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] An unexpectedly hawkish Bank of Japan that pushes Japanese yields and the JPY sharply higher would pose a risk to equities and corporate bonds. WebWire
• [New] Radioligand therapy is a key growth lever; Pluvicto sales jumped 70% YoY to $605 million in Q4 and are expected to accelerate with launches in Japan and China. Ainvest
• [New] With resources from trilateral security partnership Aukus, such as Australia, and industrial partners like South Korea and Japan through free trade ties, a joint venture could be possible to accelerate progress. Insurance Times
• [New] Japan will deploy upgraded Type-12 land-to-ship missiles at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto by the end of March as it expands offensive capability amid regional tensions. The Asia Cable
• [New] If startups can prove that newer AI systems improve robot flexibility, learning, and deployment economics, Japan could become a major proving ground for the next generation of industrial automation. Tech Startups - Tech News, Tech Trends & Startup Fundin
• [New] JAXA's MMX mission will launch aboard the H3 rocket, Japan's newest launch vehicle developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Business-Landscapes
• [New] If AI-native robotics startups can show measurable gains in Japanese manufacturing, that could become one of the strongest real-world cases for physical AI beyond flashy humanoid demos. Tech Startups - Tech News, Tech Trends & Startup Fundin
• [New] With crude oil surging, Japan's energy import bill will balloon in coming months, adding further downward pressure on the trade balance and the yen. The Rio Times
• [New] The life insurer expects the Bank of Japan to raise interest rates again as soon as April. The Japan Times
• [New] Japan Post Insurance plans to sell holdings of lower-yielding government bonds and replace them with higher-yielding debt on expectations for further interest-rate hikes. The Japan Times
• [New] We expect Japanese basic metals output to shrink by 0.4% in 2026, followed by a 0.7% rebound in 2027. atradius
• [New] If the U.S. and its allies can continue to cooperate to prevent China from accessing the latest technology, e.g., EUV [Extreme Ultraviolet], machines from Europe and specialty chemicals from Japan, the U.S. could maintain its lead in computational hardware. Longitudinal Expert AI Panel

Last updated: 14 March 2026