Japan

Japan's Thatcher: Sanae Takaichi's win may reshape Indo-Pacific geopolitics

On the external front, Ms Takaichi has eschewed Japan's traditional equidistance between the United States (US) and China

Consumerism outweighs nationalism in China despite tensions with US, Japan

In China, consumerism appears to outweigh nationalism regardless of how testy relations have become in recent diplomatic spats with countries like Japan and the United States. It has been common practice for the ruling Communist Party to whip up nationalist sentiment and deploy propaganda condemning countries deemed to be violating China's stance on territorial issues as Taiwan and Tibet. At times, Beijing targets companies that make ideological missteps in their maps or advertising. In the past, friction with Japan and the United States has led to calls for mass boycotts, protests in the streets or even vandalism on embassies or restaurants. These days, pure nationalism appears not to resonate so much with Chinese consumers accustomed to making their own personal consumption choices. "Chinese consumers, especially urban middle-class and younger demographics, are not making everyday purchasing decisions based on nationalism," said Jacob Cooke, CEO of Beijing-based consultancy WPIC .

Japanese banks lead $750 million financing for Adani Energy amid India push

The financing highlights Japanese firms' bid to capture a slice of the world's fastest-growing economy, particularly in financial services, as they seek growth and yield beyond their home market

Asian stocks rise for second day as Nikkei sets fresh record, dollar drops

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday that senior ‌US Treasury staff visited China last week "to strengthen channels of ​communication" between Washington and Beijing

Xi Jinping faces Japan dilemma after Takaichi's historic election win

Takaichi said Japan was continuing to communicate with China at 'various levels' and would respond 'calmly and appropriately from the standpoint of Japan's national interests'

Takaichi landslide win shows structural, ideological shift in Japan: China

China on Monday said that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's massive victory in the midterm polls, a result widely seen as fuelled by public resentment over Beijing's strong opposition to her, reflects some deep-seated structural problems and shifting ideological currents. Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party won more than two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives in Sunday's election. The election results in Japan reflected some deep-seated structural problems as well as evolving trends of ideological currents, which deserve profound reflection by visionary individuals from all walks of life in Japan and the international community at large, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters. He was replying to a question at a media briefing here whether Beijing's tough stance toward Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan, persisting with diplomatic tension, influenced the outcome of elections in her favour. China never interferes in the internal affairs of other .

World stocks climb, Nikkei soars on Japan PM Takaichi's big poll win

World shares advanced, and Tokyo's Nikkei 225 share index jumped as much as 5 per cent to a record on Monday after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's governing party secured a two-thirds supermajority in a parliamentary election. In early European trading, Germany's DAX gained 0.6 per cent to 24,864.59, while the CAC 40 in Paris edged 0.2 per cent higher, to 8,288.06. Britain's FTSE 100 was up 0.3 per cent at 10,399.61. US futures edged higher after the US stock market roared back on Friday as technology stocks recovered much of their losses from earlier in the week and bitcoin halted its plunge. The future for the S&P 500 added 0.1 per cent, while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.2 per cent. On Friday, the S&P 500 rallied 2 per cent for its best day since May. The Dow industrials soared 2.5 per cent, topping the 50,000 level for the first time. The Nasdaq composite leapt 2.2 per cent. The combination of a rebound in tech shares, Wall Street's rally and

Japan PM Takaichi eyes defence, immigration reforms after landslide win

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's gamble that her personal popularity would lead to big election gains for her struggling party paid off hugely. On Monday, she began the process of translating that new power, made manifest in a two-thirds supermajority gained in parliamentary elections the day before, into what she hopes will be sweeping conservative legislation that will shift Japanese security, immigration, economic and social policies. The first steps include reappointing her Cabinet and pushing forward on a delayed budget, and the votes next week that will re-elect her as prime minister. Takaichi, in an interview with public television network NHK following her victory, said her efforts will make Japan strong and prosperous. NHK, citing vote count results, said Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP, alone secured 316 seats by early Monday, comfortably surpassing a 261-seat absolute majority in the 465-member lower house, the more powerful of Japan's two-chamber ...

