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] 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
• [New] Japan will buy $8 billion in U.S. agricultural goods, including buying 75% more U.S. rice. Ways and Means
• [New] 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
• [New] 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
• [New] 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
• [New] 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
• [New] The Japanese government has created strategic reserves of rare earths to mitigate any temporary supply disruptions. Wired
• [New] The Japanese submarine deposit could contain more than 16 million tons of rare earths, shaping up as the world's third-largest reserve. Wired
• [New] 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
• [New] Japan has set an aggressive target of 10% for all departing flights by 2030. JD Supra
• [New] 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
• [New] With a proven record of disruptive innovations, Japan has secured its position as a global leader in technology. Vivatechnology
• [New] Japan, Country of the Year, will be showcasing its tech ecosystem and arriving with a delegation of institutions, companies and startups, while many other countries in Asia as well as in America and Africa will also be well-represented. Vivatechnology
• [New] Swarms of pico-satellites could work together as a single large antenna for direct-to-smartphone communications, as reported by researchers from Japan. Science Tokyo
• [New] Japan 'closely monitoring' U.S. plans to blockade Strait of Hormuz. The Asia Cable
• [New] The broader consortium includes Sony, Honda, and other firms pursuing a large-scale physical AI foundation model effort by 2030. / Japan Tech Startups - Tech News, Tech Trends & Startup Fundin
• [New] With Japan facing an existential labour shortage and AI reshaping every knowledge profession, C-suite leaders must rethink talent, productivity, and purpose before 2050. Tech for Impact Summit
• [New] Japan, also a major energy importer, faces a similar set of challenges and could face a resurgence of inflation, especially if the yen continues weakening. Brookings
• [New] The news highlights the projected 19.3% CAGR through 2035 for AI in life sciences, alongside major investment signals: Perplexity's fast revenue growth, Microsoft's $10 billion Japan commitment, and Australia's new AI research centers. Pascal's Substack

Last updated: 25 April 2026