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Momoka Yokoyama
Japanese AI-related shares are likely to correct over the next two months, but the sector may rebound next year on the prospect of favorable U.S. policy measures, RBC BlueBay Asset Management says.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 29, 2026
BlueBay sees near-term risk in Japan AI stocks followed by rally
AI-related shares are likely to correct over the next two months but the sector may rebound next year on the prospect of favorable U.S. policy measures, says one portfolio manager.
A guestroom at an APA Hotel in Tokyo. APA built its name in Japan on a standardized formula: a long list of amenities packed into tight rooms engineered for efficiency.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 1, 2026
Billionaire behind Japan’s tiny-room hotel empire bets on U.S.
APA Hotels has grown into one of Japan’s most recognizable hotel operators, with more than 1,100 hotels and nearly 150,000 rooms across its global network.
U.S. President Donald Trump bought shares of Kura Sushi USA in February.
BUSINESS / Companies
May 18, 2026
Trump filing reveals stake in sushi chain alongside Big Tech
Trump bought shares of Kura Sushi USA on Feb. 2 with the transaction size in a range of around $1 million to $5 million, according to his latest financial disclosure.
A man crosses the street near a board displaying the Nikkei Stock Average on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo on Monday.
BUSINESS / Markets
Apr 22, 2026
Goldman says U.S. buyers return to Japan stocks as war shock fades
The shift, driven partly by a stabilizing yen, has spurred U.S. capital inflows into the tech-heavy Nikkei 225 Stock Average.
Oil storage tanks in the Keihin industrial area in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. Japan’s chemical manufacturers and other oil-dependent sectors face extreme vulnerability as the Strait of Hormuz remains largely blocked.
BUSINESS
Apr 13, 2026
High oil prices force Japan equity analysts to slash forecasts
Japan’s chemical manufacturers and other oil-dependent sectors face extreme vulnerability as the Strait of Hormuz remains largely blocked.
Chiyoda is one of the companies involved in the construction of a giant liquefied natural gas export plant in Qatar that was evacuated in March following an Iranian drone attack.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 8, 2026
Japan’s Chiyoda considers resuming work on Qatar LNG project
Shares of Chiyoda touched the upper daily limit during morning trading hours in Tokyo as investors bet on the company as a key player in reconstruction across the Persian Gulf.
An electronic quotation board in Tokyo shows the Nikkei Stock Average dropping more than 2,500 points on Monday morning.
BUSINESS / Markets
Mar 23, 2026
Stocks slide in Japan as Strait of Hormuz fears amplify risk-off mood
The Topix index fell 3.4% to 3486.44, marking a slump of over 10% from its record high reached on Feb. 27. The Nikkei 225 fell 3.5% to 51,515.49.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani during a spring training game in Tempe, Arizona, on Feb 21. For Japan, Netflix's exclusive deal to broadcast the World Baseball Classic may serve as a wake-up call to broadcasters that prices are going up and that they need to change as viewers seek better experiences.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 4, 2026
Netflix’s WBC deal upends baseball traditions in Ohtani’s homeland
Professional baseball in Japan has largely stayed in the hands of domestic broadcasters and free-to-air networks.
The Osaka Exchange has been making efforts to boost the trading of derivatives.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 27, 2026
Online broker Moomoo aims to grow in Japan’s options market
Digital brokerage Moomoo Securities Japan plans to boost single-stock options for Japanese equities to capitalize on growing demand from the retail investors.
For Aeon, Kusuri no Aoki represents a potential valuable addition to its strategy of consolidating Japan’s fragmented retail market.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 16, 2026
A family fights to keep control of 157-year-old firm in Japan
Kusuri no Aoki, run by two brothers, are fighting for control of the firm with their largest outside shareholders, Aeon and the activist fund Oasis Management.
Shiseido’s stumble shows how quickly beauty brands can lose ground as social trends, faster product cycles and South Korean and Chinese rivals reshape the global cosmetics market.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 19, 2026
Shiseido faces tough turnaround after costly cosmetics stumbles
Shiseido’s stumble shows how quickly beauty brands can lose ground as social trends, faster product cycles and Korean and Chinese rivals reshape the global cosmetics market.
Japan’s retail investors continue to have a good appetite for foreign assets, despite the rally in Japanese equities last year.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jan 5, 2026
Japan retail investors ignore domestic bull market to opt for U.S.
Individuals unloaded a net $24.3 billion of Japanese stocks and related investment trusts through November, the most in more than a decade.
Emily Badger
BUSINESS / Markets
Dec 5, 2025
Man Group’s Japan fund tilts to domestic names on stimulus hopes
The U.K.-listed fund has returned around 20% over the past year, outperforming 90% of its peers, with total assets amounting to roughly $3.6 billion.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Investors are worried that Japan may be spending beyond its means.
BUSINESS / Markets
Nov 22, 2025
Takaichi faces market tests from yen to stocks and bonds
Markets have lost their enthusiasm for Japan’s new prime minister, with about $127 billion wiped off the value of Tokyo-listed stocks over the past week.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index has climbed about 30% in dollar terms this year, far outpacing the S&P 500 index’s 14% gain.
BUSINESS / Markets
Nov 10, 2025
Goldman sees U.S. investors flocking to Japan as Nikkei surges
The inflow of U.S. funds reflects the strong performance of Japanese equities in dollar terms this year.
Asset Management One Best Selection Japan is looking to build stakes in some small and midsized caps as valuations become more appealing.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 25, 2025
Top Japanese fund looks to small and midsized caps on improving valuations
The fund is also holding on to some of its artificial intelligence-related shares even after multifold gains.
Emily Badger, a co-manager of the Man Japan CoreAlpha Fund
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 13, 2025
Man Group’s Japan fund buying bank stocks in bet on inflation
An investment manager at the world’s largest publicly traded hedge fund is adding Japan’s financial shares to her portfolio.
A monitor in Tokyo shows the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropping on Monday morning.
BUSINESS / Markets
Aug 4, 2025
Stocks in Japan slump after U.S. data spark growth worries
The broader Topix Index and the blue-chip 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average pared some of their earlier losses but closed down 1.1% and 1.2%, respectively.
While shareholders in general still support company management, the notable break from their passive stance is seen as a boon for funds looking to invest in Japan.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 14, 2025
Corporate Japan’s shareholders show more clout this AGM season
The notable break from a passive stance is seen as a boon for funds looking to invest in Japan.
Nissan plans to sell convertible bonds and use the proceeds to invest in new products and technologies such as electrification and software-defined vehicles.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 7, 2025
Nissan to sell ¥150 billion of convertible bonds to fund turnaround
Proceeds of the sale will be used to invest in new products and technologies such as electrification and software-defined vehicles.

Longform

The Terasaka Rice Terraces are seen with Mount Buko in the background.
What Yokoze can teach Japan about rural revival