Men's Parasols and Air Conditioner Sales Rise

Aug 10, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Japan's street-level economic sentiment improved for a third consecutive month in July, supported by sharply hotter weather after the end of the rainy season and the start of the summer vacation period, with stronger sales of products including men's parasols and air conditioners.

The Cabinet Office said on August 11 that the current conditions index in its July Economy Watchers Survey rose 1.7 points from the previous month to 45.7.

The monthly survey asks about 2,000 people working across Japan about their perceptions of current economic conditions, providing a snapshot of sentiment among businesses and workers with close contact with consumers.

The index increased for the third consecutive month as the end of the rainy season brought a rapid rise in temperatures and the summer holiday period began.

Retailers reported growing sales of men's parasols and air conditioners as consumers sought relief from the intense summer heat.

Restaurants also reported increases in customer numbers and sales following the start of the summer vacation period.

Conditions were weaker in parts of Kyushu, however, where respondents said the Kumamoto earthquake had led to a succession of hotel cancellations, weighing on local business activity.

Source: TBS

Tokaido Shinkansen Runs First Overnight Service

The Tokaido Shinkansen operated its first overnight service ahead of the Obon holiday period, offering travelers a 15,000 yen trip from the Tokyo area to Kyoto and Shin-Osaka while allowing them to save on hotel costs and arrive earlier than the first regular morning trains.

Typhoon No. 15 to Disrupt Travel on August 11

Typhoon No. 15 is expected to approach and likely make landfall somewhere in the Kanto region on August 11, bringing strong winds and heavy rain that could disrupt conventional rail services, expressways and flights while also affecting a wider area extending into Tohoku.

Raccoon Damage Surges Across Japan

Raccoons are increasingly invading homes across Japan, damaging roofs and wiring, contaminating buildings with large amounts of urine and feces, and raising concerns over agriculture, native wildlife and the spread of disease as their population continues to expand.

Nagasaki Marks 81st Anniversary With Call to Uphold Non-Nuclear Principles

Nagasaki marked the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing on August 9 with a memorial ceremony near the hypocenter, where Mayor Shiro Suzuki declared nuclear weapons an "absolute evil" and called on the Japanese government to uphold its Three Non-Nuclear Principles.

Flights Still Disrupted After Typhoon No. 13 Hits Okinawa

Transport services were gradually returning to normal on August 9 after Typhoon No. 13 caused widespread cancellations and shutdowns across Okinawa, although air travel remained disrupted as airlines worked to restore schedules and accommodate passengers stranded during the opening days of Japan's busy Obon holiday period.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Men's Parasols and Air Conditioner Sales Rise

Japan's street-level economic sentiment improved for a third consecutive month in July, supported by sharply hotter weather after the end of the rainy season and the start of the summer vacation period, with stronger sales of products including men's parasols and air conditioners.

Nikkei Rises as AI Buying Returns and BOJ Rate-Hike Bets Build

Tokyo stocks rose on August 10, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 66,376.25, up 1.2%, as investors bought electronics, metals and artificial intelligence-related shares, while fresh signs of a more hawkish Bank of Japan debate kept attention on the yen, bond yields and the timing of the next rate increase.

Japan Posts 92.3 Billion Yen Current Account Deficit in June

Japan recorded a current account deficit of 92.3 billion yen in June, its first shortfall in 17 months, as a sharp increase in import costs outpaced growth in exports.

BOJ Debate Shifts Toward Quicker Rate Hikes

Several Bank of Japan policymakers have signaled support for accelerating interest rate increases, with one member warning that the pace of hikes could become faster than financial markets currently expect as the central bank pays greater attention to upside inflation risks.

Yen Unlikely to Repeat 2024 Summer Surge as U.S. Rates Stay High

A repeat of the sharp yen appreciation seen in the summer of 2024 is unlikely under current conditions, with persistently high U.S. interest rates and continued structural pressure on Japan's currency making another rapid surge difficult, according to UBS wealth management chief investment officer Daiju Aoki.

Japanese Companies Report Strong Profits as AI, Energy and Consumer Demand Drive Earnings

Japanese companies delivered a wave of strong earnings on August 7, with Fujikura, Recruit Holdings, INPEX and several other major groups raising forecasts as artificial intelligence investment, higher resource prices and resilient consumer demand lifted profits.

Nikkei Slips as Chip Selling Offsets Broader Market Strength

Tokyo stocks ended slightly lower on August 7, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 65,606.71, down 76.55 points, or 0.12%, as selling in chip-related and artificial intelligence-linked shares outweighed solid buying in the broader market and a late recovery led by Fujikura.

Nippon Steel Targets High-Performance Steel

Nippon Steel has completed a new production line at its Nagoya Works after investing about 300 billion yen, as Japan's largest steelmaker seeks to expand production of high-performance steel products primarily for automakers.

< 2 3 4 5 >