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] SoftBank Corp. will progressively begin outreach to selected eligible companies supporting Japan's critical infrastructure to accept applications for vulnerability assessments. SoftBank Group Corp.
• [New] East Asia is facing a looming demographic crisis with significant population reductions expected in countries like China and Japan. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Britain will join forces with Japan to build mini nuclear reactors capable of powering factories, data centers and military bases. Electricity Info
• [New] Japan, India, South Korea, and Australia lead with active cyber defence laws and compulsory threat intelligence reporting for critical infrastructure. Research Nester
• [New] Japan will be able to export defence equipment and technologies to Canada, providing the Canadian military with an additional source of supply. Militarnyi
• [New] ING sees more downside potential for EUR / USD than upside for USD / JPY, as Japanese authorities will probably attempt another intervention in the 161/162 range. IndexBox Inc.
• [New] Potentially, if policy starts to favour national champions or politically important industries at the expense of returns on capital, it could pull against the reforms that have made Japan more attractive to overseas investors. TrustNet
• [New] A looser fiscal stance could put renewed pressure on the yen, particularly if markets think government policy poses a risk to the Bank of Japan's gradual normalization of interest rates. TrustNet
• [New] Japan plans to rebuild between two and five ageing nuclear reactors by the 2040s and as many as 11 to 14 by the 2050s. Last Week in ConTech
• [New] The Bank of Japan follows hours later and is expected to raise its policy rate to 1%, extending a gradual normalization cycle. financialpost
• [New] A BoJ rate hike to 1.0% is widely expected, but deeply negative Japanese real rates leave the yen vulnerable. investing.com
• [New] The increased thermal coal assumptions for 2026 reflect geopolitical tensions and higher demand from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, as buyers have increased purchases to hedge against potential LNG supply disruptions, particularly benefiting Australian coal. petromindo
• [New] SMR commercialization is heavily funded by government-backed roadmaps that project deployments by the mid-2030s. / Japan Precedence Research
• [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

Last updated: 20 June 2026