Japan

When Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited Australia in May 2026, she presented Anthony Albanese with a Shizuoka Crown melon cultivated under the strict "One Tree, One Fruit" greenhouse method, in which each vine yields a single high-grade fruit.

Nintendo's April to June 2026 quarter produced a contradictory set of numbers on first read. Revenue fell 9.5% to ¥517.8 billion, yet net profit attributable to shareholders rose 53.5% to ¥147.4 billion.

Japan's building codes did their job. The shaking killed nobody inside the Aeon Kumamoto shopping centre, and about 200 people walked out. Thirty-six minutes later, with the building standing empty, an explosion tore through it and killed two women in their 20s.

Japan warned Monday it would take decisive action to defend the yen after the currency weakened beyond 160 per dollar, its lowest level since July 2024. Vice Finance Minister Atsushi Mimura said speculative moves in both currency and crude oil markets may force intervention.

The unsecured 12-month bridge loan signals lenders expect OpenAI's public listing to happen within the year, giving SoftBank liquidity to settle the debt.

Japan has 254 days. The US has 125. We have 38.

Eight years of negotiations finally produced a deal that eliminates tariffs on champagne, EVs, and critical minerals. But the real driver is both sides' desire to reduce dependence on Beijing.

Federal preemption, child safety lawsuits, and the end of voluntary governance are reshaping the regulatory landscape.