Japan's four largest beer makers were subjected to simultaneous compulsory searches on October 7 over suspicions they coordinated wholesale prices for beer and other alcoholic beverages, in a rare cartel investigation that could lead to criminal charges.
Tokyo stocks fell on October 7, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 70,036, down 648 points, as investors took profits in semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related shares after the index’s rapid climb above 70,000 earlier in the week.
Japan's prolonged period of rising prices is continuing to squeeze households and businesses, driven by the weak yen, higher raw material costs and rising wages, forcing consumers to change how they shop and cook while companies search for ways to contain costs without losing customers.
Tokyo stocks extended their strong advance on October 6, with the Nikkei 225 closing above 70,000 for the first time in three months as buying in artificial intelligence and semiconductor-related shares combined with easing concern over the government bond market. The Nikkei gained 737 points, or 1.05%, to 70,684, while the broader TOPIX rose 38.34 points, or 0.92%, to 4,183.56.
A newly opened luxury villa in Kitakaruizawa, Gunma Prefecture, has already sold out under a shared-ownership model that allows buyers to purchase annual stays rather than an entire property, highlighting a growing push to draw wealthy visitors and investment into regional Japan.
Suzuki Motor said it will launch its new e SKY electric minicar on November 16, marking the automaker's first battery-powered mini passenger vehicle and offering a driving range of 310 kilometers on a single charge, among the longest for a Japanese-made vehicle in the category.
Daiwa Securities said on October 5 that about 220,000 records containing customer personal information may have been leaked following unauthorized access to a contractor that manages online customer inquiries.
Japan began requiring property owners to declare their nationality when applying for real estate registration on October 5, including when registering the purchase of condominiums and other properties, as the government seeks a clearer picture of foreign ownership of land and buildings.