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July 24, 2026
 

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Yoshifumi Takemoto
Nissan Motor's Oppama plant in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. U.S. defense firm Anduril Industries is in talks to acquire the plant to build military drones in Japan, sources say.
BUSINESS
Jun 25, 2026
U.S. defense firm Anduril in talks for Nissan plant to build drones in Japan, sources say
While sources say no decision has been made, any deal could transform one of Japan¡¯s first large-scale postwar car factories into ?a weapons hub.
LDP lawmaker Ken Saito
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 6, 2025
Japan ruling party heavyweight warns against BOJ rate hike
The remark highlights the political pressure the BOJ could face in resuming rate hikes as higher U.S. levies hurt corporate profits.
U.S President Donald Trump meets with Japan's Ryosei Akazawa, who is in charge of trade negotiations with Washington, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on April 16.
BUSINESS / Economy / ANALYSIS
Apr 26, 2025
Japan is a test case for Trump¡¯s tariff deals. But talks may be tortuous.
While some expect an agreement at the June G7 summit in Canada in June, others say it will be risky for Tokyo to cede ground before Upper House elections expected in July.
Tokyo's Ginza shopping district. In its revised estimates, the Cabinet Office cut its inflation-adjusted GDP growth forecast for the current fiscal year ending in March 2025 to 0.7% from 0.9% projected in July.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 1, 2024
Japan cuts growth forecast again for current fiscal year on weak exports
In its revised estimates, the Cabinet Office cut its inflation-adjusted GDP growth forecast for the year ending in March 2025 to 0.7% from 0.9% projected in July.
Shigeru Ishiba speaks during an interview in Tokyo on Tuesday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 7, 2024
LDP bigwig Ishiba endorses BOJ¡¯s rate hikes
¡°The Bank of Japan?is on the right policy track¡± in raising interest rates, Shigeru Ishiba said.
An LDP panel's proposal on fiscal policy underscores how a weak yen and an exit from ultra-low interest rates are piling pressure on Japan to rein in its huge public debt.
BUSINESS
May 30, 2024
Japan must restore fiscal discipline to protect yen¡¯s value, LDP panel says
The views of the panel of Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers are shared by the powerful Finance Ministry, who oversees the state budget.
Katsunobu Kato, former chief Cabinet secretary and a ruling party veteran, says the Bank of Japan must keep a close eye on economic conditions and coordinate carefully with the government in working out when to raise rates.
BUSINESS
May 13, 2024
Japan on track to normalize monetary policy, says ruling party heavyweight
The weak yen has inflated import costs, hurting consumption and creating headaches for policymakers looking to shore up a fragile economic recovery.
Former Prime Minister Taro Aso speaks during a forum in Taiwan in 2023.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Apr 19, 2024
Former PM Aso seeks Trump meeting during New York visit: report
Aso had attempted to meet Trump in January during a trip to the U.S. but was not able to see him.
Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa (right) meets with UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini in Tokyo on March 28.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Apr 2, 2024
Japan resumes funding to embattled Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA
Japan on Tuesday said it will lift its suspension of funding to the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) as the relief body works to regain trust after an allegation that some of its staff were involved in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks in Washington on Wednesday. Japan has stepped up attempts to engage with people close to Trump in recent weeks, worrying that if he returns to power he may seek some kind of deal with Beijing that could undermine recent efforts by the Group of Seven countries to counter China.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Feb 2, 2024
Japan¡¯s message for Donald Trump: Don¡¯t cut a deal with China
Tokyo has stepped up attempts to engage with people close to Trump in recent weeks.
Shigeru Ishiba, a heavyweight in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, says the Bank of Japan should immediately end its negative interest rate policy.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 30, 2024
Dark-horse prime minister candidate calls for ending BOJ¡¯s negative rate policy
An outspoken Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker, Shigeru Ishiba consistently ranks among favorites to become the next prime minister in opinion polls.
People pass an electronic board showing the rate of the yen against the dollar on a street in Tokyo on Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Nov 15, 2023
Former currency czar sees structural factors behind yen weakness
