Keywords: Japan


War in Iran disrupts $19 billion used car trade in Asia

US and Israeli military strikes on Iran since February 28 have thrown Asia's $19 billion used car export industry into disarray. Ships avoid the Middle East, stranding cargoes at sea and overwhelming ports from Sri Lanka to China. Dealers feel the impact acutely. Umar Ali Hyder Ali runs Yokohama-based......

Japan signals currency intervention as yen nears 160 per dollar

Japanese authorities stepped up warnings on Monday as the yen weakened toward the key level of 160 against the US dollar, raising the likelihood of direct market intervention. Atsushi Mimura, Japan’s top currency official, said the government is prepared to act if exchange rate volatility continues,......

Berkshire Hathaway buys $1.8 billion stake in Tokio Marine

Berkshire Hathaway has acquired a 2.5 percent stake in Japan’s largest insurer, Tokio Marine Holdings, in a deal valued at about $1.8 billion, marking a new strategic partnership between the two companies. Tokio Marine said it would sell treasury shares worth 287.41 billion yen to National Indemnity,......

Drone images reveal hole in Fukushima reactor vessel

Tiny drones deployed inside a damaged reactor at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant have captured the first clear images of the bottom of Unit 3’s pressure vessel, revealing a large hole in the thick steel structure and hanging masses believed to be melted nuclear fuel. The footage,......

Japan rejects us report on takaichi’s taiwan remarks ahead of trump summit

Japan has dismissed a recent United States intelligence report suggesting that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on a potential Taiwan crisis represent a major shift in the country’s defense policy. The response comes just days before Takaichi’s scheduled meeting with US President......

Tokyo travel guide highlights best seasons, attractions and food experiences

Tokyo, the capital of Japan and the world’s most populous metropolitan area, blends historic traditions with advanced urban innovation. Visitors encounter centuries old temples and landscaped gardens alongside modern districts filled with technology, fashion, and entertainment, all supported by......

Bank of Japan holds rates as oil shock raises inflation risks

The Bank of Japan kept its interest rates unchanged on Thursday, warning that rising oil prices linked to the Middle East conflict could push up underlying inflation and complicate policy decisions. The central bank maintained its short-term policy rate at 0.75 percent following a two-day meeting, in......

Yen weakens near 160 as markets await Fed and BoJ decisions

The Japanese yen hovered near a key intervention threshold after the USD/JPY pair reached a 52 week high of 159.75, its strongest level since mid July 2024, as traders focused on upcoming policy decisions from the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan. The move places the yen close to the 160 level,......

Japan begins releasing oil reserves in largest IEA stockpile draw

Japan began releasing strategic oil reserves on Monday as part of what the International Energy Agency described as the largest coordinated drawdown of emergency stockpiles in its more than 50 year history. The move forms part of a joint effort by 32 countries to counter the supply shock triggered by......