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] The Financial Services Agency plans to bring crypto under a framework similar to stocks and bonds by 2026, including a landmark reduction of the crypto gains tax to a flat 20% - aligning digital asset taxation with traditional investments for the first time. / Japan Tech for Impact Summit
• [New] The Martian Moons eXploration sample return mission to Phobos is scheduled for fiscal year 2026 launch on an H3 rocket from Tanegashima, aiming for Mars orbit insertion in 2027. / Japan Grokipedia
• [New] Japan's JAXA and domestic providers will conduct several missions in 2026, focusing on deep-space exploration and satellite deployments. Grokipedia
• [New] Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will schedule the launch of the Martian Moons eXploration spacecraft aboard an H3 rocket from Tanegashima Space Center NET November-December 2026. Grokipedia
• [New] Japan restarted the world's largest nuclear power plant: TEPCO's reactor number six will support 20% of Japan's electric needs by 2040. Liberty Through Wealth
• [New] Japan's regulatory environment, shaped by the 2014 Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine and a culture of careful but purposeful innovation, is well-positioned to develop governance frameworks for neurotechnology that the rest of the world will watch closely. Tech for Impact Summit
• [New] Japan's AI Promotion Act and South Korea's 2026-2028 AI Action Plan are both designed to build domestic capability rather than rely on imported models. Digital in Asia
• [New] Microsoft commits $10 B to expand AI infrastructure and cyberdefence in Japan Reuters reported Microsoft will invest $10 billion in Japan to expand AI infrastructure and strengthen cyberdefence. Prompt Injection
• [New] On the infrastructure side, Microsoft will build out Azure GPU-based AI services in partnership with Sakura Internet and SoftBank's telecom arm, with all data remaining in Japan. Explore with me! -> Come and explore with me
• [New] On the workforce side, Microsoft has set a target of training more than one million engineers, developers, and workers across Japan's most strategically important industries by 2030. Explore with me! -> Come and explore with me
• [New] Japan has attracted TSMC to build a fab in Kumamoto and is developing the Rapidus consortium to produce 2 nm chips domestically by 2027. AI Code Invest - AI, Programming, and Investment Insigh
• [New] Japan's Sakura Internet jumps 20% as Microsoft plans $10 billion AI push with SoftBank. Data Centre News with Andy Davis
• [New] The world's largest software maker said it will develop cloud and AI infrastructure alongside Sakura Internet and telecom operator SoftBank, with the two Japanese entities supplying graphics processing units and other computing resources. ST
• [New] In Japan, coal could offset up to 70% of gas-fired power generation. ST
• [New] Japan will spend more than 9 trillion yen ($56.5 billion) on defence in 2026, in part for counter-strike capabilities and coastal defence. The Diplomat
• [New] Japan would not limit the operations of coal-fired power plants in 2026 as it looks to conserve LNG supplies (a sign that energy security will virtually always take precedence over Japan's climate commitments). Observing Japan
• [New] Japan plans to release its new national security documents at the end of 2026. Japan Forward
• [New] Asset Management One expects the Bank of Japan to raise rates twice in 2026. IFA Magazine
• [New] Japan, which lies at the front lines of hypersonic missile threats from China, Russia, and North Korea, and hosts 55,000 US service members, has both incentive and capabilities to contribute to Golden Dome. Hudson Institute
• [New] As technological innovation becomes the currency of geopolitical competition, both the US and Japan understand that continued R&D and implementation will be how we can deter unfair competitors. Hudson Institute
• [New] There is expectation that both countries will sign an agreement to cooperate on deep-sea mining for rare earths, especially off Japan's Minami-Torishima island. Hudson Institute
• [New] One venture could be a $13 billion Japan Display plant that would service American automotive, medical, and defence needs. Hudson Institute

Last updated: 11 April 2026