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)