Global Scans · Japan · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: The latest sign of weakness in Japan's economy will likely add to mounting skepticism about the prime minister's expansionary policies. His coalition government has just achieved the supermajority it needs to amend the constitution which many are worried that Japan is about to remove the mask of pacificism and convert its "Self-Defense Force" into the military threat it really is.

• [New] Humanoid robots could address 2% of Japan's elderly care demand by 2030, a crucial contribution given the demographic trajectory. Robozaps
• [New] The rapid expansion of Japanese-style sushi chains across Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East is a structural driver of foodservice volume growth through 2034. IMARC Group
• [New] Concerns over China's growing conventional and nuclear capabilities have led even Japan's Prime Minister to put forward the idea that Japan might change its policy of prohibiting U.S. warships with nuclear weapons from making port calls. Perry World House
• [New] The NDS acknowledges that the nuclear forces of North Korea could be used against both Japan and Korea and presents a growing threat to the United States. Perry World House
• [New] Tensions in the Middle East, risks involving the Strait of Hormuz, dependence on energy and food imports and possible supply-chain disruptions are broadening Japan's security debate. UPI
• [New] Attention is now focused on how Japan will describe China after increased Chinese aircraft carrier operations, airspace incursions and concerns about a possible Taiwan contingency. UPI
• [New] If ChatGPT strengthens its Japanese-language integration with Slack and Notion through its super-app transformation, the adoption of ChatGPT Enterprise among domestic small-to-medium and large enterprises already using Slack and Notion could accelerate. note
• [New] The Bank of Japan is moving carefully, since tightening too quickly could hurt growth, while waiting too long could add pressure to the yen. / Japan Day Hagan Asset Management
• [New] Strengthening relations between Japan and the Philippines could strain the PLA's ability to maintain coercive military activity against both states, requiring additional PLA resources to offset improvements in intelligence and naval capabilities. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] Enhanced cooperation between Japan and the Philippines will strengthen both nations' ability to combat PRC coercion. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] Energy security and net zero are key priorities for countries across the world, there is a global upsurge in demand for nuclear power with a host of nations - including the US, Canada, France, Japan and Sweden - pledging to triple nuclear capacity by 2050. Rolls-Royce SMR
• [New] Japan's working-age population is projected to decline by 31% between 2023 and 2060. Memeburn
• [New] Japan: inflation and governance reforms signal progress; domestic reinvestment in digitization, decarbonization and fusion is critical amid diplomatic and inflation risks. Amova Asset Management - New Zealand
• [New] Japan: Japan is projected to record 14.0% CAGR over the assessment period as urban safety and disaster monitoring support drone adoption. FactMr
• [New] Japan: Japan's target is for all new passenger-car sales to be electrified by 2035, a category that includes hybrids as well as EVs, plug-in hybrids, and fuel-cell vehicles. Coltura - Moving America Beyond Gasoline by 2040
• [New] As China becomes more aggressive and coercive, Japan will keep expanding its defence apparatus. Foreign Affairs Magazine
• [New] Tokyo's efforts are particularly essential because a Taiwan crisis might begin with a Chinese effort to split U.S. and Japanese decision-makers. Foreign Affairs Magazine
• [New] Japan: Demand for mood-support botanicals in Japan is expected to grow at 8.4% CAGR through 2036 due to rising focus on stress reduction, aging population wellness needs, growing sleep-support product demand, and increasing adoption of premium functional nutrition products. FactMr
• [New] Japan aims to produce and import up to 3 million tons of hydrogen annually by 2030, increasing catalyst demand across refining, fuel processing, and hydrogen conversion applications. Research Nester
• Global data center power demand is expected to rise by 2.5 times by 2030, which would equal Japan's total power use just for data centers. Sprott ETFs
• Asia-Pacific is projected to witness the fastest growth due to aggressive deployment activities in China, Japan, and South Korea. DataM Intelligence
• Japan is forecast to grow at 10.0%, helped by ageing-linked care demand and gut-health research. FactMr
• Fastest Growing Region: Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region with a projected CAGR of about 6.8%, supported by rising disposable incomes, K-beauty influence, and tightening cosmetic safety regulations across China, India, and Japan. Persistence Market Research

Last updated: 13 June 2026