Japan's Fair Trade Commission launches investigation into unauthorized use of news articles by AI search services. Major newspapers sue Perplexity for copyright infringement. Analysis of antitrust concerns and market dominance issues in generative AI industry.
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry allocates approximately 300 billion yen for generative AI in its 2026 budget proposal. Supporting domestic AI development with 1 trillion yen over 5 years in partnership with private companies like SoftBank. Also advancing next-generation nuclear reactor development to strengthen Japan's industrial competitiveness.
In December 2025, Japan's Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama signaled a clear willingness to intervene in currency markets as the yen kept sliding past 157 per dollar despite the Bank of Japan's rate hike. The authorities went on to buy roughly ¥11 trillion worth of yen between late April and late May 2026. Inside the US-Japan joint statement that underpinned the move, and why the yen stayed weak anyway.
Japan's new smartphone competition law, effective December 18, 2025, brings major changes to Google Play's billing system. Learn about external payment redirects, third-party payment options, and how these regulations impact both users and developers, along with reactions from Japanese consumers.
In December 2024, Finance Minister Kato warned over the yen at 157 per dollar, pledging an "appropriate response to excessive movements" and hinting at intervention. Japan's ¥15 trillion of 2024 operations, the US-Japan rate gap, and what followed: the 2026 interventions and the first coordinated yen-buying with the U.S. in 28 years.
The Bank of Japan raised its policy rate to 0.75%, the highest since 1995. What drove the decision, how it reached mortgages and deposits, and what followed through the June 2026 hike to 1.0%.