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] Japan's commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050, combined with its historically heavy dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear power, creates one of the most complex and consequential energy transitions on earth. Tech for Impact Summit
• [New] Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and other Japanese arms firms will now be permitted to sell weapons to 17 countries. World Socialist Web Site
• [New] Global data center electricity consumption reached 460 terawatt-hours in 2022, equivalent to the world's 11th-largest national electricity consumer, and projects that it may approach 1,050 terawatt-hours by the end of 2026, which would place it fifth globally, between Japan and Russia. Combating Terrorism Center at West Point
• [New] Internationally, countries like Japan are preparing to launch commercial AAM operations as early as 2027-28, underscoring a global race to establish automated air taxi services. eplaneai
• [New] Japan forms financial cyber taskforce after AI concerns - Japan said in Tokyo that it will establish a taskforce to address cybersecurity risks in the financial system following concerns linked to Anthropic's Mythos AI model [APAC]. Digital Forensics Magazine
• [New] Japan has created a financial-sector task force to examine AI-related cybersecurity risks, especially amid concerns about advanced models that can find vulnerabilities faster than institutions can patch them. Tech Startups - Tech News, Tech Trends & Startup Fundin
• [New] Whatever happens on paper, Japan is already becoming more like a normal military power, committed to doubling its arms spending to 2% by 2027. The Guardian
• [New] Japan's second-biggest life insurer by assets will more strictly assess managers' performance, how stable their assets under management have been and if there has been investment sector bias. The Japan Times
• [New] Japan's shift towards a debt-stabilisation objective is economically sound, but credibility will depend on implementation. OMFIF
• [New] Japan will adopt OECD's standardized reporting framework, potentially requiring GloBE Information Returns / Notification of Ultimate Parent Entity. EY
• The GCC's new unified multi-entry visa, Singapore's expanded ONE Pass, Germany's Opportunity Card, Japan's expanded Specified Skilled Worker programme, and Costa Rica's targeted retirement and residency pathways all represent policy signals from governments that want international workers. Orange Law
• Japan will buy $8 billion in U.S. agricultural goods, including buying 75% more U.S. rice. Ways and Means
• Japan's latest NDC sets a target of 73% emissions reduction by 2040 relative to 2013 levels, consistent with the annual reductions required to meet its net zero target for 2050. IEA
• To address capacity shortages, TSMC plans to add three more 3 nm fabs: one in Tainan (Taiwan), one in Arizona (U.S.), and one in Kumamoto (Japan). CommonWealth Magazine
• The first three vessels will be built in Japan, but production of the next eight frigates will shift to the Henderson shipyard in Perth, Western Australia, where they will be constructed by Australian firm Austal. Islands Business
• Japan on Monday issued an advisory for northern coastal areas for an increased risk of a possible mega-quake induced by a major quake earlier in the day. KSLTV.com
• The Japanese government has created strategic reserves of rare earths to mitigate any temporary supply disruptions. Wired
• The Japanese submarine deposit could contain more than 16 million tons of rare earths, shaping up as the world's third-largest reserve. Wired
• In Asia, the PBoC will set its loan prime rates and Japan will unveil trade figures, inflation and join India and Australia in release PMI. Trading Economics
• Japan has set an aggressive target of 10% for all departing flights by 2030. JD Supra
• Coal is an early winner: Thailand restarting coal plants, Japan and South Korea lifting caps, Italy delaying coal phase-out to 2038, Germany's coal outproducing natural gas. youth4planet

Last updated: 02 May 2026