Japan

• La Nazionale femminile degli Stati Uniti ha ottenuto una vittoria per 3-0 contro il Giappone in un'amichevole disputata in Colorado il 12 maggio 2026. • Kennedy Wesley, subentrando dalla panchina alla sua sesta convocazione, ha segnato il suo primo gol internazionale e fornito il suo primo assist, evidenziando la profondità della squadra. • Sophia Wilson ha fatto il suo ritorno nella USWNT dopo quasi due anni di assenza, contribuendo alla prestazione dominante contro la formazione giapponese.

• I hedge fund globali hanno incrementato gli investimenti in Asia, con gli acquisti settimanali di titoli sudcoreani, giapponesi e taiwanesi che hanno raggiunto il massimo di 10 anni per la settimana conclusasi il 7 maggio, secondo un rapporto di Morgan Stanley. • L'impennata, la più consistente in termini di valore nominale in oltre un decennio, è stata guidata da clienti di tutte le regioni e strategie mirate al settore tecnologico asiatico nel contesto del boom dell'AI. • L'esposizione netta degli hedge fund verso Giappone, Corea del Sud e Taiwan è salita ai massimi dal 2010, raggiungendo ora circa il 19% del posizionamento globale, con un focus su semiconduttori e hardware nella supply chain dell'AI.

• I Chiba Jets hanno sconfitto i Gunma Credit CT per 72-68 in una combattuta partita della lega giapponese di basket. • I Jets hanno mostrato un'eccezionale precisione nei tiri liberi, convertendo 19 dei 22 tentativi con una percentuale di successo dell'86,4%. • La prestazione dell'ala americano è stata fondamentale per assicurare la stretta vittoria ai Chiba.

• La Prima Ministra del Giappone, Sanae Takaichi, sta promuovendo una legislazione per istituire la prima agenzia di intelligence centralizzata del paese dalla Seconda Guerra Mondiale, trasformando il Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office (CIRO) in un centro per analisti, tecnologi e operatori, a fronte dell'aumento di spionaggio e minacce informatiche da parte di Cina e Russia. • L'FBI ha approvato il piano, con i funzionari che hanno segnalato il supporto degli Stati Uniti a Tokyo in materia di cybersecurity, controspionaggio, spionaggio e antiterrorismo, affrontando così la frammentazione dell'attuale sistema di intelligence giapponese. • L'agenzia potrebbe diventare operativa a partire da luglio 2026, previa approvazione della Camera dei Consiglieri, partendo con circa 700 dipendenti e con una previsione di rapida crescita attraverso l'integrazione di talenti provenienti dal settore governativo e privato.

• Calbee passerà dalle sue confezioni dai colori vivaci al bianco e nero poiché la guerra ha interrotto la fornitura di alcune materie prime utilizzate negli inchiostri. • Il più grande produttore di snack del Giappone è stato costretto a utilizzare confezioni in bianco e nero per alcuni dei suoi prodotti di punta a causa della carenza di ingredienti per l'inchiostro causata dal blocco dello Stretto di Hormuz. • Calbee ha dichiarato martedì che 14 dei suoi prodotti passeranno a un branding monocromatico entro la fine di maggio. Continua a leggere...

• Il Primo Ministro giapponese sta valutando una visita in Corea del Sud intorno al 19-20 maggio 2026 per dei colloqui al vertice, secondo fonti citate da Asia Daily l'11 maggio. • Il viaggio mira a rafforzare le relazioni tra Giappone e Corea del Sud in un contesto di sfide alla sicurezza regionale in Asia orientale. • Questo segue le recenti esercitazioni militari congiunte che hanno coinvolto paracadutisti di Giappone, USA e Regno Unito, segnalando una cooperazione in materia di difesa più profonda.

• Il Presidente Trump partirà da Washington lunedì per un viaggio cruciale in Asia, facendo tappa in Giappone e in Corea del Sud prima di un summit di due giorni con il Presidente cinese Xi Jinping. • L'itinerario si concentra sugli impegni diplomatici in un contesto di crescenti tensioni tra USA e Cina e preoccupazioni per la sicurezza regionale. • Si prevede che le discussioni riguardino il commercio, le alleanze di sicurezza e le relazioni bilaterali durante queste visite di alto profilo.

