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November 19, 2025
 

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METI

Helle Kristoffersen, Asia president of French oil and gas conglomerate TotalEnergies, speaks at a session of the French Japanese Business Summit on Thursday in Tokyo.
BUSINESS
Nov 7, 2025
Japan’s energy import strategy compelling for landlocked European nations
Europe has grappled with energy security following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry was the biggest taxpayer money waster within the government in fiscal 2024, misspending some ¥22.058 billion in total, a report has found.
JAPAN
Nov 5, 2025
¥54 billion of Japanese tax money wasted in fiscal 2024
Of the total cases, 271, involving over ¥8.6 billion, were related to law violations or improper budget execution.
Two robots automating tasks at Arikawa Seisakusho in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture.
BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS
Oct 31, 2025
Government to help rural businesses adopt robots amid labor shortage
Aimed at boosting productivity despite labor shortages, a new group will train advisers to help companies introduce and use robotics effectively.
Industry minister Ryosei Akazawa visits the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture on Saturday.
JAPAN
Oct 26, 2025
Akazawa implores Tepco to pursue 'coexistence' with Fukushima community
Tepco announced in July that the full-scale removal of nuclear fuel debris will not start before fiscal year 2037.
New industry minister Ryosei Akazawa speaks during an interview at the ministry on Thursday.
BUSINESS
Oct 24, 2025
Minister eyes stricter regulations on large-scale solar farms
Ryosei Akazawa has pointed out that improperly installed mega solar power plants pose challenges for local communities.
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa will help maintain a close connection with the United States.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 22, 2025
Takaichi's economic picks reflect balancing act with party and U.S. in mind
Differences on policy have been deemphasized for the time being.
Industrial production in Japan dropped 1.2% from the previous month, following the same pace of decline from July, according to the economy ministry.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 30, 2025
Japan’s output falls as U.S. tariffs drag on global outlook
The data reflect ongoing caution among manufacturers as the U.S. continues to threaten additional tariffs to narrow its trade deficit.
The government is considering raising the upper limit on the industry ministry's subsidies for video productions costing ¥300 million or more from the current ¥200 million.
JAPAN
Sep 18, 2025
Japan to boost support for its anime and film industry
The government is aiming to triple overseas revenue from Japanese content to ¥20 trillion in 2033.
A huge piece of plastic waste is pulled up from the waters near Tatara Island, Nagasaki Prefecture, on July 10.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Sep 15, 2025
Japan backs development of new materials to cut marine plastic waste
A five-year plan starting this fiscal year calls for the development of a new material that can be used for several years in water before it slowly decomposes over time.
The industry ministry aims to reduce tax burdens on Japanese companies making investments in facilities and equipment by expanding tax deductions and allowing lump-sum depreciation.
BUSINESS
Aug 28, 2025
Industry ministry to spur capital expenditure through tax measures
The ministry aims to reduce tax burdens on Japanese companies making investments in facilities and equipment by expanding tax deductions and allowing lump-sum depreciation.
The government is considering requiring handheld fans to be recycled, in the wake of a host of fires caused by rechargeable electric devices during disposal work.
JAPAN
Aug 13, 2025
Japan may make recycling handheld fans mandatory
The consideration comes in the wake of a host of fires caused by rechargeable electric devices during disposal work.
Industrial production gained 1.7% from the previous month, according to the industry ministry.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 31, 2025
Factory output gain in Japan shows firms’ resilience amid tariffs
Though economists had expected a 0.8% loss, industrial production gained 1.7% from the previous month while output rose 4% from a year earlier, topping expectations of a 1.3% gain.
The total number of gas stations across Japan as of the end of fiscal 2024 fell for the 30th consecutive year, according to the industry ministry.
JAPAN / Society
Jul 31, 2025
Number of gas stations in Japan fell for the 30th consecutive year, data shows
The total is now less than half of its peak, marked at the end of fiscal 1994, due to vehicle electrification and improved fuel efficiency.
The government has already decided to provide more than ¥1.7 trillion to Rapidus.
BUSINESS
Jul 4, 2025
Japan eyes 'golden share' as condition for aid to Rapidus