Trump congratulates Japan PM Takaichi for 'landslide victory' in elections

Commending Japanese voters, Trump said the wonderful people of Japan had voted with enthusiasm and would always have his strong support

Asia rallies as Japan shares surge to record peak post Takaichi's win

Japan's Nikkei surged 4.2 per cent to all-time highs, with investors expecting increased spending and tax cuts

Japan's 'Iron Lady' Sanae Takaichi forges stunning election win

Takaichi's ruling coalition secures supermajority in lower house; Japan's first female leader gambled on rare winter snap election

Japan election: What to know as PM Takaichi's coalition eyes big win

Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, known as Ishin, could capture around 300 seats in the 465-seat lower house of parliament, polls showed

Rising prices dominate Japan election as voters seek cost-of-living relief

The election pits the PM Takaichi-led Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) coalition against the opposition Centrist Reform Alliance, with inflation and affordability shaping voter sentiment nationwide

Japanese Takaichi hopes for big win as polls open in national elections

Polls opened Sunday in parliamentary elections that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hopes will give her struggling party a big enough win to push through an ambitious conservative political agenda. Takaichi is hugely popular, but the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which has governed Japan for most of the last seven decades, is not. She called Sunday's snap elections hoping to turn that around. She wants to make progress on a right-wing agenda that aims to boost Japan's economy and military capabilities as tensions grow with China. She also nurtures ties with her crucial US ally, and a sometimes unpredictable President Donald Trump. The ultraconservative Takaichi, who took office as Japan's first female leader in October, pledged to "work, work, work," and her style, which is seen as both playful and tough, has resonated with younger fans. The latest surveys indicated a landslide win in the lower house for the LDP. The opposition, despite the formation of a new centrist ...

Trump gives his 'total endorsement' to Japan's Takaichi ahead of elections

Japan's first female PM, whose coalition is widely expected to win, according to opinion polls, is seeking a public mandate

NSDC International plans to widen Japan skilling through six states

Skill ministry arm explores partnerships with six states to expand Japanese language training and prepare youth from smaller towns for overseas employment

Japan set to trial India's UPI as Indian tourist numbers see sharp rise

Japan will trial India's UPI in 2026, allowing Indian tourists to make QR code payments directly from their Indian bank accounts while travelling

Japan PM vows action against speculative trading after sudden yen spike

A weak yen has become a source of headaches for Japanese policymakers as it pushes up import costs and broader inflation, hurting households' purchasing power

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves parliament after only 3 mths, calls early polls

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower house of parliament on Friday, paving the way for an early election on February 8. The move is an attempt to capitalise on her popularity to help the governing party regain ground after major losses in recent years, but it will delay parliamentary approval for a budget that aims at boosting a struggling economy and addressing soaring prices. Takaichi, elected in October as Japan's first female leader, has been in office only three months, but she has seen strong approval ratings of about 70 per cent. Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party could still face some challenges as it reels from a series of scandals about corruption and the party's past ties to the Unification Church. But it's not clear if the new opposition Centrist Reform Alliance can attract moderate voters, while opposition parties are still too splintered to pose a serious threat to the LDP. Takaichi is also seeing rising animosity with China since making remarks

Japan's TEPCO shuts reactor shortly after restart due to safety glitch

A reactor at the world's largest nuclear power plant that restarted for the first time since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster is now being shut down again on Thursday due to a glitch that occurred hours after the unit's resumption, its operator said. The No. 6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in north-central Japan was reactivated Wednesday night for the first time in 14 years, as plant workers started removing neutron-absorbing control rods from the core to start stable nuclear fission. But the process had to be suspended hours later due to a malfunction related to control rods, which are essential to safely starting up and shutting down reactors, the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings said. TEPCO, which also manages the wrecked Fukushima plant, said there was no safety issue from the glitch. Kashiwazak-Kariwa plant chief Takeyuki Inagaki told a news conference that he has decided to shut down the reactor to ensure safety. The operation had to stop when an alarm went