At the Sumo Hall Hirakuza Osaka, shokkiri comedy skits by pairs demonstrating illegal moves and unacceptable behavior in the ring in order to help visitors understand the rules of sumo. (Hanshin Contents Link)
Media & Entertainment

Sumo show hall to open in Osaka for overseas tourists in May

Osaka-based company to offer nighttime entertainment that whole families can enjoy

10 March 2024
The yen reached its strongest level in a month on March 8. (Photo by Takuya Imai)
Currencies

Yen reaches one-month high against dollar on U.S. jobs data

Fed rate cut speculation weighs down greenback against key currencies

9 March 2024
The yen strengthened to the 147 range against the dollar for the first time in about a month on March 7. (Photo by Yutaka Miyaguchi)
Bank of Japan

Speculation on BOJ ending negative rates in March jolts yen, stocks

Japanese currency touches 1-month high against dollar

8 March 2024
India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar speaks at the Raisina Roundtable in Tokyo on March 7. (Photo by Nanami Sato) 
International relations

India's top diplomat calls for more Japanese investment

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar says countries should deepen business ties

7 March 2024
The 7 million-member Japanese Trade Union Confederation, known as Rengo, holds a rally for this year's spring wage negotiations in Tokyo on March 1.
Economy

Japan's unions demand biggest pay raises in 31 years

Higher wages could prompt the BOJ to starting hiking interest rates

7 March 2024
A Vietnamese woman holding a specified skilled worker visa at a restaurant in Tokyo. (Photo by Mizuho Miyazaki) 
Japan immigration

Japan races to court foreign talent as it doubles skilled worker cap

Better support and pay key to attracting up to 820,000 workers in 5 years

7 March 2024
Commuters in Tokyo: Some companies are eliminating jobs, even as profits pick up, as they respond to pressure to raise profitability still further. (Photo by Nanami Sato)
Business trends

Job cuts at Japanese companies jump, hinting at strategy shift

Voluntary retirement offers through February top annual total in 2023

6 March 2024
Sake bottles have different shapes than wine bottles, making them difficult to reuse in Europe. (Photo by Yo Inoue)
Trade

EU exempts Japanese sake from packaging recycling rules

Requirement covering sake bottles would amount to non-tariff barrier, Tokyo argued

6 March 2024
Wage increases at small and midsize businesses, which employ the majority of Japanese workers, are considered key to lifting the economy as a whole. (Photo by Arisa Moriyama)
Work

Japan's smaller companies gain leeway to raise pay on steady profits

With slower growth in labor costs, wage hikes poised to spread to more industries

5 March 2024
Nippon Steel's plan to purchase U.S. Steel is facing increased political risk ahead of the U.S. presidential election this fall. (Photo by Mizuho Miyazaki)
Business deals

Nippon Steel executive to negotiate with union on U.S. Steel deal

Japan steelmaker aims to complete purchase before November presidential election

5 March 2024
Some young people are choosing non-regular positions to pursue other interests as work values change. (Photo by Nikkei) 
Economy

More young Japanese choosing flexibility over full-time jobs

Rising trend raises questions about social security programs

4 March 2024
As wasabi gains popularity overseas, new products, such as wasabi-flavored snacks and mayonnaise, are being launched targeting foreign lovers of the spicy condiment.
Food & Beverage

Wasabi exports grow as Japan cuisine gains fans overseas

Wasabi food makers tweak spiciness and products for foreign tastes

3 March 2024
Beef, including wagyu, was one of Japan's top agricultural exports to the European Union in 2022. (Photo by Miyu Kaji)
Trade

Sake, scallops and wagyu face hurdles in EU under packaging rules

Top Japanese food exports seen failing to meet proposals for recyclability

2 March 2024
The Bank of Japan is expected to keep observing until the last minute, before deciding at its March 18-19 policy board meeting whether to end the policy of negative interest rates. (Photo by Nanami Sato)
Bank of Japan

Odds rise that Japan will lift negative interest rates in March

BOJ Gov. Ueda says outcome of annual wage talks this month will be pivotal

2 March 2024
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida spoke remotely to investors at a Goldman Sachs-hosted event in Hong Kong. (Goldman Sachs)
Markets

Tokyo Electron, Kobe Steel court global investors as Japan stocks rally

Companies tap into soaring demand for Tokyo-listed shares

1 March 2024
TSMC headquarters in Hsinchu: The manufacturing sector was a key driver of Taiwanese economic growth after the island's market bubble burst.
Opinion

Taiwan's post-bubble recovery holds lessons for China

Active monetary and industrial policy played key roles in island's turnaround

29 February 2024
Japan's trade ministry said there were 103 serious product accidents involving products purchased online in 2022, six times more than 10 years earlier. (Photo by Hiroki Obayashi)
Trade

Japan to require foreign e-tailers to have local person in charge

Trade ministry devises new e-commerce rules amid safety concerns

28 February 2024
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida faces questions in the Diet about LDP funding controversies, but the real scandal of 2024 may be economic malpractice.
Opinion

New Nikkei 225 high should be an unmissable cue for Kishida

With growth slumping, Japanese prime minister needs to lay out reform plan

28 February 2024
Nippon Steel's planned acquisition of U.S. Steel has been opposed by the United Steelworkers union and lawmakers from Pennsylvania, where the American company is based. 
Trade

Nippon Steel taps Republican lobby firepower for U.S. Steel deal

Former congressional staffer retained to help advocate on Capitol Hill

28 February 2024
If former U.S. President Donald Trump wins the November election, he is expected to revive protectionist policies, including imposing import tariffs. 
Interview

Trump could impose universal tariff on Day 1: ex-U.S. trade official

Former USTR chief of staff expects push to end trade deficit with Japan

27 February 2024
A person shops at a supermarket in Tokyo. (Photo by Nanami Sato)
Inflation

Japan's core inflation falls to lowest level in 22 months

Core CPI, which excludes fresh food, slows to 2%, matching BOJ target

27 February 2024
The BOJ is widely expected to end its negative interest policy, introduced in January 2016, this spring. (Source photos by Nanami Sato and Kohnosuke Urata)
Market Spotlight

Japan stocks give boost to BOJ's case for monetary tightening

Investors anticipate rate hike to 0-0.1% in April as Japanese yen hovers near 34-year low

26 February 2024
Respondents not expressing a party preference climbed 4 points to 36%, topping the LDP's level of support for a third straight month. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
Politics

Japan's ruling LDP registers weakest support since return to power

PM Kishida's approval rating slides to record low in wake of fundraising scandal

26 February 2024
In Turkey and other Mediterranean countries, wild tuna are captured and then farmed in pens. (Photo by Momoko Kidera)
Fisheries

Turkish tuna farmers tripled exports to Japan over past decade

Industry expands operations into North Africa and seeks a larger fishing quota

25 February 2024
Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has vowed to scrap the framework should he return to the White House.
Indo-Pacific

Trump comeback threatens to scuttle IPEF in its infancy

Economic framework's supply chain agreement goes into effect Saturday

24 February 2024