Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA

09/04/2026

The Foreign Ministry will step up its “soft power diplomacy” efforts to promote Japanese pop culture, such as anime and manga, in emerging and developing countries in the Global South starting in fiscal 2027.

09/04/2026

Japanese households cut spending for an eighth consecutive month in July as rising costs for daily necessities prompt consumers to pare discretionary purchases.

Household outlays adjusted for inflation fell 3.6% in July from a year earlier, the internal affairs ministry reported Friday.

09/04/2026

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Friday dismissed the idea of foreign nationals joining the Self-Defense Forces, a day after a think tank proposal broached the possibility in light of recruitment woes.

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said his ministry’s top priority “must be the people who are currently serving.”

09/04/2026

The Japanese unit of Dutch semiconductor equipment company ASML plans to increase its domestic workforce to around 700 employees from 500 by 2030 as it supports advanced chip production in the country, ASML Japan President Shojiro Fujiwara said at a press conference on Thursday.

Dutch equipment maker to lift headcount to about 700 from 500, Japan unit chief says

09/04/2026

Budget requests by Japanese ministries for fiscal 2027 totaled 143 trillion yen ($918 billion), marking a record high for the fourth consecutive year, partly due to 12 trillion yen in requests under a new uncapped special investment category, the Finance Ministry said Friday.

Budget requests by Japanese ministries for fiscal 2027 totaled 143 trillion yen ($918 billion), marking a record high for the fourth consecutive year, partly due to 12 trillion yen in requests under a new uncapped special investment category, the Finance Ministry said Friday.

09/04/2026

U.S., Japanese and Australian ground forces are testing artificial intelligence, integrated sensors and other emerging technologies in a multinational command-post exercise aimed at improving how they fight across multiple domains.

U.S., Japanese and Australian ground forces are testing artificial intelligence, integrated sensors and other emerging technologies in an exercise.

09/03/2026

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and technology group NEC will collaborate on homegrown defense drones as well as command and control systems powered by artificial intelligence, the two Japanese companies said Wednesday.

https://ow.ly/7XWg50ZISUQ

Former coalition party has voiced support for cut to consumption tax on food

09/03/2026

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party looks to work with former coalition partner Komeito now that the party is set to leave the main opposition Centrist Reform Alliance, a move that could help the LDP pass a national consumption tax cut lowering the rate on food items to 1%.

Former coalition party has voiced support for cut to consumption tax on food

09/03/2026

The yen rallied on Thursday in Tokyo, with the currency breaking ¥157 to the dollar for the first time in a month.

Japan’s currency is back at about ¥157 to the dollar for the first time since early August.

09/03/2026

The White House and U.S. Navy are considering frigate designs from South Korea, Japan and Turkey for a new class of warships, USNI News has learned.

The White House and U.S. Navy are considering frigate designs from South Korea, Japan and Turkey for a new class of warships, USNI News has learned. An international warship competition could include building up to two of the ships in foreign shipyards before transitioning to domestic yards as part....