News On Japan

Nikkei 225 rises above 30,000

May 17 (NHK) - The benchmark index for the Tokyo Stock Exchange climbed above 30,000 for the first time in a year and 8 months. The gains reflect rising investor confidence amid robust earnings and improving forecasts at Japanese companies.

The Nikkei 225 ended at 30,093 on Wednesday. That's up 0.8 percent from the previous day's close.

Shares of department stores, railway companies and airlines led a rally that was also fueled by expectations for increases in tourists. Semiconductor-related shares were also strong.

The Nikkei has been gaining on increasing demand for stocks by foreign investors. The index has risen more than 4 percent so far this month.

Many expect Japan's economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic to gain more ground after starting later than in the United States and Europe.

Analysts say Japan's first quarter GDP growth figures released Wednesday also prompted more investors to place buy orders.

But analysts also cited the political impasse over raising the US debt ceiling and a round of bank failures as contributing to anxiety about the global economic outlook.

They also warn that demand from foreign investors may push Japanese stock prices higher than is justified by companies' earnings.

...continue reading

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Scholars affiliated with the Science Council of Japan formed a symbolic human chain in front of the National Diet building on May 8th, calling for revisions to the government’s proposed reform bill targeting the council’s structure, as deliberations enter their final phase in the Diet.

Across Japan, road collapses have been occurring with increasing frequency, often blamed on aging infrastructure. In one recent incident in Ashioshi, Saitama Prefecture, a truck was swallowed by a gaping sinkhole.

Two men who were arrested for forcibly entering an elementary school in Tachikawa City, Tokyo, and assaulting staff members have been identified as friends of a student's mother. One of the suspects denies the charges, claiming he was only brushing people off after being restrained.

Cherry blossoms have begun to bloom in Wakkanai and Kushiro, marking the near completion of Japan's cherry blossom front for 2025.

As many in Japan returned to work or school on May 7th following the Golden Week holiday, a growing number are reporting post-holiday fatigue and sleep deprivation—conditions that experts warn may point to deeper sleep-related issues.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Business NEWS

Nintendo has announced that it expects a significant boost in revenue for the fiscal year ending March 2026, projecting a 63.1% increase from the previous year to reach 1.9 trillion yen. The strong outlook is driven by the launch of the company’s new home gaming console, the Nintendo Switch 2, set for release in June.

As NTT Docomo and KDDI move to raise their mobile phone fees, SoftBank has also revealed it is considering a similar hike.

As the U.S.-China trade tensions escalate, 151 companies from Shanghai gathered in Osaka for a business fair, with some shifting their focus to Japan by planning store openings and relocating their families.

Mitsubishi Motors has announced that it will procure electric vehicles from Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry, marking the first time a major Japanese automaker will receive EVs from the Taiwanese electronics manufacturing giant.

Kansai Electric Power announced plans to construct one of Japan's largest battery storage facilities on the former site of the Tanagawa Power Station in Misaki Town, Osaka Prefecture, in an effort to stabilize the supply of renewable energy.

Police have launched a public awareness campaign to warn local rice farmers about rampant thefts driven by soaring prices.

The newly established Hokkaido Valley Vision Council aims to create a 'Hokkaido version of Silicon Valley' by promoting development around next-generation semiconductor firm Rapidus and transforming the region from Tomakomai to Ishikari into a hub for advanced technology.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group plans to establish a new online-only bank by the end of the next fiscal year, aiming to attract younger customers in an environment where interest-bearing deposits are gaining renewed importance.