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July 24, 2026
 

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Hideki Suzuki
Seven & I Holdings is mulling a new share issuance totaling several hundred billion yen to SoftBank and PayPay.
BUSINESS / Companies / ANALYSIS
Jul 13, 2026
7-Eleven owner drops go-it-alone strategy with SoftBank deal
Seven & I Holdings is mulling a new share issuance totaling several hundred billion yen to SoftBank as well as PayPay.
The financial failure of Osaka-based Zentoshin has left 63 creditors with claims totaling ?115.16 billion, according to Tokyo Shoko Research.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 10, 2026
Lenders seek $700 million after Japanese payments firm¡¯s collapse
The financial failure of Osaka-based Zentoshin has left 63 creditors with claims totaling ?115.16 billion.
"I want to achieve the goal we set 20 years ago to become one of the world¡¯s top five banks,¡± Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group CEO Junichi Hanzawa said in his first interview since taking the helm.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 7, 2026
MUFG¡¯s new CEO rekindles ambition to claim spot among world¡¯s top five banks
The goal reflects growing confidence within Japan¡¯s biggest banks, which are forecasting another year of record profits as rates rise and loan demand picks up.
Godiva Japan, which was taken over by Asian private equity fund MBK Partners in 2019, owes about ?75 billion ($464 million) by the end of this month, according to people familiar with the matter.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 23, 2026
Godiva Japan said to seek extension on $464 million leveraged buyout loan
Godiva Japan, which was taken over by Asian private equity fund MBK Partners in 2019, owes about ?75 billion ($464 million) by the end of this month, according to informed sources.
More than 15 firms submitted bids for Sankei Building last month, with several offers exceeding ?1 trillion.
BUSINESS
Jun 4, 2026
Fuji Media¡¯s real estate unit attracts ?1 trillion bids
More than 15 firms submitted bids for Sankei Building last month, with several offers exceeding ?1 trillion ($6.3 billion).
SMBC Nikko Securities is considering a new fund to invest in subordinated loans and preferred shares for acquisition deals involving Japanese companies.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 2, 2026
SMBC Nikko mulls ?100 billion mezzanine fund amid Japan mergers and acquisitions boom
Mezzanine financing is between senior debt and equity in terms of risk, offering potential extra returns for investors.
Mizuho Financial Group¡¯s CEO Masahiro Kihara said on Wednesday that he expects the Bank of Japan to raise interest rates in June or July, though any modest hike is unlikely to have a major market impact.
BUSINESS
May 27, 2026
Mizuho CEO floats idea of first outsized BOJ hike since 1990
Masahiro Kihara says whether the BOJ raises rates in June or July is unlikely to have a big impact on the market unless the increase is large.
Tokyo-based Nikkon has selected financial advisers for a privatization process and has also set up a special committee made up of outside directors to consider the matter, sources have said.
BUSINESS / Companies
May 21, 2026
Nikkon weighs going private; Bain Capital, Blackstone and others likely to bid
The logistics company has selected financial advisers for the privatization process and set up a committee of outside directors to consider the matter, sources have said.
PAG President and co-founder Jon-Paul Toppino says competition for property investment in Japan has intensified as more global firms enter the market.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 30, 2026
PAG beefs up Japan investment with $13 billion in targeted deals
The Asian alternative asset manager plans to invest in real estate and private equity in the next three to four years.
Masakazu Osawa, chief executive officer of MUFG Bank, at the company's headquarters in Tokyo on April 17
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 22, 2026
MUFG Bank seeks more acquisitions after $4.3 billion India deal
Nonbank financial companies are potential targets, MUFG banking unit CEO Masakazu Osawa said, without ruling out further forays.
Nippon Life Insurance's Tokyo headquarters
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 7, 2026
SMFG and Nippon Life discuss $3 billion LBO loan fund
The move would mark a milestone in Japan¡¯s credit market, where the three biggest banks have dominated lending.
MUFG has about 1,300 staff involved globally in the transaction-banking business.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 2, 2026
MUFG to take on global peers for slice of $1.3 trillion transaction-banking pie
Japan¡¯s largest lender is looking to capitalize on its competitive strengths in key Asian markets as it strives to catch up with global peers.
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group CEO Toru Nakashima says the banking group is seeking growth without large acquisitions.
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 31, 2026
SMFG cools on acquisitions as banking giant sets new profit goal
Japan¡¯s second-largest lender is aiming for ?2 trillion in profit and a 13% return on tangible equity in three years.
The Japanese Bankers Association will release risk management guidelines for lenders funding leveraged buyout deals, according to sources.
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 12, 2026
Japan main bank lobby to establish risk guidelines for leveraged loans
Smaller regional banks have become more active in the market for such debt as a shrinking population weighs on their traditional lending operations.
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust is keen to tap Raymond James Financial¡¯s clientele to provide funds for mergers and acquisitions and sell Japan-related investment products to wealthy individuals.
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 4, 2026
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust said to ally with Raymond James in U.S.
Raymond James has a broad network of small and medium-sized business clients and wealth management customers across the United States.
Japanese banks, including Mizuho Financial Group, are trying to boost productivity by adopting artificial intelligence while trying to ease concerns that the technology will take away jobs.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 27, 2026
Mizuho plans to replace 5,000 clerical jobs with AI in 10 years
Japan¡¯s third-largest lender insists the move is ¡°not a headcount reduction.¡±
Fumitaka Nakahama, head of global corporate and investment banking at Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 6, 2026
MUFG eyes piece of AI boom with hiring for data center financing
Financing AI initiatives is becoming a lucrative business for banks worldwide.
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group¡¯s net income climbed 6% from a year earlier to ?520.6 billion ($3.3 billion) in the three months ended Dec. 31, according to calculations based on nine-month results released Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Feb 4, 2026
MUFG profit rises as BOJ¡¯s rate increases bolster lending income
Net income climbed 6% from a year earlier to ?520.6 billion ($3.3 billion) in the three months ended Dec. 31.
Known for its Salonpas pain-relief patches, Hisamitsu joins a growing list of Japanese companies exiting the public market to shield themselves from regulatory and investor pressure to lift valuations and implement more oversight.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jan 7, 2026
Hisamitsu shares jump most since 1978 on $2.9 billion buyout
The proposed offer of ?6,082 per share represents a roughly 35% premium to Hisamitsu¡¯s unaffected closing price on Monday.
Boxes of Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical¡¯s Salonpas-branded pain-relieving patch. Hisamitsu¡¯s management is considering a takeover bid to privatize the company.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 6, 2026
CEO of Salonpas maker seeks to take $2.9 billion drug firm private
A growing list of companies are exiting the public market to shield themselves from growing regulatory and investor pressure to lift valuations and implement more oversight.
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.
Japan weighs regulating Pokemon cards amid trading mania
A Pokemon event is held in Jakarta on July 11
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.
The sci-fi sensibilities of electronic trio Black Boboi
Black Boboi was formed in 2018 when solo artists Julia Shortreed, Utena Kobayashi and Ermhoi came together under Kobayashi¡¯s newly founded label, Bindividual.
A perfect storm: Kaze Fujii fans flock to Fuji Rock
Okayama-born singer-songwriter Kaze Fujii has carved out a distinctive place in Japanese pop since his major-label debut in 2019.
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.

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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