The Bank of Japan is expected to keep its policy rate unchanged at the meeting starting today, as it takes time to assess the impact of the evolving U.S. tariff policy under Donald Trump. (News On Japan)

Toyota has announced that it has reached a basic agreement with Waymo, the autonomous driving division under Google's parent company, to move toward a new partnership. (News On Japan)

Matsuo, operator of the Matsuo Jingisukan chain, has embarked on a surprising new venture by opening its first specialty shoe store last week in Atsubetsu Ward, Sapporo, selling footwear instead of lamb. (News On Japan)

At Daimaru Umeda, a new event has started featuring popular South Korean cosmetics brands on a weekly rotation, leading to an uptick in visits from younger shoppers and those interested in Korean fashion. Hankyu Umeda is also preparing to launch a new section aimed at customers aged 25 and under, offering a fresh shopping experience that incorporates lifestyle goods and Korean brands. (News On Japan)

The largest operator of hospice-style residential facilities, Ishinkan, already under scrutiny for allegedly inflating and falsifying medical service claims for home nursing visits, is now suspected of also fraudulently overbilling for home care services, according to testimony from multiple current and former employees. (News On Japan)

Sushiro, one of Japan's leading conveyor belt sushi chains, is rapidly expanding its presence in China. On April 30th, it plans to open its first location in Zhejiang Province, bringing the total number of stores on the mainland to more than 50 in less than four years since entering the market. (News On Japan)

Construction of the Integrated Resort (IR) complex in Yumeshima, Osaka—adjacent to the site of the 2025 World Expo—began on April 24th, with plans to open the facility in five years. (News On Japan)

Toyota Motor Corporation announced on April 24th that its global sales for fiscal 2024 totaled 10,273,719 vehicles, a 0.3% decrease from the previous year, marking the first year-on-year decline in four years. (News On Japan)

Rice prices in Japan continue to soar, more than doubling from the same period last year, with no clear signs of easing despite the government’s decision to release stockpiled rice. The current situation—dubbed the “Reiwa Rice Crisis”—has drawn comparisons to past supply shocks, prompting public concern and debate over whether government intervention has come too late. (News On Japan)

At the Shanghai Motor Show, which opened to the press on April 23rd ahead of its public run from April 27th to May 2nd, Toyota Motor Corporation revealed a series of new models, including a new electric vehicle, as it works to regain ground in the increasingly competitive Chinese market. (News On Japan)

The average weekday lunch spending in Japan rose for the third straight year to a record 485 yen in 2024 -- a 7.3% increase from the previous year -- highlighting how inflation is reshaping workers' midday habits. (News On Japan)

Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan has announced it will raise prices on 217 beverage products starting with shipments on October 1st. (News On Japan)

The emergence of Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn has become a key catalyst in the discussion of a potential Nissan-Honda merger. Having grown through iPhone production, the company is now pushing into the electric vehicle (EV) sector, led by a Japanese executive who once held top roles at major Japanese firms. (News On Japan)

The average price of new condominiums in Greater Tokyo has marked a record high for a fourth straight year amid rising costs. (NHK)

Hokkaido Gas has entered the wind power business for the first time, launching a hybrid power plant that combines wind and liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Ishikari, Hokkaido. (News On Japan)

The first auction of the season signaling the arrival of new tea was held on the morning of April 18th at the Shizuoka Tea Market in Shizuoka City, with the highest bid reaching 880,000 yen per kilogram, continuing the trend of high prices into 2025. (News On Japan)

Rapidus has begun operating a trial production line for cutting-edge 2-nanometer semiconductors this month at its plant in Chitose, Hokkaido. The launch marks a major milestone for Japan’s domestic semiconductor ambitions and has triggered a surge in land prices, new developments, and an influx of related companies into the city. (News On Japan)

Consumer prices in Japan rose by an average of 2.7% in fiscal 2024, marking the third consecutive year of inflation above 2%—a stretch not seen since the bubble economy era. But despite similar inflation figures, consumer sentiment today is far less optimistic. (News On Japan)

Transportation of a 150-meter railway rail—the longest in the world—manufactured at a steelworks in Kitakyushu City, began on April 18th. The rail will be delivered to Hokkaido over the course of about four days for use in the Hokkaido Shinkansen extension project. (News On Japan)

A factory that converts discarded tempura oil into jet fuel using a world-first method has officially begun full-scale operations in Tahara City, Aichi Prefecture. (News On Japan)