¡°I wonder whether overseas investors may be thinking what¡¯s in it for investing in Japan,¡± said Rintaro Tamaki.
A structure of the Arctic LNG 2 joint venture is seen under construction near the settlement of Belokamenka, Murmansk region, Russia, in July last year
BUSINESS
Nov 7, 2023
U.S. sanctions on Russia LNG won¡¯t harm supplies, minister says
The industry minister said that Japan will ensure its energy supplies are not affected by U.S. sanctions on a Russian project in which it has a stake.
Kioxia and Western Digital have held merger talks since 2021 but the negotiations have often stalled over a series of issues.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 27, 2023
Western Digital and Kioxia call off merger talks, source says
South Korea¡¯s SK Hynix ¡ª a major Kioxia investor ¡ª has said it does not back the deal due to its impact on its investment asset value.
Japan Times
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
May 22, 2023
Riding on G7 success, Fumio Kishida eyes early election
Lower House elections aren¡¯t until 2025, but the Prime Minister could strengthen his position in the LDP ahead of a leadership race next fall.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
May 2, 2023
U.S. banking troubles won¡¯t affect Japan, says Economy Minister Shigeyuki Goto
While optimistic overall, Goto urged financial institutions and authorities to respond firmly to liquidity risks that have led to difficulties in the West.
BUSINESS / Economy
Mar 9, 2023
Lower House approves Kazuo Ueda as next BOJ chief, with Upper House to vote Friday
Approval by the two chambers has been seen as a done deal as the ruling coalition holds majority seats in both houses.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 30, 2023
Key panel urges BOJ to make 2% inflation target long-term goal
The re-defining of the price target must be made in a new policy accord between the government and the central bank that would replace the one crafted in 2013, the panel said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 18, 2023
Japan¡¯s November core machinery orders fall further than expected
Separate survey data showed confidence at big Japanese manufacturers had logged the first negative reading in two years.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 17, 2023
New BOJ nominees likely to be presented to parliament on Feb. 10
The nominees, if approved by both houses of parliament, will succeed BOJ Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda and his two deputies, Masayoshi Amamiya and Masazumi Wakatabe.
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer¡¯s disease
A team of researchers said they found a ¡°seed¡± that accelerates the amyloid beta accumulation process in the brain, naming it ¡°Peak 1 amyloid beta,¡± as seen in a mouse's brain.
Indian brothers make manga debut in Japan
Two Indian brothers made their manga debut in Japan with "Kung Fu Kung Fool" ¡ª an action-comedy series that follows the adventures of a notorious thief and a young boy.
Low-income families in Japan cut food and air conditioning during summer break
Yumiko Watanabe, the chairperson of nonprofit Kidsdoor, explains the results of a survey in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on July 1.
Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role
Iranian drones are displayed in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Jan. 13, 2025.U.S. officials have acknowledged that Russia has ?provided targeting ?and other support for Iran in its drone strikes on U.S. targets in the Persian Gulf region.
Intervention is the word after yen moves beyond ?163 and sits there
The government could prop up the yen at any moment, though its signaling is hard to read.
Can Japanese comedy get laughs in English? Yoshimoto Kogyo lets the jokes rip
Wes-P has millions of followers and his viral clips made him recognizable out of Japan.
The 180-day locals: Life on Japan¡¯s digital nomad visa
Christopher Flinn works remotely from Tokyo earlier this month. Japan issued 646 digital nomad visas in 2025, but tourism officials are hoping to increase that figure in the coming years, with Japan's relatively cheap cost of living and the weak yen seen as potential draws for young professionals.
Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
The Self-Defense Forces' Type 16 mobile combat vehicle fires during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture, on June 28.
Summer has arrived in Japan and so have hot sleepless nights
Amid the heat and humidity in Japan, a good night¡¯s sleep is growing increasingly elusive without the heavy use of air conditioning.
Maya Ongaku¡¯s DIY dream is getting bigger
The members of Maya Ongaku ¡ª (from left) Tsutomu Sonoda, Shoei Ikeda and Ryota Takano ¡ª grew up on the Shonan Coast south of Tokyo and have been friends since their school days.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

For many people, utility poles and power lines have become such a familiar part of Japan¡¯s landscape that they often go unnoticed.
Why Japan¡¯s utility poles won¡¯t be disappearing anytime soon
By Alex K.T. Martin

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