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)

Japanese companies and the government are stepping up efforts to develop domestically produced humanoid robots as Chinese manufacturers dominate the rapidly expanding physical AI market, with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang predicting that the next industrial revolution will take place in Japan. (News On Japan)

Tokyo stocks ended mixed on July 22, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 66,115.60, down 116.59 points, or 0.17%, as early buying in semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related shares faded in the afternoon while a weaker yen and higher oil prices kept inflation concerns in focus. (News On Japan)

The hacker group known as RansomHouse has claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on frozen food giant Nichirei that delayed shipments and disrupted restaurants and supermarkets across Japan. (News On Japan)

The yen weakened beyond 163 to the dollar as fears of a further deterioration in the Middle East fueled safe-haven demand for the U.S. currency, pushing Japan's currency to its lowest level in about 39 and a half years. (News On Japan)

Tokyo stocks rebounded sharply on July 21 as investors bought back semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related shares after last week’s steep selloff, while attention shifted to upcoming U.S. technology earnings and the government’s new economic policy roadmap. (News On Japan)

Japanese cash equities were closed for Marine Day on July 20, leaving investors to assess whether Tokyo can stabilize after last week’s technology-led rout as oil prices rose above $90 a barrel, the yen remained near four-decade lows and global markets braced for another test of the artificial intelligence trade. (News On Japan)