A consortium formed by Hitachi and Toshiba shipped a new high-speed train to Taiwan on July 30, marking the first delivery under a 124 billion yen order placed to meet growing passenger demand on the island's high-speed rail network. (News On Japan)

The yen surged nearly 5 yen against the dollar late on July 30, briefly reaching the upper 157 range and prompting speculation that the Japanese government and Bank of Japan had intervened in the foreign exchange market. (News On Japan)

The magnitude 7-level earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture on July 28 has disrupted operations at semiconductor-related facilities across one of Japan's most important chipmaking centers, raising concerns about possible delays in equipment shipments and their impact on the global industry. (News On Japan)

Tokyo stocks ended mixed on July 30, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 61,683.96, up 0.4%, as gains in electronics and selected semiconductor-related shares offset selling in financial stocks ahead of the Bank of Japan’s policy decision. (News On Japan)

Tokyo stocks diverged sharply on July 29, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 61,434.19, down 930.73 points, or 1.49%, as selling in artificial intelligence and semiconductor-related heavyweights continued, while the broader TOPIX rose as investors bought back banks, domestic-demand shares and selected value stocks. (News On Japan)

Japan's national average minimum wage is set to rise by 55 yen, or 4.9%, to 1,176 yen per hour in fiscal 2026 after a labor ministry panel agreed on guidelines for this year's increase. (News On Japan)

Negotiations over Japan's minimum wage for the current fiscal year have entered their final stage, with a national guideline likely to be set in the upper 1,100-yen range per hour and a government panel expected to reach a conclusion this week. (News On Japan)

The Nikkei Stock Average plunged more than 2,500 points at one stage in Tokyo trading on July 28 as heavy selling spread through artificial intelligence and semiconductor-related shares following a sharp decline in U.S. chip stocks. (News On Japan)

Japan is unlikely to end its heavy reliance on Middle East crude oil, even as geopolitical tensions expose the risks of depending on the region for more than 90% of its imports, leaving the country to pursue a gradual mix of diversification, electrification, renewable energy and technological innovation. (News On Japan)

Honda Motor and Nissan Motor have entered final-stage negotiations to jointly develop an operating system that will serve as the core software for their next-generation vehicles, with an agreement targeted by the end of August. (News On Japan)

Tokyo stocks rebounded on July 27, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 64,931.19, up 320.04 points, or 0.50%, as easing concern over the Middle East conflict supported broad buying across domestic-demand and value shares, although semiconductor weakness continued to cap the market’s recovery. (News On Japan)

Buying car insurance can already feel complicated without also worrying about whether you have the “right” payment method. (News On Japan)

Japanese business leaders voiced concern over new additional tariffs imposed by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, warning that the measures could damage global manufacturing and undermine free trade. (News On Japan)

Japanese investors may be starting to redirect money from semiconductor and memory-related stocks toward automakers and other value shares, as concerns grow that soaring memory prices, increased Chinese production and the search for cheaper suppliers could weaken the technology rally. (News On Japan)

Tokyo stocks fell sharply on July 24, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 64,611.15, down 2.73%, as renewed concern over the cost of artificial intelligence investment triggered another technology selloff while oil above $100 a barrel and a yen near 40-year lows intensified fears of imported inflation. (News On Japan)

A government panel discussing Japan's minimum wage for fiscal 2026 ended its latest meeting on July 23 without an agreement between labor and management, pushing a decision back until its next session. (News On Japan)

Japan's average retail price for regular gasoline rose to 170 yen per liter, while the government is considering reducing subsidies by raising its target price to around 175 yen after the peak travel season. (News On Japan)

Tokyo stocks rose on July 23, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 66,422.60, up 307.00 points, as investors bought back semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related shares despite renewed concern over the yen’s weakness near 40-year lows and oil prices driven higher by Middle East tensions. (News On Japan)

Retail prices for imported beef and pork in Japan have climbed to their highest levels on record, driven by the weak yen and tighter overseas supplies. (News On Japan)

Japan's finance minister signaled the government is prepared to intervene in the foreign exchange market after the yen briefly weakened into the 163 range against the dollar, its lowest level in about 40 years. (News On Japan)