Nintendo approved a secondary offering of up to 338.2 billion yen ($2.2 billion) as four major shareholders, the Bank of Kyoto, Nomura Trust, Resona Bank and DeNA, unwound their strategic stakes. What is Japan's cross-shareholding system, and why is it being dismantled now? A look at the governance shift reshaping Japanese corporations, from Toyota's $19 billion unwind to the record 9.77 trillion yen sold in 2025.
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 government debt, its expanding digital deficit and a shifting current account. Plus why the franc keeps rising even though Japan's policy rate is now 1.0% and Switzerland's is zero.
Japan's government nominated two pro-easing "reflationist" academics to the BOJ policy board, reflecting PM Takaichi's dovish stance. The move sent rate hike expectations tumbling and the Nikkei to an all-time high of ¥58,583 (+2.20%). We analyze the yen impact, bond market reaction, and how this compares to the Fed and ECB's approach to central bank independence.
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.
ITOCHU Corporation is raising its stake in Hitachi Construction Machinery to 33.4%, securing veto power over key corporate decisions with a $900 million additional investment. This deep dive explores Japan's unique Sogo Shosha business model, the global construction equipment rivalry with Caterpillar and Komatsu, and why Warren Buffett has poured $23.5 billion into Japan's five major trading houses. Does your country have anything like a Sogo Shosha?
Nippon Steel raised roughly ¥1.3 trillion through the largest convertible bond issuance in Japanese corporate history (¥600 billion) plus JBIC loans, refinancing the bridge loan behind its $14.9 billion U.S. Steel acquisition and funding a ¥6 trillion five-year investment plan. Inside the numbers, the new global production ranking, and the unprecedented "golden share" arrangement.
Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi reportedly pushed back against BOJ Governor Ueda's rate hike plans, sending the yen to 156 per dollar. The clash between political power and central bank independence echoes Trump versus the Fed and Erdogan versus Turkey's central bank. The BOJ went on to raise its policy rate to 1.0% in June 2026 and held there in July. Inside the US-Japan rate gap, carry trades, and how the story resolved.
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.
Japan is running its largest postwar industrial policy: over 10 trillion yen for semiconductors and AI through fiscal 2030, defense at 2% of GDP two years early, and 20 trillion yen in GX transition bonds. Rapidus at 2nm, TSMC Kumamoto's shift to 3nm, 14 niche global leaders, and where it stood in mid-2026.
Resales at Harumi Flag are stalling and Osaka tower mansion inventory has doubled in two years. Foreign ownership above 40%, zero-capital flipping via simultaneous registration, tighter bank screening, and 2026 data showing prices and contract rates moving apart.
Japan and the US have agreed on the first tranche of a massive $550 billion investment plan, including a $600 million lab-grown diamond factory in Georgia. With China controlling over 60% of global production, synthetic diamonds are being called "the next rare earth." But with a controversial profit-sharing deal, is this a smart bet or a high-risk, low-return gamble for Japan?
Japan's Kioxia is set for consecutive record-breaking years, with revenue exceeding $14 billion for the first time. NAND production capacity for 2026 is already "sold out" as AI data center demand far outpaces supply. From a rocky IPO to the world's best-performing stock of 2025 with a 540% gain, we explore Kioxia's remarkable turnaround and what it means for Japan's semiconductor renaissance.
Dentsu Group posted a record net loss of 327.6 billion yen ($2.1 billion) for FY2025 after massive goodwill write-downs on failed overseas acquisitions. CEO steps down, dividends cut to zero. What went wrong with Japan's biggest ad agency's global ambitions?
On February 9, 2026, Japan's Nikkei 225 hit an all-time high of 56,363 after the LDP's landslide election victory. But 291 stocks actually fell. From KDDI's subsidiary fraud scandal to Fujikura's ignored record earnings and the struggling auto sector, here's a deep dive into the stocks that missed the historic rally.
Adobe reversed its decision to kill Adobe Animate just two days after the announcement. Behind the reversal: fierce backlash from creators and animation studios worldwide, including Japan's Science SARU. The share price also fell after the announcement. What does "maintenance mode" really mean for the future of 2D animation?
Fuji Media Holdings completed a $1.5 billion share buyback, ending a high-profile standoff with activist investor Yoshiaki Murakami. With plans to divest its profitable real estate unit, the Japanese broadcaster faces a pivotal transformation. An analysis of corporate governance and media industry shifts in Japan.
On February 3, 2026, the Nikkei 225 surged 2,065 yen to close at an all-time high of 54,720. We analyze the driving forces behind the 5th largest daily gain in history, including the semiconductor rally revival, US market momentum, yen weakness, and the "Takaichi Trade" ahead of snap elections.
The Bank of Japan has officially begun selling its massive ETF holdings worth ¥37 trillion ($240B) at book value. With annual sales of just ¥330 billion, this unprecedented unwinding could take over 112 years. Here's what it means for global markets and Japan's financial future.
An estimated 5 billion tons of gold are dissolved in Earth's oceans—20,000 times what humanity has ever mined. IHI's biosorption technology using algae has successfully extracted gold from hot springs and deep-sea vents. Could this breakthrough eventually set a ceiling on gold prices? We examine the science, economics, and challenges.