In addition to granting the government a golden share and some voting rights, companies that receive government aid will also be required to raise funds from the private sector.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda announces the start of the circulation of new banknotes on July 3, 2024.
BUSINESS
Jun 30, 2025
Japan’s new banknotes see slow adoption one year after launch
Roughly 5 billion new banknotes were in circulation as of the end of May, accounting for just 28.8% of all notes in use.
The Japanese anime industry has been facing chronic labor shortages linked to poor working conditions that have led to a decrease in the number of productions.
JAPAN
Jun 25, 2025
Japan to set up body to improve anime industry working conditions
The move is part of a five-year action plan aimed at boosting overseas sales of Japanese content such as manga and video games to ¥20 trillion in 2033.
Hachidori Solar President Shota Ikeda in Tokyo in January
ENVIRONMENT
May 18, 2025
A 26-year-old asked to help shape Japan’s climate goals has a warning
Shota Ikeda has called for emissions reductions of at least 75% to be considered.
Japan hopes to increase the number of cybersecurity experts in the country to 50,000 by 2030.
JAPAN
May 15, 2025
Japan looks to increase number of cybersecurity experts to 50,000 by 2030
A private survey has shown that Japan faces a cybersecurity expert shortage of about 110,000 people, highlighting an urgent need to nurture such professionals.
Trade Minister Yoji Muto will skip the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting, a decision that will likely lower Tokyo’s chances of securing an opportunity for bilateral talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
BUSINESS / Economy
May 14, 2025
Japan’s key officials to skip APEC meet attended by U.S. trade representative
This won’t be the first time Japan’s trade minister will miss the APEC gathering in recent years, but sending a lower-ranking official may make it harder to hold one-on-one talks.
A public health nurse (right) teaches stretching techniques using an exercise ball to employees of Hattori, a machine tool and industrial equipment supplier in Aichi Prefecture.
JAPAN / Society
May 7, 2025
Companies leverage healthy working strategies to attract talent
The approach prioritizes employee well-being as a core business objective.
A beloved Tokyo penguin’s end presages Suica’s shift to payments giant
JR East is retiring the beloved Suica penguin as part of a rebrand to transform the contactless payment platform, used for both transit and retail, into a mobile fintech powerhouse.
More Japanese firms relax rules in tussle for workers
Hinako Mori, 22, arranges products at a Don Quijote outlet in Tokyo in October. The Japanese retailer, which relaxed its rules concerning hair and nail polish three years ago, says nearly a quarter of its employees sport brightly colored hair.
Japan seeks to placate China as strained relations move beyond political realm
Director-General of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Masaaki Kanai (left) and Chinese Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs Liu Jinsong depart after a meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Beijing on Tuesday.
Japan sends senior official to China to cool boiling tensions
A Chinese tour group in the Ginza shopping district of Tokyo on Sunday. China has advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan, following a diplomatic feud sparked by remarks from Tokyo's new prime minister about a hypothetical attack on Taiwan.
Economic security minister stresses crackdown on rule-breaking foreign nationals
Economic security minister Kimi Onoda speaks during a group interview in Tokyo on Monday.
Economic security minister stresses crackdown on rule-breaking foreign nationals
Economic security minister Kimi Onoda speaks during a group interview in Tokyo on Monday.
How Band-Maid brought anime energy into the hard-rock sound of ‘Scooooop’
Members of Band-Maid combine heavy riffs and maid-inspired visuals in their latest project, "Rock Is a Lady’s Modesty."
Japan uses series against South Korea to prep for World Baseball Classic title defense
Japan's Ryuhei Sotani pitches against South Korea at Tokyo Dome on Saturday night.
Who is cricket’s Shohei Ohtani?
South African cricket legend Jacques Kallis plays a shot during the final day of a cricket test match against India in Johannesburg in December 2013.
Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan celebrates 80 years at the forefront of press freedom
Located near the Imperial Palace, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan prides itself on the accessibility of its events and the support it offers to budding and established journalists. The club is currently headed by Dan Sloan, a former reporter for Reuters.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

An illustration features the Japanese signs for "ganbare" (good luck) and the Deaflympics, which will be held between Nov. 15 and 26.
A century of Deaf sport finds its moment in Tokyo
By Kathryn Wortley

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