Rakuten Mobile faces a new test of its network quality after KDDI decided to scale back roaming support from September 2026, ending access to its network in areas where Rakuten already has its own base stations while continuing service in mountainous and sparsely populated regions. (News On Japan)

Japanese homebuyers are facing growing uncertainty as mortgage costs rise alongside a sharp increase in interest rates, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year government bond briefly topping 3% last week for the first time in about 30 years. (News On Japan)

Japan's foreign exchange reserves fell by a record amount in August, reflecting the impact of currency market intervention by the government and the Bank of Japan at the end of July, the Finance Ministry said on September 7. (News On Japan)

Tokyo stocks rose sharply on September 7, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 66,399, up 1,378 points, or 2.12%, as buying in artificial intelligence and semiconductor-related shares lifted the headline index, even though more stocks fell than rose across the Prime Market. (News On Japan)

The WoW Auction House can look chaotic when you first start using it. Hundreds of listings may appear for the same item, prices can differ dramatically, and a deal that looks excellent at first glance may not be a deal at all. (News On Japan)

Applications for hotel business licenses are rising sharply in Osaka as property owners seek an alternative way to operate short-term rentals following the suspension of new applications under the city's special-zone minpaku program, with the approach drawing growing interest from wealthy Chinese and other overseas investors. (News On Japan)

Asahi Kasei has grown from its roots in Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture, into a global conglomerate with annual sales exceeding 3 trillion yen by repeatedly developing products and technologies that dominate their markets or occupy niches with few direct rivals. (News On Japan)

Tokyo stocks rebounded on September 4, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 65,020.94, up 806.46 points, or 1.26%, as buying returned to artificial intelligence and semiconductor-related shares after a Wall Street rally, while investors waited for U.S. jobs data and watched the yen, oil prices and Bank of Japan rate-hike expectations. (News On Japan)

Household spending in Japan fell for an eighth consecutive month in July as consumers continued to economize on everyday purchases such as food and beverages while increasing spending on dining out, accommodation and in-game purchases. (News On Japan)

Japan's rice market is facing a growing surplus as large volumes of last year's crop remain unsold just as another strong harvest begins reaching the market, forcing retailers to slash prices below cost and leaving farmers warning that losses could make it impossible to continue farming. (News On Japan)

FamilyMart has unveiled a new hybrid checkout system that can operate as either a self-service or staffed register, aiming to reduce checkout-related work by about 20% as labor shortages affect roughly 30% of its franchise stores. (News On Japan)

Five oil distributors, including Higashinihon Usami and ENEOS Wing, admitted charges of violating Japan's Antimonopoly Act by forming a cartel to coordinate diesel fuel prices at their first trial at the Tokyo District Court on September 3. (News On Japan)

Tokyo stocks ended mixed on September 3, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 64,214.48, down 111.16 points, as uncertainty over interest rates and currencies kept pressure on risk assets, while the broader TOPIX rose 0.5% to 4,102.04. (News On Japan)

Tokyo stocks fell sharply on September 2, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 64,325.64, down 1,889.70 points, as renewed U.S. strikes on Iran sent oil prices higher, pushed bond yields up globally and triggered heavy selling across semiconductor, technology and export-related shares. (News On Japan)

Interest rates on Japanese government bonds for individual investors offered in September have risen to record-high levels, with the 10-year floating-rate bond reaching 1.95%, according to figures announced on September 2. (News On Japan)

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda that he strongly supports decisive market intervention and monetary policy measures by Japan to address excessive yen weakness, saying the currency's depreciation is contributing to inflationary pressure. (News On Japan)

Tokyo stocks ended mixed on September 1, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 66,215.34, down 96.59 points, or 0.15%, as rising bond yields and weakness in semiconductor shares weighed on the index, while the broader TOPIX rose 25.57 points, or 0.62%, to 4,181.86 for its ninth straight gain. (News On Japan)

Japan's benchmark long-term interest rate reached 3% on September 1, its highest level since 1996, as government bond selling accelerated on expectations of a possible Bank of Japan rate hike, rising U.S. yields and growing concerns over Japan's fiscal outlook. (News On Japan)

Working with a Forex broker is a great idea if you want to learn the ropes as a trader, or if you have more experience within this niche. (News On Japan)

Honda and Nissan Motor have agreed to jointly develop an operating system and onboard computers for next-generation vehicles, aiming to introduce the technology in new models from fiscal 2029 as they seek to compete with U.S. and Chinese automakers. (News On Japan)