News On Japan

Nikkei Surpasses 40,000 for First Time

TOKYO - The Tokyo stock market saw the Nikkei average close above 40,000 yen for the first time in history on Monday.

Following a rise in the New York market at the end of last week, the Nikkei average started trading above the 40,000 yen mark on the 4th. Semiconductor-related stocks led the charge, with gains exceeding 400 yen at one point. However, the increase narrowed in the afternoon trading session.

The closing price was 198 yen higher than the previous week, at 40,109 yen.

Hideji Yoshioka, Executive Officer at SMBC Nikko Securities, said, "Personally, I feel that we have surpassed a significant milestone at 40,000 yen. I hope to continue without getting too excited or discouraged."

Tetsuhiro Nishi, Executive Officer at Nomura Securities, commented, "With discussions about wage increases, movements of the Bank of Japan, and corporate performance, it seems that we can try to push higher as these uncertainties are somewhat resolved."

Market participants noted that while there is a sense of achievement in breaking the major threshold, "a sense of caution towards higher prices is a given."

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Japan’s World Cup campaign ended in the cruelest possible fashion on June 29, as Gabriel Martinelli scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to give Brazil a 2-1 victory over the Samurai Blue in their knockout match in Houston. Japan had led in the first half and were still level at 1-1 in the final moments, but Martinelli’s late strike sent Brazil into the Round of 16 and eliminated Japan from the tournament.

Strong earthquakes have continued to shake parts of Japan in recent weeks, with 11 temblors measuring lower 5 or above on the Japanese seismic intensity scale recorded across the country since April 2026.

A Kintetsu Railway train derailed inside Kyoto Station on the morning of June 29, forcing partial suspensions on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line for the rest of the day and causing long delays that hit commuters, students and tourists.

A section of stone wall at Hikone Castle, one of Japan’s few surviving original Edo-period castles and a National Treasure whose main keep remains intact more than 400 years after its construction, collapsed after heavy rain caused by Typhoons No. 7 and No. 8, Hikone city officials said.

Japan advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup after a 1-1 draw with Sweden on June 25, finishing second in Group F and setting up a Round of 32 clash with Brazil in Houston.

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