Minoru Kihara

Torrential rain floods north-central Japan, stranding people and vehicles, with over 380,000 advised to evacuate.

North Korea joined China and Russia in criticizing Japan's military expansion and nuclear policy reassessment, deepening trilateral strategic cooperation amid reports of increased Russian-North Korean military ties and 50,000 additional North Korean troops deploying to Ukraine.

Japan establishes a new intelligence agency, fueling fears of a return to militarism.

A major quake hits southwestern Japan, leaving over 9,000 people in evacuation centers and at least 13 dead.

Japan's earthquake death toll rises to 34 after another body is pulled from a collapsed mall.

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake hits Japan, causing a mall explosion and killing three people.

A powerful earthquake in Japan kills at least 13 people and injures many others.

A 7.1-magnitude earthquake hits Japan's Kumamoto prefecture, causing widespread damage and feared deaths.

Trump's administration imposed 10-12.5 percent tariffs on over 80 countries citing forced labour concerns, prompting global backlash from allies including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the EU, who disputed the allegations and called the measures unjustified.

China conducted a rare live-fire naval drill inside Japan's claimed EEZ near Okinotorishima.

Japan's government pledged to intervene in currency markets at any time as the yen weakened to two-year lows, despite spending record 11.7 trillion yen on April-May interventions, with the currency eroding gains due to widening US-Japan interest rate differentials.

The Trump administration condemned China's submarine-launched nuclear-capable missile test in the Pacific, calling it evidence of Beijing's escalating arms buildup and contradicting U.S. nonproliferation efforts, while regional allies expressed serious concerns about the strategic development.

China test-launches a ballistic missile in the South Pacific, raising regional concerns.

China detentions widen Japan rare earth supply risks

The dollar fell to a 12-week low following June employment data showing only 57,000 jobs added versus 110,000 expected, reducing September Federal Reserve rate hike probability from 64% to 35-52% and weakening rate expectations.

Japan's yen fell to its lowest level against the US dollar since 1986, reaching 162.40, amid government intervention concerns as rising import prices hurt consumers while exporters benefit from currency weakness.

The Japanese Yen weakens as USD/JPY reaches multi-decade highs near 162.65, driven by a 250 basis point interest rate differential favoring the US Dollar, despite repeated Japanese intervention warnings and expectations of further Federal Reserve rate hikes.

Japan reiterates support for ICC President Tomoko Akane after US sanctions.

China urges its citizens in Japan to remain vigilant due to ongoing earthquake risks.

Japan's earthquake death toll rises to 34 as rescuers battle time and heat to find survivors.

China urges its citizens in Japan to remain vigilant due to ongoing earthquake risks.

Japan's earthquake death toll rises to 28 after a 7.1-magnitude quake struck Kumamoto Prefecture.

Rescuers search for survivors in a collapsed Japanese mall after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake killed at least 13 people.

A powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake hits Japan, killing at least 13 people and trapping many under rubble.

A 7.1-magnitude earthquake hits Japan, causing widespread damage and feared deaths in a shopping mall blast.

President Trump imposed 10-12.5% tariffs on 60 countries citing forced labor concerns, drawing sharp objections from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the EU, who called the accusations unjustified and warned of economic harm.

A cyberattack hits Japan's Glico, disrupting ice cream and food deliveries nationwide.

China opposes unlawful sea boundary plan

China test-launched a ballistic missile in the South Pacific, raising regional concerns.

Japan protests China's wider export controls on dual-use items

China slaps export controls on dozens of Japanese entities

China imposes export controls on 40 Japanese entities due to rising tensions over Japan's military expansion.

MUFG assesses Japan's recent foreign exchange warnings as rising intervention risk but stopping short of signaling imminent action, as USD/JPY breaks 2024 highs amid Fed hawkishness fundamentally driving dollar strength rather than yen-specific weakness.

Japan's yen hit its lowest level against the US dollar since 1986, depreciating despite rate hikes and government intervention, pressuring households through rising import costs while boosting exporters amid concerns over further currency weakness.

China detained Japanese executives over alleged export control violations, escalating economic and political pressure following Japan's Prime Minister's Taiwan defense statement, while blocking dual-use goods exports to Japanese firms.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's public statements on monetary policy have effectively locked Japan's central bank into a September interest rate hike, raising concerns about American influence over Japan's independent economic policy decisions.

China warns Japan against remilitarization after Tokyo launches a new intelligence bureau.

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake in southwest Japan killed at least 28 people and caused widespread damage.

A 7.1-magnitude earthquake hits Japan, causing a mall explosion, killing three, and trapping others.

Japan's PM says rescuers are in a race against time to find missing people after a powerful earthquake killed at least 13.

A 7.1-magnitude earthquake hits Japan's Kumamoto prefecture, causing widespread damage and feared deaths.

US trade partners condemn new tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.

Japan expressed concern over a Chinese destroyer's live-fire drills near Okinotori island.

Japan balances US security ties with international law commitments amid ICC dispute.

China's PLA Navy tested an advanced submarine-launched ballistic missile over the Pacific, alarming Indo-Pacific nations including the US, Japan, and Australia amid escalating regional tensions and competing security partnerships in the region.

China launched a submarine missile into the Pacific, triggering concern in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.

China detains 2 Japanese over alleged rare-earth export control breach

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary is closely monitoring market movements with a high sense of urgency.

The Japanese Yen sank to its lowest level since 1986 against the US Dollar, driven by the widening interest rate differential between the Federal Reserve's 3.5-3.75% rates and Japan's 1%, sustaining the carry trade despite government warnings of potential intervention.

China designated 40 Japanese defense organizations to its export control blacklist, bringing the total to 80 since February, reducing rare earth exports to Japan by 43 percent-a retaliatory measure following Japan's statement that Chinese military action against Taiwan could trigger collective self-defense intervention.