Japan

Russia summoned the Japanese ambassador to protest Tokyo's condemnation of President Vladimir Putin's visit to Kuril Islands. Japan strongly protested, stating that the archipelago, which it calls the Northern Territories, is its inherent territory by international law. In response, Russia lodged a formal protest, reaffirming its sovereignty over the southern Kurils and warning that countermeasures would be taken given Tokyo's adherence to Western sanctions.

AWS's top Asia executive is moving to Tokyo because the company believes Japan holds significant potential for AI adoption despite slow GDP growth. Japan must modernize its legacy IT systems to avoid a looming "digital cliff" that could cost $76 billion annually. In response, the country plans massive public and private investment into strategic sectors like semiconductors and physical AI.

Situational Awareness sold shares in Taiyo Yuden Co. to Citadel and other investors. The company reported offloading part of its stake this month, as detailed in a filing.

Japan's five-year government bond auction held on Tuesday experienced its strongest demand since June 2025. This robust buying activity was supported by elevated yields.

Asian shares declined due to worries about rising oil prices and inflation, which countered optimism from strong corporate earnings reports. On Wall Street, market losses were solidified in the afternoon after benchmark indices dropped following an upward acceleration in both U.S. and international crude oil prices.

Japanese second-quarter growth was weaker than expected. This slowdown occurred as households and businesses pulled back during the worst months of the Iran energy shock.

Japan has become known as a climate-adaptation lab after facing extreme weather events, including high heat and torrential rainfall in areas like Chiba Prefecture. To cope, corporations and governments have implemented varied measures, such as adjusting work schedules or providing cooling equipment. However, the article notes that these local efforts do not address fundamental issues contributing to global risks, with some estimates predicting significant GDP losses by 2030.

Asian shares were mostly higher Monday, led by gains in Tokyo's Nikkei 225 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng. Despite some weakness in U.S. markets, US futures and oil prices remained steady, though the Federal Reserve faces challenges balancing high inflation with slowing economic growth, a scenario called "stagflation". Major financial indicators also saw movement, including Brent crude edging up and the U.S. dollar falling against the Japanese yen.

Japan's 10-year bond yield reached a three-decade high. Additionally, the interest rate nears 3%, driven by concerns that a weak yen is fueling inflation.

Japan's bonds fell due to growing speculation that the Bank of Japan might raise interest rates and general fiscal concerns. This market activity pushed the 10-year yield to the highest level recorded since 1996.

Japan's economy grew at an annual rate of 1.1% in the April-June quarter, even while private consumption remained flat and exports declined. Although quarterly GDP growth was lower than expected due to economic headwinds such as high energy costs from the war in Iran, strong global demand for autos and semiconductors helped support Japan’s exports.

Japan's economy grew an annualized rate of 1.1% during the April-June quarter. This growth was recorded even though private consumption remained flat and the growth of exports declined.

Japan's annualized GDP growth for the second quarter reached 1.1%. This reported growth figure fell short of anticipated estimates, which were set at 2% on an annualized basis.

A joint U.S.-Japan intervention, aimed at supporting the yen, failed to ease currency market anxiety despite initial strengthening of the exchange rate. Analysts caution that key underpinnings of global finance appear risky, comparing the system to a 'giant Jenga tower.' These risks are driven by Japan's massive debt, sluggish central bank action, and concerns over the dollar’s dominance.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi avoided the controversial Yasukuni Shrine during the 81st anniversary of Japan's WWII surrender, leading to protest from China and South Korea. Officials from various Japanese groups visited the shrine despite warnings about covering up war crimes. Amid mounting tensions, Chinese officials urged Japan to undergo serious soul searching regarding history.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stayed away from Yasukuni Shrine on the 81st anniversary of World War II surrender, addressing that Japan contributes to global peace while avoiding discussion of wartime atrocities. She mourned victims in Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Okinawa, and those who perished overseas. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and executives from Takaichi's governing party visited the controversial shrine earlier on.

China lodged a formal protest with Japan concerning Yasukuni actions. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent an offering to the shrine, while Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited it on the anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II.

A heat wave is currently breaking records across Europe, while record-breaking rainfall has triggered flooding in several cities in Japan. Meanwhile, authorities in Italy successfully recovered three stolen artworks by Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse, and Hawaii is preparing for significant rain and strong winds from Tropical Storm Lala.

Japan PM Takaichi condemned Putin's visit to the disputed Kuril Islands as 'absolutely unacceptable'. Japan protested Vladimir Putin’s first visit, which escalated tensions over territory claimed by both Tokyo and Moscow.

The Japanese currency, specifically the yen, is currently described as ‘dirt cheap’ and proving difficult to stabilize. The broader analysis indicates that the Japanese currency remains undervalued when assessed against multiple economic metrics.

