Japan launched the 12th and final Mogami-class frigate "Yoshii" in December 2025. With 12 ships completed in just 5 years without delays, Japan demonstrates superior shipbuilding capability while Western nations struggle. Australia has selected Japan's New FFM as its next frigate.
Trump tariffs in 2025 caused Japan's top 7 automakers (Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Suzuki, Mazda, Subaru, Mitsubishi) to lose ¥1.5 trillion in just 6 months. Nissan, Mazda, and Mitsubishi fell into the red. Learn how Japan's core industry is adapting to this "new normal."
Prime Minister Takaichi calls for diversification of critical material supply chains at meeting with Keidanren. Amid China's tightening rare earth export controls, Japan accelerates domestic mining at Minamitorishima and international partnerships. Analysis of Japan's resource strategy for economic security.
NTT announces plans to repurpose its nationwide underground communication conduits for hydrogen transportation. Utilizing 600,000km of existing infrastructure could reduce costs to less than 50% of new pipeline construction. This Japan-originated innovation targeting 2028 commercialization attracts global attention. A detailed look at a new approach to realizing a hydrogen society.
On January 16, 2025, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met manga legend Tetsuo Hara, creator of Fist of the North Star, during her visit to Japan. Learn about Hara's historic honor at the Uffizi Gallery, how Fist of the North Star influenced Dragon Ball, Naruto, and One Piece, and why the series remains beloved in Italy after 40 years. Discover how manga has become a powerful tool for cultural diplomacy.
Kyushu Electric's CEO predicts 20-30% power demand increase by 2034 due to TSMC semiconductor expansion and AI data center growth. Japan's 7th Basic Energy Plan emphasizes renewables and nuclear power to meet surging electricity needs.
In 2025, Japanese agricultural corporation bankruptcies hit a record 103 cases. Learn about the structural challenges facing Japan's farming industry: weak yen, soaring material costs, labor shortages, and succession crisis, all while food self-sufficiency remains at just 38%.
Ogaki City's digital regional currency "Gaki Pay" has gone viral on Japanese social media due to its quirky name. Learn about Japan's innovative approach to combating inflation through digital local currencies, the story behind the unusual name, and how regional currencies are transforming local economies across the country.
Japan's beloved ikura (salmon roe) reaches record-breaking prices due to severe salmon shortages. Discover how climate change and declining catches in Hokkaido are transforming sushi restaurants and Japanese dining tables, and what this means for the future of Japanese cuisine.
Japanese hospitals are facing an unprecedented financial crisis. Rising costs, staff shortages, and government policies are forcing healthcare facilities to close across the nation. Discover the factors behind this growing crisis and how it may reshape Japan's renowned healthcare system.
In September 2024, Japan's Ministry of the Environment officially declared the complete eradication of the invasive small Indian mongoose from Amami Oshima island. This world-first achievement took 24 years of dedicated effort, protecting endangered species like the Amami rabbit and restoring the island's unique ecosystem.