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Francis Tang
A Ford F-150 pickup truck on the assembly line at a factory in Dearborn, Michigan. The Japanese government might be considering the purchase of some of the pickup trucks to meet its obligations as part of a trade deal with the United States.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 10, 2025
Ford F-150 might be imported by the Japanese government: report
The pickup trucks would be used by local transport ministry offices for construction and road patrols.
Tokyo stocks have been rallying in recent months even as uncertainties build locally and globally.
BUSINESS / Markets
Oct 9, 2025
Buzz builds for a 50,000 Nikkei 225 as index breaks yet another record
Benchmark has hit nine all-time highs in about six weeks.
Sanae Takaichi, leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has said that the government bears responsibility for both fiscal and monetary policy.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 9, 2025
BOJ meddling by Takaichi seen as unwise and ineffective
It's her versus the markets and inflation-weary Japanese households.
Tokyo stocks staged a powerful rally on Monday. On Tuesday, they rallied again, then retreated.
BUSINESS / Markets
Oct 7, 2025
‘Takaichi trade’ stalls as political reality calls for wait-and-see approach
Tokyo stocks zoomed to a new record and then quickly retreated.
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.
The U.S. government shut down on Wednesday, though essential services are still being offered.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 2, 2025
U.S. federal shutdown affects Americans in Japan and diplomatic talks
Some consular services are being offered, but the U.S. Embassy site is not being regularly updated
Signs of recovery in consumer spending have some analysts looking for a rate increase as soon as October.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 30, 2025
Bank of Japan rate increase looking more likely
The Cabinet Office is becoming more positive on consumer spending.
Former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi at a debate at the Japan National Press Club with other candidates for the Liberal Democratic Party presidency on Sept. 24
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 29, 2025
Takaichi moots U.S. tariff deal do-over when asked about $550 billion pledge
The woman who could become Japan’s next prime minister raises questions about the agreement.
Concern about prices in Japan is at or near record highs.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 26, 2025
Inflation and ‘food situation’ concerns top key Japan survey
Rising prices have not been this much of a worry since just after the 1973 oil shock.
U.S. President Donald Trump is rolling out a number of new tariffs on Oct. 1.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 26, 2025
Japan might be spared Trump's 100% tariffs on pharmaceuticals
The country has a most-favored-nation agreement with the U.S. that should cover these products.
Jared Baeten, Gilead Sciences' senior vice president and virology therapeutic area head, hopes regulatory approval elsewhere for lenacapavir as a preexposure prophylaxis — for reducing the risk of contracting HIV — could lead to real discussions toward ending HIV in Japan.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 22, 2025
Twice-a-year injection could make HIV prevention easier, developer argues
Without the need to take a daily pill, adherence could improve, says an executive from Gilead Sciences, which developed such an injection.
BOJ Gov. Kazuo Ueda said it would take a century for the bank to sell all its ETFs at the pace proposed.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 19, 2025
Bank of Japan to start unloading ETFs in surprise move that rattles market
After the announcement, the Nikkei 225 fell from a record high and the yen strengthened.
Stocks in Tokyo have been rallying for months on political and trade hopes and in anticipation of a rate cut in the United States.
BUSINESS / Markets
Sep 18, 2025
Japan's Nikkei 225 rallies to record following Fed rate cut overnight
Trade was choppy and tentative at first until a decisive move upward started at about 10 a.m.
The Nikkei 225 stock index rose above the 45,000 mark just after the open and then fell back to close the day below that mark.
BUSINESS / Markets
Sep 16, 2025
Nikkei 225 breaks 45,000 for the first time ever
The benchmark hit another record ahead of an expected rate cut in the U.S.
Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s chief tariff negotiator, speaks on Tuesday about the implementation of the Japan-U.S. trade deal.
BUSINESS / Markets
Sep 16, 2025
U.S. tariffs on Japanese autos formally cut to 15% from 27.5%
The reduction is a long-awaited implementation of the terms of a July 22 agreement.
Stocks traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange continue to rally, with the Nikkei 225 up more than 20% over the past year.
BUSINESS / Markets
Sep 12, 2025
Nikkei 225 hits record but just misses the 45,000 mark
Japanese stocks have been rallying for months on trade optimism and now political hope.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange building. Japanese stocks have been performing well in recent months.
BUSINESS / Markets
Sep 11, 2025
Nikkei 225 hits record for second time this week, following Wall Street up
The benchmark index broke 44,000 again and moved near 44,400 on Thursday morning.
U.S. President Donald Trump at Granite City Works in Illinois in 2018. U.S. Steel, the owner of the plant, was acquired by Nippon Steel earlier this year.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 10, 2025
U.S. Steel’s Granite City Works to cease steel slab processing: report
The production decision comes just three months after the acquisition by Nippon Steel.
Traders in Tokyo celebrate an earlier record high closing of the Nikkei 225. The benchmark index has been rallying in recent days on trade optimism and political hope.
BUSINESS / Markets
Sep 10, 2025
Tokyo stocks achieve record close after strong performance on Wall Street
A sustained rally has followed Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s announcement of his resignation.
Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's chief negotiator, says that U.S. tariffs on Japanese autos will fall soon.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 9, 2025
Akazawa heralds U.S. trade deal as he moots wrinkle in it
He notes Japan cannot finance any project that contravenes its laws.

Longform

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