• Gli ETF focalizzati sull'Asia, rappresentanti Giappone, Cina, Corea del Sud e Taiwan, stanno sovraperformando nel 2026, spinti da un re-rating strutturale delle prospettive di crescita asiatiche mentre gli investitori globali cercano alternative ai titoli tecnologici a mega-capitalizzazione statunitense dalle valutazioni elevate. • I settori dei semiconduttori e delle infrastrutture hardware sono i principali beneficiari dell'attuale espansione globale dell'AI, con catene di fornitura integrate tra Giappone, Taiwan e Corea del Sud che attraggono significativi trade di recupero da parte degli investitori internazionali. • Una stabilizzazione più ampia del dollaro statunitense sta agendo come vento in coda per le azioni asiatiche, sia sviluppate che emergenti, riducendo il costo del debito denominato in dollari per le società regionali e migliorando il posizionamento competitivo.

• MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026 revealed nominees in 77 categories on Saturday, highlighting achievements in Japanese and global music. • The event celebrates international music connections with artists from Asia and worldwide ahead of the June 13, 2026 ceremony in Tokyo. • Nominees include top J-pop acts and K-pop groups, with categories spanning song of the year, artist of the year, and genre-specific awards.

• Japanese policymakers are leveraging household wealth and assets to support industrial ambitions under a new economic security framework. • Tokyo aims to enhance economic resilience through this innovative financing approach. • The model could inspire other Asian nations to 'look east' for growth strategies amid global uncertainties.

• On May 7, 2026, NEC Corporation unveiled its first quantum‑inspired AI accelerator chip, the “Q‑Neuron B1,” designed for edge‑computing devices such as industrial robots, drones, and smart‑city sensors. • The chip reportedly delivers a 3.2x improvement in inference latency over prior NEC ASICs while consuming 38% less power, enabling real‑time video analytics at up to 7680×4320 resolution on low‑bandwidth edge nodes. • NEC aims to ship the first commercial batches to Japanese manufacturers and municipal networks by Q3 2026, with plans to license the architecture to South Korean and Taiwanese partners.

• Tokyo's Nikkei 225 fell 1.1% to 62,174 on Friday after briefly crossing 63,000 for the first time during Thursday trading and closing at a record 62,833, marking a pullback from peak valuations. • SoftBank Group, one of Japan's largest stocks, declined over 5%, signaling profit-taking and weakness in the technology sector that had driven the index higher. • The broader Topix slipped 0.29% on Friday to 3,829.48 but remained up 2.7% for the holiday-shortened week, reflecting mixed sentiment as markets digest geopolitical risks.

• Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced an updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy during her visit to Vietnam last weekend, emphasizing Tokyo's increased reliance on Southeast Asia amid U.S.-China rivalry. • The decade-old FOIP policy now prioritizes energy security, critical minerals, and deeper ties with ASEAN nations to bolster economic and security roles in the region. • This pivot underscores Japan's strategic shift toward Southeast Asia as a counterbalance to great-power competition, enhancing regional stability and supply chain resilience.

• Japan announced plans to establish a ¥500 billion fund aimed at reinforcing economic security, with implications for Southeast Asian supply chains. • The fund will support critical technology investments and diversification away from high-risk dependencies, targeting partners in ASEAN nations like Indonesia and Vietnam. • This initiative addresses vulnerabilities exposed by recent geopolitical tensions, enhancing regional resilience against disruptions.

Japanese leader Sanae Takaichi has called for discussions to revise the constitution, saying it should ‘reflect the demands of the times’Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has called for “advanced discussions” on revising the pacifist constitution, as large demonstrations were held nationwide to oppose any changes to the country’s supreme law.Speaking during an official visit to Vietnam, Takaichi said the constitution, which was written by US occupation forces after the second world war, “should periodically be updated to reflect the demands of the times”. Continue reading...

China is no longer just a consumer market, but a manufacturing base and launchpad for competing with Chinese automakers globally, says IMD Business School’s Mark Greeven.