Russian President Vladimir Putin conducted a visit to the Kuril Islands, an archipelago that is also claimed by Japan, prompting a strong diplomatic protest from Tokyo. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stated that the Northern Territories are inherently Japanese territory both historically and under international law. The dispute regarding the islands' status remains unresolved despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first visit to the Kuril Islands, an island chain controlled by Russia but claimed by Japan, which drew protests from Tokyo. The dispute centers on the four southernmost islands, known as the Northern Territories and called Etorofu (Iturup) Island by residents. During his visit, Putin stated that while the current status is enshrined in international documents, Russia remains prepared to seek a solution with Japan toward concluding a peace treaty.

Japanese Crown Prince Akishino has expressed "mixed feelings" regarding a proposed government revision to the Imperial House Law. This law currently mandates that only men are eligible for imperial succession.

Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji died of illness at 97 years old. He helped ignite China’s economic boom by forcing change on state industry in the 1990s and leading the country into the World Trade Organization. His reforms contributed to China overtaking Japan as the second-largest economy behind the United States in 2010.

Following moves by the US and Japan to strengthen the yen, China's currency has come under more pressure to appreciate. Bloomberg Economics notes that this pressure may drain support for growth as the yuan gains despite falling bond yields and a sluggish economy.

The yen's weakness has become a growing concern for Japan’s policymakers and also for the US, due to its role in increasing import prices and household living costs.

Machinery maker DMG Mori Co. is aiming to raise ¥48.2 billion ($302 million) by selling new shares in overseas markets. This fundraising effort capitalizes on global investors showing a solid appetite for the nation’s stocks.

Over 3,500 clinical cases of Candida auris, a drug-resistant fungus causing severe illness, have been reported as of August 1. Experts express concern because the yeast resists multiple antifungal drugs and is often seen in healthcare facilities among vulnerable patients. The CDC reports that while case numbers fluctuated compared to last year, the organism remains an emerging threat.

Candida auris, a drug-resistant fungus, has been reported in over half of the states, with 28 states reporting more than 3,500 cases as of Aug. 1. The yeast poses an urgent threat because it resists multiple antifungal drugs and spreads easily among people undergoing complex medical care. Risk factors include severe underlying medical conditions, and symptoms can vary but may involve fever or chills.

Bitcoin is reported to be valued at $63,600. Separately, Metaplanet, which is located in Japan, executed a transaction involving the movement of 3,881 BTC between its wallets.

The Japanese yen has erased about half of the gains achieved following an unprecedented U.S.-Japan intervention. The title notes that this historic intervention has failed to halt the currency’s slide.

The Congressional Budget Office reported that the government's near-$40 trillion national debt now costs over $3 billion a day in interest service payments, alongside deficits of $1.8 trillion in the first 10 months of the fiscal year. Separately, the U.S. Treasury confirmed efforts to stabilize the Japanese yen, which is important because Japan is a top holder of U.S. debt.

Since President Donald Trump’s inauguration, U.S Treasury securities have underperformed all major government bond indices, with the single exception of Japan. The overall performance suggests that the Bessent bond-market scorecard is not as strong as it was previously.

Growth Strategy Minister Minoru Kiuchi stated that Japan's responsible and proactive fiscal policy will benefit both the economy and the yen. He made this announcement during an interview conducted by Bloomberg TV with Shery Ahn in Tokyo.

Experts suggest that neighborhood surroundings significantly affect sleep quality, noting that factors like noise or visual elements can disrupt restfulness. A study analyzing Google Street View images in Tokyo found that perceived safety and greenery correlated with longer sleep durations for residents. Conversely, highly walkable environments were linked to shorter periods of sleep.

Taiwan's top economic representative in Japan, Lee Yi-yang, boycotted the 81st anniversary memorial marking Nagasaki’s U.S. atomic bombing, accusing local officials of being pro-China. He stated that seat assignments were designed to deny Taiwan's status as a nation and disregard its sovereignty. The article notes that while Japan normalized diplomatic ties with Beijing in 1972, close economic and trade ties persist between Japan and Taiwan.

Taiwan's top economic representative in Japan boycotted the memorial marking Nagasaki’s 81st anniversary of atomic bombing. The boycott was reportedly due to an issue concerning seating arrangements.

Asian shares are showing mixed performance, although gains were reported by U.S. stocks on Wall Street and oil prices climbed. Within Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 led advances following the week of trading.

On the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, mayor Shiro Suzuki denounced nuclear weapons as 'absolute evil,' warning that relying on nuclear deterrence increases the risk of war and urging the Japanese government to adhere to its non-nuclear principles. This criticism occurred as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government revised defense policy to bolster offensive capability, leading to speculation about bringing nuclear weapons into the country. Suzuki also demanded Japan uphold its war-renouncing Constitution and attend the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons review conference.

Japanese authorities are pushing measures aimed at curbing the misuse of exchange accounts and combating scams. The FSA specifically asked crypto exchanges to impose withdrawal delays. Furthermore, regulations were called for regarding address registration, customer-specific limits, and stronger authentication.