow exports of all defense equipment: former officials

Proposal would eliminate restrictions on use, eyeing boost to regional deterrence

10 September 2024
A board shows one-year movements in Japan's benchmark stock index in Tokyo on Sept. 9. (Photo by Nanami Sato)
Markets

Japanese stocks pare losses after early slide on U.S. economy worries

Markets 'not fully at ease' after weaker-than-expected nonfarm payroll data

9 September 2024
Japan's economy grew by an annualized 2.9% in April to June, versus economists' median forecast for a 3.2% rise in a Reuters poll and down from an initial reading of 3.1%. ((Photo by Konosuke Urata)
Economy

Japan's Q2 GDP growth revised down slightly on consumption, capex

Latest figure down to annualized 2.9% from initial 3.1%, short of forecast

9 September 2024
Carbon trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange has been going on for almost a year though volume lags overseas markets.
Climate Change

Tokyo Stock Exchange carbon trading slowly picks up in first year

Companies prepare for government initiative in 2026 to speed up emission cuts

8 September 2024
Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party announces his candidacy for party leader on Sept. 4. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
Japan's leadership race

Japan's leadership race focuses on aid for inflation-weary voters

Pledges to not raise taxes and extend subsidies risk eroding fiscal situation

5 September 2024
Japan's Nippon Steel has proposed acquiring U.S. Steel, but the deal faces stiff opposition in America. (Photos by Nanami Sato and AP)
Business deals

Nippon Steel promises most of U.S. Steel board will be American

Governance policy comes amid resistance to deal from presidential candidates

4 September 2024
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris attends a campaign event focused on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities on July 9 in Nevada, one of seven key states that could decide the outcome of November's presidential election.
Asia Insight

Once neglected, Asian Americans now courted in knife-edge election

Tiny margins in battleground states spotlight voters like Wisconsin's Hmong community

3 September 2024
A Toyota showroom in central Japan. (Photo by Yuki Nakao)
Automobiles

Toyota restarts Yaris and Corolla production after safety test scandal

Automakers lift factory closures as Typhoon Shanshan's impact wanes

2 September 2024
Japan's high-speed bullet trains are famous around the world. (Photo by Kazumi Saito)
Transportation

Tokyo-Hakata bullet trains fully resume after typhoon

Tokaido and Sanyo lines moving after nearly four days of disruption

2 September 2024
Policymakers are counting on business investment to be an engine for the Japanese economy.
Economy

Japan Q2 corporate capex up 7.4%, pointing to solid domestic demand

Capital spending data could support move by BOJ to raise interest rates further

2 September 2024
Central bank moves to aid stock prices risk sowing the seeds of future market instability.
Comment

Crashes hold lesson for central banks: keep markets at arm's length

From Fed's Greenspan to BOJ's Ueda, investor-friendly moves often take a toll

2 September 2024
A building in Miyazaki, Japan, damaged by Typhoon Shanshan, as seen Aug. 29 in this screengrab from a social media video. (Bakuteman/@bakuteman_8910/via Reuters)
Natural disasters

Shanshan, downgraded from typhoon, leaves 7 dead in Japan

Tokyo-Osaka bullet train service set to resume; landslide and flood warnings remain

1 September 2024
A member of the nightly patrol in Tokyo's Shibuya ward approaches people drinking in public. (Photo by Koki Kubota)
Society

Tokyo's Shibuya cracks down on public drinking as tourist crowds swell

District to impose year-round nighttime ban with patrols targeting unruly behavior

31 August 2024
An employee works at a Tokyo supermarket in early 2023. Inflation figures for the Japanese capital are considered a leading indicator of nationwide trends.
Inflation

Core inflation in Japan's capital rises 2.4% in August

Consumer price data backs case for more BOJ interest rate hikes

30 August 2024
Travelers weigh their options at Shin-Osaka Station as a slow-moving typhoon bears down on the region on Aug. 29. (Photo by Arisa Moriyama)
Natural disasters

Japanese typhoon weakens but train and flight disruptions continue

Shinkansen service between Nagoya and Shin-Osaka resumes; Tokyo-Nagoya still suspended

30 August 2024
Marriage of convenience? Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard has made an ambitious, preliminary takeover approach for the Japanese company that owns 7-Eleven. (Photos by Reuters and Yuji Murakami)
Business Spotlight

With 7-Eleven on buyout menu, Japanese owner Seven & i reaches crossroads

Couche-Tard targets food business, U.S. market; regulatory, antitrust issues weigh

30 August 2024
The offices of Japan's ministries in Tokyo. Budget requests submitted to the Finance Ministry for fiscal 2025 were the largest on record. (Photo by Hirofumi Yamamoto)
Politics

Japan interest rates, defense buildup push budget requests above $800bn

Record spending could go even higher on wage, inflation measures

30 August 2024