Japan Airlines will introduce the robots for trial run at a Tokyo airport amid country’s surge in inbound tourism and worsening labour shortagesJapan’s famously conscientious but overburdened baggage handlers will soon be joined by extra staff at Tokyo’s Haneda airport – although their new colleagues will need to take regular recharging breaks.Japan Airlines will introduce humanoid robots on a trial basis from the beginning of May, with a view to deploying them permanently as a solution to the country’s chronic labour shortage. Continue reading...

Woman’s body found in Iwate prefecture last week, soon after a police officer was injured in bear attack nearbyRested but famished bears emerging from hibernation in Japan are already coming into contact with humans, with the pace of sightings outstripping that seen in 2025, a record year for bear attacks.According to media reports, the animals have been spotted with surprising frequency in urban areas in the country’s north-east, with authorities urging caution among people planning to spend the coming Golden Week public holidays in the countryside. Continue reading...

Foreign affairs minister begins another diplomatic tour to secure Australia’s fuel and energy supply chains. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning, Nick Visser here to guide you through the day’s news. Here’s what’s on deck:The foreign minister, Penny Wong, will travel to Japan today, part of a diplomatic trip to secure fuel supplies that will also include visits to China and South Korea. She said the effort will help “ensure Australia is prioritised as a reliable energy partner”. Continue reading...

People in affected areas urged to evacuate as quake registering 7.5 magniture occurred off the coast of SanrikuThe strength of the earthquake has been revised up to 7.5 and the biggest waves due to the tsunami are expected in Iwate, Aomori and Hokkaido prefectures, authorities said.Reuters reported that prime minister Sanae Takaichi said the government had set up an emergency task force and urged citizens in the affected areas to evacuate to safety. Continue reading...

• The US and Japan signed an upgraded defense agreement Friday expanding joint military operations, technology sharing, and coordinated response protocols to counter Chinese military activities in the Indo-Pacific region. • The agreement authorizes increased US military presence in Japan, including enhanced surveillance capabilities and expedited weapons deployments, representing the most significant defense treaty expansion since 2015. • Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned the alliance upgrade as destabilizing and counterproductive to regional peace, while Taiwan and South Korea welcomed the commitment to deterring further territorial aggression.

Elderly people take advantage of courses on how to navigate mobile devices and avoid ‘analogue isolation’It’s not only young people whose gaze is fixed on tiny screens. But for these users in Tokyo, clicking and scrolling is anything but second nature.“I can’t deal with all of the apps that jump out at me,” says one. “How do I know if I’ve definitely ended a call?” asks another. Continue reading...

• North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles from near Pyongyang into the Sea of Japan at 5:20 AM UTC on April 8, 2026, reaching 500 km altitude per South Korean military. • The launch followed US B-52 bomber flights over the peninsula; Kim Jong Un called it a 'warning to imperialists' in state media. • It heightens regional tensions, with Japan evacuating 10,000 residents near landing zones and US vowing 'ironclad' deterrence.

• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul on April 8, 2026, focusing on countering North Korean threats and Chinese influence. • Discussions covered $10 billion in new joint defense tech investments and intelligence-sharing pacts; Yoon called it 'a new era of deterrence'. • The trilateral framework with Japan matters for Indo-Pacific security, especially after recent North Korean missile tests overflying Japan.

• Microsoft revealed a $10 billion investment plan in Japan focused on AI infrastructure, cybersecurity cooperation, and developer training. • The initiative partners with Sakura Internet and SoftBank to train one million engineers and developers by 2030, boosting local AI capabilities. • Sakura Internet's stock surged sharply following the announcement, signaling market optimism for Japan's tech infrastructure growth amid US tech ripple effects.

• Japan and South Korea formalized a expanded military cooperation agreement on Thursday, establishing joint command structures and coordinated response protocols to address escalating North Korean weapons development and missile tests. • The two nations agreed to share real-time intelligence on North Korean military activities and established a rapid-response task force designed to coordinate anti-missile defense systems within 48 hours of any provocation. • The agreement represents the strongest formal defense partnership between the two countries in over a decade and signals growing concern about North Korea's advancing intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities.