In 2026, Fujii Kaze and Creepy Nuts play Coachella, YOASOBI and Ado join Lollapalooza, and the first-ever Zipangu festival in LA showcases Ado, HANA, CHANMINA, and 10-FEET. A deep dive into how Japanese music is making its biggest mark yet on the American festival scene.
Japan-born global group XG will perform at 88rising's Head in the Clouds 2026 festival on August 8 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on a bill headlined by KATSEYE. The lineup includes Rich Brian, UMI, and more. We cover ticket details, 88rising's role in elevating Asian artists, and the festival's first-ever Japan edition at Makuhari Messe.
Japan's top drone company Terra Drone has announced its full-scale entry into the defense equipment market, establishing U.S. subsidiary 'Terra Defense.' The move comes amid Japan's record defense spending, the SHIELD coastal defense initiative, and growing global demand for military drones post-Ukraine.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son has announced a $500 billion AI data center campus at a former uranium enrichment site in Ohio—the largest single-site investment in history. With 21 Japanese and American companies involved and 9.2 GW of gas-fired power, this project reshapes the global AI infrastructure race. Here's what Japan thinks.
Elliott Investment Management has taken a significant stake in Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, demanding $2 billion in buybacks and a subsidiary relisting. We explore how activist investors are reshaping Japan's corporate governance amid TSE reforms and record foreign interest.
Amid rising oil prices and falling stocks after the Iran conflict, Bitcoin stands alone as the outperformer. We analyze the 'digital gold' thesis through ETF inflows, hashrate shifts, and the SEC's landmark guidance.
16-time Grammy winner Bruno Mars has signed a global music publishing partnership with Avex Music Group. After selling out seven consecutive Tokyo Dome shows and breaking streaming records in Japan, Mars will move his publishing administration to the Tokyo- and LA-based company once his BMG/Warner Chappell deal expires. With 'The Romantic' debuting at No. 1 on Billboard 200 and 2.1 million Romantic Tour tickets sold in a single day, here's the full story.
The Sony MSF-1, the earliest known development unit for the SNES CD-ROM add-on once called 'PlayStation,' has been acquired by the National Videogame Museum in Texas. As the only known surviving unit, this historic artifact sheds new light on the Nintendo-Sony partnership that reshaped gaming history.
BABYMETAL's historic sold-out show at LA's Intuit Dome — the first solo performance by a Japanese artist at the venue — is coming to Blu-ray and DVD on June 17, 2026. Featuring 15 tracks including surprise guest Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox and a spectacular center-stage production. Pre-order details and THE ONE exclusive edition info included.
PayPay, Japan's dominant mobile payment app with 73 million users, listed on Nasdaq on March 12, 2026 at $16 per share — below its initial range. Backed by cornerstone investors including ADIA, Visa, and Qatar Holding, it's the largest US IPO by a Japanese firm in a decade. We analyze Japan's cashless revolution and how PayPay compares to global rivals like Alipay and GrabPay.
Honda announces its first-ever net loss since going public, with losses of up to $43 billion from scrapping three North American Honda 0 Series EVs, acquiring LG battery joint venture assets, and writing down Chinese operations. With cumulative losses potentially reaching $157 billion, this signals a seismic shift in Japan's EV strategy. Analysis covers Toyota's hybrid vindication, the failed Nissan merger, executive pay cuts, and what it means for the global auto industry.
Japan's amended immigration law passed on May 29, 2026. On July 3 the draft ordinance set the numbers: permanent residency applications rise from 10,000 yen to 200,000, and status changes and renewals go from a flat 6,000 to a tiered scale topping out at 75,000. New fees apply from October 1; public comment closes August 2. JESTA arrives by March 2029.
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.
Nintendo of America has sued the U.S. government demanding a full refund with interest of tariffs paid under IEEPA, following the Supreme Court's ruling that Trump's tariffs were unconstitutional. Joining over 1,000 companies including Costco and FedEx, we examine how tariffs forced Switch 2 pre-order delays, accessory price hikes, and the broader strategies Japanese companies are using to navigate U.S. trade policy.
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.
Once struggling to gain a foothold in Western markets, Japan's Uniqlo has surged to 47th on Interbrand's Best Global Brands 2025 ranking. With overseas revenue exceeding 56% and Europe/North America now outpacing China, we break down the strategies behind this turnaround — from outfitting Sweden's Olympic team to its LifeWear philosophy and differentiation from ZARA and H&M. What can other Japanese brands learn from Uniqlo's global conquest?
Nippon Steel is raising approximately $8.5 billion through Japan's largest-ever convertible bond issuance ($3.6B) and JBIC loans. This massive fundraising secures financing for its $14.9B U.S. Steel acquisition and a $39B five-year investment plan. We examine the implications for global steel consolidation, comparisons with ArcelorMittal, and the unprecedented "golden share" arrangement with the Trump administration.
Consumer Reports' inaugural Safety Verdict for 2026 names Mazda the safest car brand, beating Volvo, Mercedes, and BMW. Discover what makes this Japanese automaker's safety philosophy unique and why Japanese brands dominate the top 10.
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 Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has created a new certification system allowing US-made cars to be registered without additional safety testing. Born from the July 2025 US-Japan trade deal, this move addresses longstanding claims of non-tariff barriers. Here's how Japan is reacting.