China stopped importing Japanese seafood in August 2023 over the release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi plant.
Trade

Japan first-half food exports down 1st time in 4 years amid China row

Seafood ban spurred by Fukushima water release looms over Tokyo's targets

3 August 2024
The U.S. Army demonstrates the launch of a Tomahawk missile from a midrange capability system in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, on June 28. (U.S. Army)
Indo-Pacific

China on edge over prolonged U.S. missile deployment in Asia

Launcher based in Philippines 'like bringing dagger to lunch,' Chinese official says

3 August 2024
The Cambodian factory manufactures Asics' Sportstyle sneakers. (Photo by Atsushi Ooka)
Supply Chain

ASICS shoe supplier in Cambodia accused of labor rights abuses

Japan sportswear company says factory management accepts workers' right to organize

3 August 2024
Takeda Pharmaceuticals' profit margin has fallen after the patent expired for Vyvanse, an ADHD drug.
Pharmaceuticals

Takeda to cut 1,000 U.S. jobs and close San Diego hub

Japanese drugmaker streamlines operations as ADHD therapy patent expires

3 August 2024
Tesla operates a gigafactory in Shanghai. 
Electric vehicles

Tesla sets up insurance brokerage in China

EV giant looks to offer related services in the market

2 August 2024
A Suica contactless transit card is used to pay a train fare at a ticket gate. (East Japan Railway)
Semiconductors

Japan transit card shortage leaves foreign tourists scrambling

Compatible chips still hard to come by despite global supply returning to normal

2 August 2024
Philippine and Japanese coast guard vessels operated with U.S. forces during inaugural trilateral drills off the coast of Bataan in June 2023.
South China Sea

Philippines and Japan hold first joint exercise in South China Sea

Two vessels from each side operated in Philippine exclusive economic zone

2 August 2024
Customers and stallholders at a flea market in Beijing, China. An adviser to the country's central government has called for support for migrant workers and the direct distribution of money to households in order to boost consumption.
Economy

China's top economist calls for higher inflation to spur growth

PBOC adviser proposes CPI growth of 2-3% as 'rigid' policy target

2 August 2024
The Nintendo Switch in July became the company's longest-selling flagship gaming console. (Photo by Kohnosuke Urata)
Media & Entertainment

Nintendo sales and profit plummet in Q1 as gamers await next console

Weak yen helps sales in Japan as foreign tourists buy the aging Switch

2 August 2024
Hotel staff assisted in clearing the Tianxiang parking lot to provide space for an emergency helicopter landing. (Photo by Jackie Chao)
Opinion

How a hotel became a mountain sanctuary during Taiwan's earthquake

Disaster showed the importance of community and self-sufficiency

2 August 2024
Chip-related stocks took a beating in Tokyo on Aug. 2, while financial stocks also felt some pain. (Photo by Yutaka Miyaguchi)
Equities

Japan stocks take largest dive since Black Monday of 1987

Nikkei average tumbles to lowest close since January; Taiex and Kospi also skid

2 August 2024
In July, BYD opened its first Southeast Asian EV assembly plant in Rayong, Thailand. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)
2 August 2024
Vehicles awaiting export at a shipyard in Aichi prefecture: The weak yen has often benefited exporters generating revenue from sales overseas. (Photo by Takuya Imai)
Business trends

Japanese companies see limited financing impact from BOJ hike

Mitsubishi says currency assumptions unchanged, JAL expects to benefit

2 August 2024
Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomes Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Beijing in September 2023, when they elevated ties to an "all-weather strategic partnership.' (Miraflores Palace via Reuters)
International relations

China's Venezuela connection: A warm state embrace with corporate cold feet

Xi gives Maduro 'all-weather' backing as election storm further clouds investment

2 August 2024
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group is set to buy 10% of Globe Fintech Innovations, a leading Philippine mobile payments operator better known as Mynt. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Business deals

MUFG to invest $393m in Philippine mobile payment leader Mynt

Financial group eyes growth in Southeast Asian digital finance market

2 August 2024
Shanghai's fashionable West Bund district is luring art lovers from China and beyond. (All photos by John Krich)
Arts

Shanghai repositions as cutting-edge art hub

West Bund development includes four big museums plus private galleries and cafes

2 August 2024
Apple has faced tougher competition from Chinese smartphone makers like Huawei Technologies and Vivo.
Technology

Apple sets new June quarter revenue record but China woes continue

iPhone maker in talks with Beijing to bring AI features to Chinese users

2 August 2024
Construction on Rapidus' first plant is underway in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, with mass production slated for 2027. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Kyodo and Yuki Nakao) 
Business Spotlight

Rapidus: How a phone call from IBM reignited Japan's chip ambitions

Startup preparing to begin test production of high-tech semiconductors in April

2 August 2024
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on July 31. 
Opinion

Poker-faced Ueda overplays hand as BOJ enters tightening phase

Weak yen policy has taken the onus off governments to restructure the economy

2 August 2024
Zip Infrastructure's autonomous tramway can be built for about a fifth of the cost of a monorail, according to the startup. (Zip Infrastructure illustration)
Transportation

Philippines resort picked for test of Japanese self-driving sky tram

Zip Infrastructure targets Southeast Asia with cheaper alternative to monorails

2 August 2024
Nippon Shokubai will expand capacity at this plant in Banten province, Indonesia. (Nippon Shokubai)
Materials

Japan diaper material maker plans $110m expansion at Indonesia plant

Nippon Shokubai to boost production capacity for superabsorbent polymer

2 August 2024
Xiaomi's SU7 electric vehicle went on sale in March.
Electric cars in China

China's Xiaomi breaks ground on 2nd EV plant in Beijing

Move follows debut of the smartphone maker's 1st electric car

2 August 2024
Nintendo's Switch console has had only 50 or so games approved in China since its 2019 release there. (Photo by Itsuro Fujino)
Media & Entertainment

Nintendo and Sony hamstrung in China by thin game libraries

Regulators have approved only 1% of titles released for Switch and PS5

2 August 2024
Toyota's popular Yaris Cross was one of the models whose sales were halted after safety test irregularities came to light. (Toyota Motor)
Automobiles

Toyota scandals batter suppliers while group posts record profit

Automaker boosts support to Japan parts makers hit by production cuts

2 August 2024
The new towers, shown in this rendering, will serve as new landmarks in Jakarta. (Mitsubishi Estate)
Construction

Jakarta skyscraper, among Indonesia's tallest, set for 2028 completion

Japan developer Mitsubishi Estate's joint project features 330-meter tower

2 August 2024