Sakana AI, the Tokyo-based startup founded by former Google researchers, has raised $135M to reach a record $2.65B valuation — making it Japan's top unicorn. Citibank made its first-ever strategic investment in a Japanese company through this round. With backing from the CIA's venture arm and Google, Sakana is spearheading Japan's push for sovereign AI.
The Bank of Japan held its policy rate at 0.75% at its March 18-19, 2026 meeting, as oil prices and yen weakness from the late-February Iran conflict weighed on the case for a hike. We cover Deputy Governor Himino and hawk Takata, the reflationist board nominees, the rate gap with the Fed and ECB, the yen carry trade, and the road to the June hike to 1.0%.
Visa, Qatar Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority are set to invest over up to $220 million as cornerstone investors in PayPay's Nasdaq IPO. With a valuation target of up to $14 billion, this could be the largest US listing by a Japanese company. A deep dive into PayPay's dual-mode QR/NFC strategy and its challenge to America's $2 trillion cash market.
Japan's Finance Minister Katayama announced a dedicated crypto and stablecoin bureau within the FSA at MoneyX 2026. With yen-backed stablecoin JPYC approaching $9 million in cumulative issuance and Japan's three megabanks launching pilot programs, we explore how Japan's regulatory approach compares to the US GENIUS Act and EU's MiCA framework.
Japan reveals the full picture of its Rapidus investment scheme: becoming top shareholder with just 10% voting rights, holding golden shares with veto power, and a mechanism to seize majority control if finances deteriorate. We compare Japan's $19B commitment with the US CHIPS Act and EU Chips Act, and examine whether Rapidus can realistically mass-produce 2nm chips by 2027.
Once considered twin safe-haven currencies, the yen and Swiss franc have diverged dramatically. Explore the structural factors behind the yen's historic weakness—Japan's massive government debt, expanding digital deficit, and shifting current account—and how Switzerland's fiscal discipline kept the franc strong.
Japan's FSA has detailed the shift from up to 55% income tax to a flat 20% rate on crypto gains, plus a new tax-free "Kodomo NISA" investment account for children ages 0-17. We compare Japan's reforms with US capital gains rules, the EU's MiCA framework, and the UK's Junior ISA system.
Europe's largest asset manager Amundi has shifted to overweight on Japanese government bonds for the first time in 30 years. Foreign investors bought a net ¥6.04 trillion ($40 billion) in JGBs in January 2026, the second-largest monthly figure on record. We analyze how BOJ rate hikes, political stability, and diversification from US assets are driving global money into Japan's bond market.
Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi reportedly pushed back against BOJ Governor Ueda's rate hike plans, sending the yen tumbling to 156 per dollar. This clash between political power and central bank independence echoes Trump vs. the Fed and Erdogan vs. Turkey's central bank. We analyze the implications for global markets, the US-Japan interest rate gap, and carry trades.
Japan Fintech Week 2026 kicks off in Tokyo. From Japan's first deposit-backed stablecoin to SBI's $65M blockchain bond with XRP rewards, plus crypto regulation reform and digital yen developments — here's what's shaping Japan's financial future.
Japan's shadow banking sector is sending warning signals. With nonbank financial risks growing, real estate lending surpassing $730 billion, and credit risks shifting under BOJ rate hikes, we analyze the parallels with China's shadow banking crisis and US commercial real estate risks, plus how Japan's regulators are responding.