News On Japan

TOTO Revamps London Showroom

LONDON, May 20, 2026 (News On Japan) - TOTO, a major Japanese manufacturer of housing and bathroom equipment, reopened its showroom in London, England, on May 20th after undergoing its first major renovation in 16 years.

The revamped showroom highlights Japanese technology and cleanliness through interactive exhibits, including displays explaining the mechanism behind the company’s flagship Washlet toilets and a cave-like immersive space designed to simulate a unique toilet experience.

According to TOTO, sales in its European business have continued to rise steadily in recent years, positioning the region as one of its key markets. The company also said its operations have not been affected by shortages of naphtha, a raw material used in manufacturing.

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Northern Japan experienced record-breaking cold on the morning of November 11th, with temperatures plunging to minus 20.2 degrees Celsius in Horokanai, Hokkaido, marking the first time in Japan's recorded history that temperatures have fallen below minus 20 degrees during the first half of November.

East Japan Railway (JR East) announced on November 10th that it will introduce touch-free ticket gates at 40 stations, including every station on Tokyo's Yamanote Line, from spring 2028, allowing passengers using Mobile Suica to pass through without taking their smartphones out of their pockets or bags.

Japan's Children and Families Agency unveiled its first national guidelines on November 10th for parental involvement in children's internet use, dividing those aged 0 to 18 into six developmental stages as the government considers tighter regulations on social media platforms to protect young people from online bullying, exploitation, and other growing risks.

As of 3 a.m. on Wednesday, November 11, Typhoon No. 32 was moving east-northeast over waters east of Chichijima in the Ogasawara Islands, gradually heading away from the Japanese archipelago after passing near the island between late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.

Odakyu Electric Railway unveiled images of its next-generation Romancecar limited express train on November 10, revealing a striking blue-green design featuring enormous circular windows that will allow passengers to enjoy panoramic views from ceiling to floor when the new trains enter service in March 2029.

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Tokyo stocks extended their recovery on Wednesday, November 11th, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 61,248.59 points as of 3:30 p.m., up 789.01 points, or 1.31%, from Tuesday, marking a third consecutive session of gains as investors bought semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related shares despite renewed concerns over US inflation and interest rates.

SoftBank Group reported a net loss of 768 billion yen for the six months from April to September, largely due to losses associated with a review of its artificial intelligence data center plans in the United States, but the Japanese technology investment giant said it would continue pursuing its long-term AI strategy despite the financial setback.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average surged 1,684.08 points, or 2.87%, to close at 60,459.58 on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. Japan time, recovering the psychologically important 60,000 level for the first time in three trading sessions as investors bought back artificial intelligence and semiconductor shares following a sharp rebound on Wall Street.

Japan's tofu industry is facing mounting financial pressure, with 39 producers going bankrupt, suspending or closing operations, or dissolving their businesses between January and October 2026, as rising soybean prices and sluggish sales leave nearly 40% of manufacturers operating at a loss.

Household spending in Japan fell 6.8% in September from a year earlier, marking the 10th consecutive month of decline and the sharpest drop since September 2020, when consumer activity was severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to government data released on November 10.

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average closed at 58,775.50 on Monday, November 9, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. Tokyo time, rising 1,340.73 points, or 2.33%, from Friday's close, as investors returned to equities following last week's sharp selloff, with widespread gains across banking, automotive, retail and semiconductor-related shares helping the benchmark record its first advance in six trading sessions.

Japan's stock market is expected to open higher on Monday, November 9, after the Nikkei 225 plunged 9.25% last week to close at 57,434.77 on Friday, November 6, with a rebound in US technology shares and stronger overnight futures pointing to an initial recovery, although investors face another potentially volatile week dominated by inflation data, corporate earnings and uncertainty over the outlook for artificial intelligence investment.

Nissan Motor is stepping up efforts to revive its struggling business through new vehicle development, sweeping cost reductions and an overhaul of its sales strategy, as President and CEO Ivan Espinosa seeks to restore the Japanese automaker's competitiveness following consecutive years of massive losses.