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 Kazuaki Nagata

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Kazuaki Nagata
Achal Khare, former managing director at India’s National High Speed Rail Corporation, gives a presentation during the IHRA Forum 2025 in Tokyo on Oct. 23.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 6, 2025
High-speed rail is expensive and difficult, but seen as a key to growth
Train fanatic and former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba praised shinkansen technology at a forum hosted by the International High-speed Rail Association.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers her first policy speech in parliament, on Oct. 24, 2025.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 31, 2025
Takaichi might be more of a supply-sider than a Keynesian
It's not all about Abenomics, one economist argues.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda said on Thursday that the central bank has no timeline in mind for the next rate increase.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 30, 2025
BOJ keeps policy rate at 0.5% as lack of U.S. data makes forecasting difficult
The central bank stuck to a wait-and-see approach owing to continued uncertainty.
BYD Auto Japan President Atsuki Tofukuji unveils the Racco at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo on Wednesday.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 29, 2025
At Japan Mobility Show, BYD gears up to conquer Japan's EV market
The Chinese EV manufacturer’s Racco minivehicle is its first model exclusively made for a specific market.
Some Bank of Japan policy board members have started to dissent from the wait-and-see approach of their colleagues.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 28, 2025
Bank of Japan expected to sit this one out and keep benchmark rate at 0.5%
Even though inflation remains high, so too does uncertainty.
Noritaka Okabe, head of Japanese startup JPYC, at a news conference for the first yen stablecoin in Tokyo on Monday
BUSINESS / Tech
Oct 27, 2025
JPYC, world’s first yen stablecoin, is issued
One-second transfers costing less than ¥1 could become a reality.
Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi at the National Diet Building in Tokyo on Monday
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 20, 2025
Takaichi government will likely spend less than expected
The Japan Innovation Party, the Liberal Democratic Party's new coalition partner, could take the edge off some original policy priorities.
Japan National Stadium will be called the MUFG Stadium from 2026 to 2030.
MORE SPORTS
Oct 15, 2025
MUFG buys Japan National Stadium naming rights for five years 
The financial services company anticipates opportunities from the investment.
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.
Less than a week ago, Sanae Takaichi seemed set to become Japan's first female prime minister.
BUSINESS / Markets
Oct 10, 2025
‘Takaichi trade’ starts unwinding as political calculus upended by Komeito exit
Stocks fell and the yen rose after the coalition collapsed
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.
Sanae Takaichi, newly elected leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, speaks during a news conference at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on Saturday.
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Oct 5, 2025
Japan's economic policy outlook unclear under Takaichi-led minority government
Much depends on whether new Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi can successfully find an additional coalition partner.
The Bank of Japan is likely to raise rates by the end of this year or early next year.
BUSINESS / Markets
Oct 1, 2025
Japan's tankan survey suggests rate increase sooner rather than later
Corporate sentiment improved as tariff uncertainty lessened following an agreement with the U.S.
Takeshi Niinami speaks at a news conference in early September after police investigated him over the shipment of supplements to his home.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 30, 2025
Niinami resigning as head of Keizai Doyukai
The business lobby's senior vice chairperson, Mutsuo Iwai, will become acting chairperson until a new leader is chosen.
Most Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Section companies have independent directors now.
BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS
Sep 26, 2025
Japanese corporate boards have changed dramatically in recent years
Governance reforms have led to the addition of independent outside directors.
Agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi has changed course on some economic issues.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 24, 2025
LDP presidential candidates get closer to opposition on some economic issues
They have to make more compromises as the ruling coalition no longer has the majority.
The Bank of Japan has maintained a wait-and-see approach for most of the year.
BUSINESS / Markets
Sep 17, 2025
Bank of Japan set to hold rates steady even as inflation remains high
It is expected to keep the policy rate at 0.5% at its meeting this week.
The Bank of Japan's wait-and-see approach is likely to continue given the political climate and the tariff situation.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 11, 2025
Rate increase in Japan less likely following Ishiba's resignation
Political uncertainty will make a move higher in October difficult.
Takeshi Niinami resigns as chairman and CEO of Suntory Holdings.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 9, 2025
Niinami’s ouster quick but not unusual as corporations protect reputation
Sometimes it makes sense to act before the investigation is done.
Representatives from member companies of JOINT3, a consortium working together on semiconductor-related developments announced by Resonac, pose for a photo in Tokyo on Wednesday.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 4, 2025
Resonac creates 27-member consortium to pursue advanced chip developments
It will develop materials, equipment and design tools suitable for large, square organic interposers used in chipmaking.

Longform

Once smoky, male-dominated spaces, today's net cafes, like Kaikatsu Club, are working to make their operations more attractive to women customers.
The second life of Japan's net cafes