Economy

Japan's highest pay hike in more than three decades has yet to outpace inflation. (Photo by Yutaka Miyaguchi)
Economy

Japan's real wages down 1.4% in May, declining for record 26th month

Downward pressure continues as weakening yen pushes up import costs

8 July 2024
Tsuruya Department Store in the Japanese city of Kumamoto, left, stocks a range of fancy wines, hoping to appeal to the tastes of executives connected to a cutting-edge chip plant that recently opened in the area. (Photos by Ryo Asayama and Arisa Moriyama)
Food & Beverage

Japanese department stores lure big-spending executives from new TSMC plant

Fine wines and fancy bags among items popular with tech staff working at site

7 July 2024
Samsung Electronics workers hold a rally in Hwaseong, south of Seoul, on April 17 to demand better working conditions. (Photo by Kim Jaewon)
Your Week in Asia

Modi meets Putin, Samsung faces strike, Philippines-Japan '2-plus-2'

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

7 July 2024
The prices of many pre-owned Japanese action figures have spiked over the past decade, according to Aucfan, which operates price analysis tools. (Photo by Hitomi Izawa)
Media & Entertainment

Anime action figure prices more than double on overseas popularity

Collectors travel to Japan to hunt for favorite characters in secondhand market

6 July 2024
Japan's corporate metabolism is finally accelerating, with an increasing number of companies entering and exiting the market.
Datawatch

Japan Inc. shows signs of faster rejuvenation

Corporate metabolism quickens as both business births and deaths rise around 10%

6 July 2024
A textile market in Jakarta: The Indonesian government plans to impose new import tariffs on clothing, textiles and other products to protect local industries.
Economy

Indonesia business lobby says tariffs 'not solution' for industry

Head of chamber of commerce calls for fair competition to grow SMEs

6 July 2024
China's Haidilao has opened a new low-price hot pot chain. (Photo by Kohei Fujimura)
Inflation

Cheaper meals are back in China, Japan and U.S. -- for different reasons

McDonald's fights inflation fatigue with $5 deal while Chinese chain offers $1 breakfast

6 July 2024
Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund benefitted from rising stock prices and a weak yen.
Finance

Japan pension giant GPIF delivers record $280bn annual return

Fund under pressure to generate bigger gains as wage growth picks up

6 July 2024
Spanish economy minister Carlos Cuerpo tells Nikkei Asia on July 4 that his country will not engage in a 'trade war' with China. Cuerpo is in Tokyo to launch a Japan-Spain business forum. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)
Interview

EU must not be 'naive' in China EV talks, Spain economy minister says

Bloc should protect domestic industries and 'be a bit more self-centered'

5 July 2024
A shopper checks out discounted items at a Tokyo supermarket. Japanese workers' monthly pay will rise an average of 5.1% this fiscal year, but high inflation is squelching consumption. (Photo by Akitoshi Sugiura)
Economy

Japan May household spending falls 1.8% on higher prices

Ministry official casts doubt on whether wages have kept pace with prices

5 July 2024
Japan could adopt financial measures that have promoted entrepreneurship elsewhere, Richard Katz argues.
Opinion

Japan must grab its entrepreneurial moment

Bold government measures are needed to unleash nation's start-up potential

4 July 2024
Japan's shrinking labor force is a major obstacle for its economic growth.
Japan immigration

Japan headed for shortage of 970,000 foreign workers in 2040

JICA doubles estimate amid global race for employees and weaker Asian growth

4 July 2024
BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda speaks during a ceremony on the day of the new notes of 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen and 1,000 yen went into circulation, at the BOJ headquarters in Tokyo on July 3. (Pool photo)
Currencies

Cash-loving Japan redesigns banknotes for first time in two decades

Bills embrace cutting-edge tech in a world first, are clearer to non-Japanese

3 July 2024
A worker takes a reading at a power transmission and distribution center near Jakarta.
Energy

Japan commits to ASEAN power grid project to counter China

PM Kishida to reveal details of 10-year plan as utilities seek slice of market

2 July 2024
Overtourism has become a problem at Mt. Fuji, Japan's tallest and most iconic mountain. (Photo by Takayuki Matsunaga)
Travel & Leisure

Mt. Fuji opens for season with traffic cap, toll to combat overtourism

Local governments hope new restrictions help reduce crowds and accidents

2 July 2024
The average land price in Japan rose 2.3% in 2024 from a year earlier, logging its third consecutive year of gains, the country's land ministry reported on July 1.
Property

Japan land price rises over 2% for 1st time amid post-COVID bounce

Twenty-nine out of 47 prefectures see rises; Fukuoka has biggest gains

1 July 2024
The Bank of Japan released the results of the latest Tankan business sentiment survey as it considers the timing of a pending policy shift. (Photo by Maho Obata)
Economy

Japan business mood rises for the first time in 6 months: BOJ Tankan

Quarterly survey results come amid BOJ's pending policy shift

1 July 2024
Japan's real GDP shrank an annualized 2.9% in January-March, down from an earlier estimate of a 1.8% contraction.
Economy

Japan downgrades Q1 GDP to annualized 2.9% drop

Construction data in unscheduled revision darkens recovery prospects

1 July 2024
Electric vehicle maker BYD is opening a new factory in Thailand as Chinese EV producers face the prospect of stiff EU tariffs.
Your Week in Asia

Tokyo picks next governor, Shanghai AI conference, BYD opens Thai factory

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

30 June 2024
A Lexus plant in Kyushu, Japan. Toyota is one of the automakers hit by an inspection scandal. (Photo by Toshiki Sasazu)
Economy

Japan industrial production disrupted by Daihatsu, Toyota woes

Stoppages in auto industry continue to weigh heavily on economy, data shows

29 June 2024
Imported foods such as U.S. beef for gyudon beef bowls, center, are becoming more expensive for Japan's companies and consumers. (Source photos by Nikkei)
Currencies

Yen's purchasing power hits all-time low, at one-third of peak

Japanese households see annual costs rise $560 on costlier food and energy

29 June 2024
Atsushi Mimura is set to take over as Japan's top currency diplomat at the end of July. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
Currencies

Japan appoints Atsushi Mimura as top currency diplomat as yen falls

Director-general of international bureau will replace Masato Kanda on July 31

28 June 2024
From left, Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ken Saito, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, and South Korean Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun in Washington on June 26. (Photo by Shunsuke Ushigome)
International relations

U.S. and Japan face disconnect over further China chip controls

Trilateral with South Korea produces agreement on supply chain cooperation

28 June 2024
The Japanese government is thought to have spent around 8 trillion yen ($49.9 billion) in total in late April and early May to halt the yen’s decline. (Photo by Yuji Murakami)
Currencies

Analysts expect next Japan forex intervention around 165

Tokyo awaiting May U.S. inflation data on Friday: Mizuho

27 June 2024
"We will firmly respond to moves that are too rapid or driven by speculators," Japan's top currency diplomat, Masato Kanda, said on June 24. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
Currencies

Yen slides under 160 to lowest level since 1986; Japan stocks fall

Drop stokes expectations for government and BOJ to step in again

27 June 2024