Japan's government has asked Japan Display Inc. (JDI) to run a $13 billion advanced display factory in the US — part of a $550 billion investment deal to ease Trump tariffs. We break down the defense angle, China dependency risks, and what it means for a company that's been on life support for years.
Japan's government has set an ambitious target of ¥40 trillion ($260B) in domestic semiconductor sales by 2040, announcing plans for cutting-edge AI research hubs. From Rapidus's 2nm chips in Hokkaido to TSMC's $17B 3nm fab in Kumamoto and JDI's $13B US display plant, we break down Japan's full semiconductor strategy—and compare it with the US CHIPS Act, EU Chips Act, and South Korea's and Taiwan's chip policies.
Japan's health ministry adds "Sleep Disorder" as a new medical specialty for the first time since 2008. With the shortest sleep duration among OECD nations and $100 billion in annual economic losses, Japan is officially confronting its sleep crisis.
In just 15 minutes at FIN/SUM 2026, Bank of Japan Governor Ueda sent a landmark signal: Japan is ready to connect central bank money to the blockchain economy. We unpack what this means for digital finance, how it compares to the Fed and ECB, and why Japan may be charting its own path in the global CBDC race.
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%.
The Nikkei reports the Bank of Japan is considering tokenizing central bank reserves on blockchain. While not officially confirmed, realization could enable 24/7 wholesale settlement and mega-bank stablecoin integration. We analyze the potential impact, challenges, and how Japan compares to the Fed and ECB.
Japan's foreign driver's license conversion test got dramatically harder in October 2025. With questions jumping from 10 to 50, mandatory resident registration, and tourists barred from applying, pass rates have plummeted from 90% to 40%. Here's what changed, why, and how it compares to other countries' systems.
Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will prohibit charging with mobile batteries in flight (both powering devices and charging the bank itself) and limit carry-on to 2 per person (160Wh or less) from April 24, 2026. Here's the full breakdown of the new rules aligned with ICAO international standards, what types of batteries are affected, and how to prepare for your trip to Japan.
Japan launched its first yen-pegged stablecoin JPYC and three megabanks plan joint issuance. Explore Japan's regulatory framework, comparisons with the US GENIUS Act and EU MiCA, and how Finance Minister Katayama's active engagement signals Japan's digital currency ambitions.
BOJ's most hawkish board member Hajime Takada urged further rate hikes in a Kyoto speech, using a "gear shift" metaphor to describe Japan's monetary policy normalization. With the 2% inflation target nearly achieved and wage growth accelerating for a fourth year, we analyze what this means for global markets, the yen carry trade, and how Japan's path diverges from the Fed and ECB.
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.