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] 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
• [New] Japan plans to release its new national security documents at the end of this year. Hudson Institute
• [New] The new amphibious and mine warfare group will be headquartered in Sasebo, proximate to Japan's southwestern islands and the headquarters of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] Academic exchange programs for Kazakh professionals, including opportunities to study abroad, are organized not only by universities and research institutes but also by the Japanese government. The Astana Times
• [New] In practical terms, Japan is signaling that its diplomacy with Beijing will continue, but from a colder baseline in which economic security and deterrence concerns now weigh more heavily than the old stabilizing language suggested. Fault Lines
• [New] Southeast Asia is forecast to record the fastest packaged food CAGR in APAC through 2029, ahead of China, Japan and South Korea. FoodNavigator-Asia.com
• [New] Under the dual impact of internal inefficient policies and external shocks such as the Middle East crisis and the yen's depreciation, the negative impact of The Takaichi Fallout will continue to expand, and the imbalances in Japan's economy and society will further intensify. CGTN
• [New] A significant $40 billion nuclear reactor deal is anticipated, involving US-based GE Vernova Inc. and Japan-based Hitachi Ltd. building advanced small modular reactors in the US. The Independent
• [New] A partnership among countries with shared values, such as the US, India, Israel, Italy, and Japan, could help mitigate challenges worldwide. The National Interest
• [New] JSAT is looking to the Indian space sector for launch to complete its recently announced 36-satellite SAR constellation, which will be part of a Japanese Ministry of Defense initiative to support persistent monitoring for national security and disaster management. Via Satellite
• [New] Local governments with a combined population of more than 100 million people have declared net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, set even more ambitious 2030 targets, and are introducing pioneering policies to achieve them. / Japan Japan Climate Initiative
• [New] The Japanese government needs to make policy changes that enable it to halve emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Japan Climate Initiative
• [New] Japan's energy dependency created a paradox: its safe-haven status should strengthen the yen during crises, but energy vulnerabilities had the opposite effect. E8 Markets
• [New] As more individuals seek out the gold standard in advanced healthcare, the role of Japan as a global sanctuary for the sick will only be strengthened. Travel And Tour World
• [New] The joint investment comes from a $550 billion bilateral fund created as part of a trade agreement that will reduce tariffs on Japanese car exports. Leverage Shares
• [New] Japan is building institutional knowledge in autonomous systems at a pace that, if sustained, could yield operationally relevant capabilities within two to three years. Drone Warfare
• [New] Commercial development environments like Shield AI's Hivemind Enterprise are compressing timelines for sovereign UAV autonomy in ways that could accelerate Japan's indigenous defense-industrial capacity ahead of anticipated Indo-Pacific contingencies. Drone Warfare

Last updated: 04 April 2026