By Akio Tanaka
Tokyo-based correspondent covering Japanese politics, economy and the region from a Japanese vantage.
Idemitsu Maru's Hormuz Passage Echoes Japan's 1953 Oil Blockade Break
The Panama-flagged, Japanese-owned VLCC Idemitsu Maru has passed through the Strait of Hormuz carrying 2 million barrels of Saudi crude. The
Japanese Parties Push PM Takaichi for Stronger Action on Hormuz Energy Crisis
Japan's LDP policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi urged PM Takaichi to consider post-conflict minesweeper deployment in the Hormuz crisis. Opposit
Japan's Defense Shift: Preparation, Not Pacifism, Drives New Arms Export Rules
Japan's cabinet approved a revision to arms export principles, allowing sales to 17 countries. Analysts say the shift is a pragmatic respons
Prime Minister Takaichi's Constitutional Focus Raises Economic Concerns Amid Regional Instability
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's focus on revising Japan's pacifist constitution is intensifying worries over her economic agenda. The shift
Iran Conflict Strains Japan's Supply Chains, Tests Regional Crisis Response
Japan is activating emergency measures to manage supply chain disruptions stemming from the Iran conflict, deploying financial support and t
Japan's Combat Role in Balikatan Exercise Signals Strategic Shift in Indo-Pacific
Japan is sending a 1,400-strong amphibious task force to participate in combat drills during the US-Philippines Balikatan exercise. The depl
Japan's Strategic Ambiguity: The Growing Gap Between Pacifist Rhetoric and Military Reality
Japan's constitutional pacifism is cited to limit military action, yet Tokyo has repeatedly reinterpreted these constraints to deploy forces
Fujitsu Leads Japan's Push for AI Chip Sovereignty with Advanced Processor
Japanese tech giant Fujitsu is spearheading a national initiative to create a domestically produced AI inference device. The project, involv
Japanese Yen Nears 160 to Dollar, Traders Eye Historic 200 Level
The Japanese yen is approaching the critical 160-to-the-dollar threshold, prompting aggressive intervention from the Ministry of Finance. Cu
Markets May Be Misreading Japan's 'Takaichi Trade' After LDP Landslide
The yen surged after Sanae Takaichi's LDP landslide, but the rally may reflect a misreading of her policy agenda. Markets are betting on agg
SoftBank Divests $2 Billion in Uber Shares Amid Ride-Hailing Sector Recovery
SoftBank Group's Vision Fund affiliate sold 38 million Uber shares for approximately $2 billion. The Japanese conglomerate remains Uber's la
Tokyo's Bid to Attract Hong Kong Finance Firms Faces Structural Hurdles
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike aims to make the city Asia's top financial hub, opening a support center in Hong Kong. However, Japan's high inc