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July 24, 2026
 

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Takako Taniguchi
SoftBank, which already has a foothold in the payment services industry, is among the parties that have advanced to the second round of bidding for SP.Links.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 3, 2026
SoftBank among the bidders for Blackstone¡¯s Japanese payment firm
Japan¡¯s cashless payments market has expanded for more than a decade as consumers who once overwhelmingly favored paper money turn to electronic services.
Seth Fischer, the founder of Oasis Management, says Japan¡¯s plan to tighten the threshold for shareholder proposals will hurt retail investors more than it affects activist funds.
BUSINESS / Economy
May 28, 2026
Curb on shareholder rights will hurt retail investors not activists, says Oasis
The government and LDP suggest limiting shareholder proposals to those holding at least 1% of voting rights, up from the current threshold of 300.
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.
Nomura Securities' trading room in Tokyo. Nomura Holdings took the top spot in advising on Japanese mergers and acquisitions in 2025.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 29, 2026
Nomura beats Goldman to top spot in record M&A year for Japan
The total value of mergers and acquisition transactions in Japan shot up 89% to a record ?59.5 trillion in 2025.
A Wendy¡¯s First Kitchen outlet in Tokyo. The chain has a total of 108 domestic restaurant locations.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 16, 2025
Private equity firm Longreach may sell stake in Wendy¡¯s First Kitchen
Japan¡¯s hamburger chain market is expanding thanks to Burger King¡¯s aggressive store-opening strategy and limited price increases that have retained consumers despite inflation.
Auction house Christie's in New York. DIC is selling some of its holdings of valuable artworks at the auction house.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 18, 2025
Japanese ink maker sells off Monet and Renoir paintings as activists circle
Oasis Management, DIC¡¯s second-largest shareholder, has called on the company to sell off its holdings, saying that paintings aren¡¯t part of the firm¡¯s core business.
Takahiro Kobayashi, the new CEO of Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management, says the firm is aiming to become one of the top three managers of Japanese mutual funds.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 14, 2025
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust¡¯s fund manager targets top-three ranking
The firm is shooting for the higher ranking by driving up two of its funds¡¯ total assets to more than ?1 trillion each.
Stefanie Drews, CEO of Amova Asset Management, speaks at an event in Tokyo on Monday.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 2, 2025
¡®Nikko¡¯ cut from new name of $260 billion Japanese fund manager
Nikko Asset Management is changing its name to Amova Asset Management.
A wave of corporate governance and capital policy reforms in Japan has led to an increase in buyouts by investment funds, management and founders.
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 7, 2025
Japanese liquor maker Yomeishu is said to consider going private
A wave of corporate governance and capital policy reforms in Japan has led to an increase in buyouts by investment funds, management and founders.
While shareholders in general still support company management, the notable break from their passive stance is seen as a boon for funds looking to invest in Japan.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 14, 2025
Corporate Japan¡¯s shareholders show more clout this AGM season
The notable break from a passive stance is seen as a boon for funds looking to invest in Japan.
Proposals to delist Taiyo Holdings have emerged as Japanese companies face pressure from the Tokyo Stock Exchange to boost their value to stay listed.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 16, 2025
Taiyo to decide on delisting as early as August, president says
The chemical manufacturer is set to hold its annual shareholders¡¯ meeting on Saturday in which its president, Eiji Sato, is likely to face a vote on his ouster.
Nippon Steel Vice Chairman Takahiro Mori at U.S. Steel's Irvin Works facility in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, on May 30
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 11, 2025
3D urges shareholders to reject new term for Nippon Steel heads
Nippon Steel¡¯s large-scale capital investment plan ¡°significantly¡± exceeds the company¡¯s market value, 3D said in a statement.
An Aeon store in Osaka. Aeon, the country¡¯s largest supermarket chain operator, last month said it will launch a tender offer to make Tsuruha a consolidated subsidiary at ?11,400 per share.
BUSINESS / Companies
May 23, 2025
Tsuruha shareholders to vote on criticized Aeon merger plan
The chorus reflects rising shareholder activism in Japan in recent years as the country¡¯s governance reforms embolden investors.
Blackstone said it agreed to purchase 60% of Tokyo-based CMIC, a contract research organization, in a deal that values the company in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 3, 2025
Blackstone buys Japan drug trial firm, adding to private equity health deals
Blackstone has been increasingly active in Japan¡¯s life science sector amid a wider buyout boom in the country.
The scramble to take Fuji Soft private is rooted in the value of the software company¡¯s trove of human resources and real estate.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 20, 2025
KKR wins control of $4.4 billion Fuji Soft after Bain clash
KKR aims to acquire the remaining shares in the software company through a squeeze-out process.
Sapporo beer
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 18, 2025
Activist fund criticizes Sapporo after ¡®acquisition failures¡¯
The Singapore-based investment fund censured the management over ¡°impairment losses on all of its overseas alcoholic beverage acquisitions.¡±
Yokohama-based Fuji Soft held a board meeting on Friday and decided to stick with KKR¡¯s tender for its shares despite receiving a higher bid from Bain Capital.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 20, 2024
Fuji Soft sticks with KKR despite higher takeover offer from Bain
The special committee advising Fuji Soft said it would be difficult for Bain to take the company private, according to a statement.
Toyota's plan to buy back shares from major banks and insurers is part of a broader push to unwind strategic shareholdings with financial partners.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 23, 2024
Toyota to buy back stock worth $5.2 billion from banks and insurers
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Tokio Marine Holdings and MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings are tendering shares at an 11% discount.
Blackstone's private equity fund says Japanese individual investors are highly interested in alternatives and their understanding of the asset class is deepening.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jul 23, 2024
Blackstone Japan fund exceeds $1B as investors warm up to private equity
As inflation takes hold in the country, investors are exploring more alternative assets on government encouragement to invest more of their cash.
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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