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Kazuaki Nagata

A supermarket in Chiba. Politicians in Japan might cut the consumption tax to help households and the economy.

BUSINESS / Economy

May 8, 2025

Economists debate consumption-tax cut as Japanese politicians warm to the idea

Japanese politicians are considering the possibility of lowering the consumption tax to stimulate the economy in the face of U.S. tariffs.

Phillip Vincent (right), Japan CEO of Plug and Play, and Ma Jingqian, head of ventures, at Plug and Play's Tokyo office, last month

BUSINESS / Companies

May 5, 2025

Plug and Play wants to help Japanese startups go global

The Japanese government is aggressively supporting startups, and large companies are seeking more opportunities to bet on entrepreneurs.

The Bank of Japan has been signaling caution in the face of uncertainty.

BUSINESS / Economy

May 1, 2025

Bank of Japan holds rates as expected but surprises with growth forecast cut

The policy board made no adjustment to the short-term policy rate, currently 0.5%, at a two-day meeting that concluded Thursday.

Tesla's store in Tokyo's Shibuya district. While sales of American cars in Japan appear to be shrinking, Tesla's presence in the country is growing.

BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS

Apr 28, 2025

Counting the reasons why there are so few American cars in Japan

One reason is size, with American cars tending to be larger and not generally suited for driving in busy cities with many narrow roads, such as Tokyo.

The yen strengthened dramatically this month — hitting ¥139.9 to the dollar on Tuesday — and could become a topic of conversation in trade talks between the United States and Japan.

BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS

Apr 22, 2025

Yen on the march as Plaza Accord 2.0 debate grows

The U.S. has claimed that Japan's currency is undervalued, with some in the administration of President Donald Trump calling for a Plaza Accord 2.0.

The head of Godzilla, a Japanese monster movie character, is seen on a building of Toho Cinema in Tokyo. Toho is one tariff-defensive stock being recommended by brokers.

BUSINESS / Markets

Apr 18, 2025

Tokyo stock picker advises Trump-proofing portfolios with Godzilla creator Toho

Investor sentiment may favor Japanese companies that continue to issue earnings forecasts, especially during this period of uncertainty and market volatility.

Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda at a news conference in January. He has been in the top position for two years.

BUSINESS / Economy

Apr 11, 2025

After two years in top job, BOJ's Ueda faces his biggest challenge yet

Communication will be more crucial from now on, as the economic outlook will be more uncertain than ever because of the U.S. tariffs.

Hon Hai Precision Industry, which does business as Foxconn, wants to make electric vehicles for Japanese carmakers.

BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS

Apr 10, 2025

It makes iPhones. Now Hon Hai wants to make cars for Japanese automakers.

The Taiwanese company's seemingly unlikely proposition — given the structure and history of Japan's auto industry — just might work.

Kwai Chung container ports in Hong Kong earlier this month

BUSINESS / Markets

Apr 7, 2025

East Asia tries a mix of measures to counter U.S. tariffs as markets suffer

U.S. President Donald Trump last week announced a raft of tariffs, with almost every country affected.

Japanese stocks have been falling for two days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new round of tariffs. This picture was taken on Thursday, the first trading day in Tokyo after the U.S. president's announcement of the tariffs.

BUSINESS / Markets

Apr 4, 2025

Tokyo stocks fall for another day as reality of Trump tariffs sets in

Some analysts say financial markets will likely be volatile in the short term, but their longer-term outlook remains optimistic.

Rapidus is gearing up to mass produce semiconductors using 2-nanometer processes in 2027, which on paper would match Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.

BUSINESS / Companies

Apr 2, 2025

Rapidus begins pilot production of 2-nanometer chips in Hokkaido

The 2-year-old company aims to mass produce the next-generation semiconductors — vital for technologies such as artificial intelligence and autonomous driving — in 2027.

The Bank of Japan's tankan survey indicates that large business are still positive on their prospects.

BUSINESS / Economy

Apr 1, 2025

Japanese businesses maintain optimism ahead of looming tariff storm

In the BOJ's latest tankan survey, the headline index for big manufacturers was 12, which indicates confidence in the business outlook.

Japanese stocks declined on Monday as auto and electronics shares were hit hard.

BUSINESS / Markets

Mar 31, 2025

Japanese stocks fall about 4% ahead of Trump's 'Liberation Day'

Traders and analysts are expecting a week of volatility as the U.S. tariff situation becomes clearer and waivers, if any, are granted.

Yields on Japan's 10-year government bonds have risen at a fast pace since the Bank of Japan ended its negative-rate policy last year and started to tighten.

BUSINESS / Markets

Mar 25, 2025

Japan bond rout signals era of ultralow rates might really be over

For the first time in 16 years, yields on Japanese 10-year government bonds have jumped 50 basis points since November to above 1.5%.

Wages are set for another big increase this year as annual negotiations secure generous agreements.

BUSINESS / Economy

Mar 21, 2025

Japanese wages likely to rise more than 5% again this year

The average wage increase is key for the central bank, which is counting on steady raises as it ends a decadeslong experiment in ultraloose monetary policy.

Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks during a news conference in January in Tokyo.

BUSINESS / Economy

Mar 19, 2025

Bank of Japan holds steady at 0.5% as trade war escalates and inflation rises

The move was widely expected, with economists unanimous in seeing back-to-back rate increases as unlikely from the central bank, which made one in January.

Bank of Japan headquarters building in February. In January, the BOJ voted to raise its short-term policy rate to 0.5% from 0.25%, taking it to the highest level since the 2008 financial crisis.

BUSINESS / Markets

Mar 17, 2025

Bank of Japan unlikely to raise rates this week as trade war intensifies

The central bank voted to raise its short-term policy rate to 0.5% from 0.25% in January, taking it to the highest level since the 2008 financial crisis.

Toyota vehicles are loaded onto a ship at the Port of Nagoya in June last year.

BUSINESS / Economy

Mar 13, 2025

Concerns grow over possible U.S. tariffs on Japan's auto sector

U.S. President Donald Trump has pointed out that the U.S. is importing a "very big" amount of Japanese cars while other countries are not really buying American cars.

An official from the Japan Council of Metalworkers' Unions writes down the results of this year's "shuntō" annual spring labor negotiations on Wednesday.

BUSINESS / Companies

Mar 12, 2025

Major Japanese companies agree to solid pay and bonus hikes

Toyota, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Hitachi, Fujitsu and NEC are among companies that say they have agreed to their respective labor unions' demands.

Nisssan Chief Planning Officer Ivan Espinosa speaks during an online news conference on Tuesday. Espinosa will take over as CEO in April.

BUSINESS / Companies

Mar 12, 2025

Ivan Espinosa to take over as new Nissan CEO in April

Espinosa, the automaker's chief planning officer, joined Nissan in 2003 and has been working on product strategy and planning.

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Dangami House is a 180-year-old former samurai residence of the Kato clan, who ruled over Ozu, Ehime Prefecture, until the Meiji Restoration.

A house, a legacy and the quiet work of restoration in rural Japan

By Hanako Lowry

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