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] ESA announced a rideshare mission with Japan's JAXA: Europe's Ramses probe will launch alongside JAXA's Destiny + spacecraft to study asteroid Apophis ahead of its 2029 Earth flyby. Grand Pinnacle Tribune
• [New] In 2030, annual geothermal capacity additions are expected to reach a historic high, triple the 2024 increase, driven by growth in the United States, Indonesia, Japan, Turkey, Kenya and the Philippines. IEA
• [New] Japan will expand export controls to cover general-purpose machine tools, integrated circuits, drones, radar, navigation, and testing equipment, requiring companies to verify potential military use. DIGITIMES Inc.
• [New] Japan's commitment to a sustainable, carbon-neutral future by 2050 has led to the selection of nine advanced CCUS projects in 2024, with a focus on creating scalable business models that can drive large-scale implementation. CCUS Japan
• [New] Japan has unveiled a groundbreaking maglev train that will connect Tokyo and Nagoya in just forty minutes, utilizing advanced high-speed rail technology to achieve speeds of up to 500 kilometers per hour. Travel And Tour World
• [New] Once completed, the train line will eventually extend to Osaka, further enhancing the efficiency of Japan's transportation network. Travel And Tour World
• [New] Japan will expand the scope of products for which companies are required to confirm the risk of exports being diverted for military use to include general-purpose machine tools, chips and drones bound for China, Southeast Asia and elsewhere. Nikkei Asia
• [New] Japan's JT-60SA project is exploring new designs with advanced technology, with experiments set to take place in 2026. Australian Energy Council
• [New] The Japanese Digital Payment Industry is expected to expand immensely, growing from US$ 469.54 billion in 2024 to US$ 1.32 trillion by 2033. Yahoo Finance
• [New] TSMC is diversifying its global footprint with new fabs in the U.S. (Arizona) and Japan, but its Arizona facility has faced delays, pushing its operational start to 2028. The Pilot News
• [New] Japan's economy is forecast to slow following above-trend growth of 1.3% in 2025, with GDP growth reaching just 0.6% in 2026 and 0.8% in 2027. Insurance Business
• [New] Japan, an early adopter, ended 2G in 2012 and is phasing out 3G, with some carriers expected to switch off remaining 3G coverage by the end of 2026. ANews
• [New] The US has tied clean-fuel tax credits to verifiable emissions savings; Singapore will levy passengers to co-fund SAF blending from 2026; and Japan has launched its first domestic SAF production to meet a 10% target by 2030. GreenAir News
• [New] Policy rates are projected to increase in Japan as monetary policy accommodation continues to be gradually withdrawn. OECD
• Japan is constructing a Tokyo-Nagoya line spanning more than 280 km, with an expected operating speed of 500 km/h. TASS
• Scheduled to be ready for service in 2028, the CANDLE cable will stretch roughly 8,000 kilometers undersea, linking Japan to Singapore with landing points in Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Bez Kabli
• A consortium of tech giants (Meta, SoftBank, Malaysia's TM, Indonesia's XLSmart, and others) unveiled plans for CANDLE, a new 8,000 km submarine cable linking Japan, Taiwan, Southeast Asia and Singapore by 2028. Bez Kabli
• IonQ's acquisition of ID Quantique expanded its global patent portfolio and opened up infrastructure opportunities in South Korea and Japan, strengthening the foundation for international quantum communication systems. International Defense Security & Technology
• While the Japanese automaker predicted 1.5 million EVs annually by 2026, real-world sales are very different: in 2024, Toyota delivered approximately 140,000 EVs globally. TopSpeed
• We expect the yen to strengthen gradually as interest rate differentials narrow, which will bolster Japan's purchasing power and support domestic demand. Morningstar, Inc.

Last updated: 11 October 2025