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] Yen and carry trades: Further rate hikes by the Bank of Japan could strengthen the yen. DJE Kapital AG
• [New] Japan is the world's most rapidly aging nation - a living laboratory for the challenges all societies will face. Next Generation Longevity 2026
• [New] Global inflation is projected to ease further in 2026 but remain above central bank targets in several advanced economies, notably the US and Japan. Lion Global Investors | Official Site
• [New] The 2026 Defence White Paper emphasizes the potential for defence investment to serve as a driver of technological innovation, support start-ups, and strengthen Japan's domestic manufacturing base. Modern Diplomacy
• [New] A newly updated climate awareness initiative in Japan is drawing attention to what life could look like in 2050 if greenhouse gas emissions continue their current trajectory. UN News
• [New] Japan's revised Strategic Energy Plan (2025) targets renewable energy sources to account for 40% to 50% of national electricity generation by 2040, supported by a planned reduction in thermal power's contribution from 70% to below 30%. Persistence Market Research
• [New] China's growing commercial aircraft ambitions and expanding defence sector are creating significant opportunities for specialty steel producers, while Japan's Ministry of Defense continues requesting record annual defence budgets to strengthen national security capabilities. Persistence Market Research
• [New] NASA's Perseverance rover has Raman tools in its SHERLOC and SuperCam instruments, and Japan's Martian Moons eXploration mission will use a Raman instrument to study Phobos. EurekAlert!
• The UAE Rashid rover will fly to the moon onboard a Japanese Hakuto-R lander. DebateUS
• The Japanese lander will contain a rover built in the United Arab Emirates. DebateUS
• Hawkish BOJ communication, elevated Japanese inflation and growing expectations of a September rate hike could provide a stronger foundation for yen recovery. IC Your Trading Edge | Official Blog | Blog
• Japan's population has already started to shrink, and the percentage of people older than 65 is expected to climb steadily through the rest of the decade. atradius

Last updated: 19 September 2026