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)

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 15th in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, for one of Japan's largest data centers, which is scheduled for completion in fiscal 2026. (News On Japan)

Rice prices in Japan have surged dramatically, with 5-kilogram bags now commonly priced in the 3,000 to 4,000 yen range and in some cases exceeding 6,000 yen including tax. This price surge has caught consumers off guard, and supermarkets are experiencing both high prices and shortages. (News On Japan)

Nissan’s new president, 46-year-old Ivan Espinosa, may symbolize change for the struggling automaker. However, his appointment raises eyebrows: Espinosa previously served as head of product planning—a role directly tied to the decline in the company’s brand appeal. (News On Japan)

While the purpose of World Expositions has evolved over time, the 2020 Dubai Expo hosted 98 business events, drawing over 25,000 participants from more than 130 countries, both in-person and online. Events covered themes like space and medicine, offering opportunities for companies to hold negotiations. (News On Japan)

Mitsubishi Motors has suspended shipments of new vehicles to its dealerships in the United States, citing uncertainty over the impact of new U.S. tariffs on imported cars imposed by the Trump administration. (News On Japan)

A groundbreaking ceremony was held at Legoland Japan in Minato Ward, Nagoya, ahead of expansion work for the park’s Lego Ninjago World area. (News On Japan)