The 2025 spring wage negotiations have officially begun, with major automakers submitting their demands on February 12th. The key question remains: will wage increases continue to rise this year?
The so-called 'Reiwa Rice Crisis' that emerged last summer continues to impact Japan. The government initially predicted that rice prices would stabilize once the new harvest entered the market, but as of February 11th, prices remain high. In some supermarkets, the price of a 5kg bag of rice has surged by 700 to 800 yen.
Following the Japan-U.S. summit during the Trump administration, discussions about liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports gained momentum. The agreement to expand LNG purchases from the U.S. was seen as a key development, but significant challenges remain. Will this lead to lower gas prices in Japan? And what are the five countries that pose obstacles to fulfilling this commitment?
In an age where information is as valuable as currency, effective management of knowledge assets can be the key to a company's competitive edge.
The stalled merger talks between Honda and Nissan, as well as Nippon Steel’s acquisition bid for US Steel, are in the spotlight. The negotiations for a management integration between Honda and Nissan were scrapped in just about a month after they were revealed, largely due to the size differences between the two automakers.
Confusion arose during a joint press conference following the U.S.-Japan summit on February 7th when former President Donald Trump mistakenly referred to Nippon Steel as "Nissan" three times while discussing the company's planned acquisition of U.S. Steel. His remarks led to brief speculation about whether struggling automaker Nissan was investing in the American steel giant.
A senior executive of Taiwan’s electronics manufacturing giant, Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn), reportedly visited Japan last month and met with Nissan officials, according to Taiwanese media reports.
Takanawa Gateway City, one of Tokyo’s largest redevelopment projects, is set to open on March 27. While still under construction, many of the barriers have been removed, revealing glimpses of the city’s future landmark.