More homebuyers in Japan are turning to ultra-long housing loans, with some mortgages now stretching as long as 50 years as buyers try to keep monthly payments down in the face of sharply higher construction costs. (News On Japan)

A subsidiary of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), a leading chipmaker, signed a location agreement with Kikuyo Town in Kumamoto Prefecture on October 24th for the construction of its second factory in Japan. (News On Japan)

As anticipation builds for the Japan Mobility Show 2025, set to open at Tokyo Big Sight from October 30th to November 9th, Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda has announced a sweeping reorganization of the automaker’s brand strategy. The company will redefine its group structure, including Daihatsu, into five distinct brands, with its flagship luxury car, the Century, becoming a fully independent marque. (News On Japan)

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) issued a statement on October 23rd warning that tensions between China and the Netherlands over semiconductor firms are having a serious impact on global automobile production. (News On Japan)

Japan's nationwide consumer price index excluding volatile fresh food rose 2.9% in September from a year earlier, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry announced on October 23rd. The pace of increase slightly expanded from August’s 2.7%, maintaining close to a 3% growth rate amid continued price hikes in food and other daily necessities. (News On Japan)

Uniqlo will open a new type of store on October 24th designed specifically for children, offering an interactive shopping experience that encourages them to choose their own clothes. (News On Japan)

Once considered the “model of price stability” at the Japanese table, eggs are now facing another crisis. The price of eggs, a staple ingredient used daily across the country, has surged once again, prompting concern among both businesses and consumers. (News On Japan)

After nearly a decade of construction, the newly rebuilt Haneda Line of the Metropolitan Expressway, one of Tokyo’s key arteries linking the city center with Haneda Airport, has been unveiled to the media ahead of its official switch to a new road on October 29th. (News On Japan)

Automakers are ramping up a fierce price war in the electric vehicle (EV) market as sales growth slows, with Chinese manufacturer BYD leading the charge by introducing EVs priced around 2 million yen at Aeon stores. U.S. rival Tesla is also pushing price cuts for its core models, while Japanese giants Toyota and Nissan are responding by lowering prices on improved models with extended driving range. (News On Japan)

A prolonged system failure caused by a cyberattack at Asahi Group Holdings is now rippling into Japan’s year-end gift season, forcing major brewers to scale back their offerings. (News On Japan)

Amazon’s cloud computing platform Amazon Web Services (AWS) suffered a major system failure on October 20th, disrupting services across the globe, including online games and web conferencing tools. (News On Japan)

The wholesale price of rice traded between businesses is expected to reach an unprecedented level of over 36,000 yen per 60 kilograms despite a bumper harvest this year, according to interviews conducted by JNN, highlighting the intense competition among buyers and the distorted dynamics of Japan’s rice market. (News On Japan)