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] Wind and solar PV generation together are projected to provide almost an additional 1000 TWh in 2026, roughly equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of Japan. IEA
• [New] Japan Post Bank will launch yen-backed DCJPY in FY2026 on DeCurret's blockchain. CoinCentral
• [New] Japan's $107 billion plan to scale hydrogen production from 2 million to 12 million tons by 2040 is just one example. Ainvest
• [New] Japan has launched the world's second osmotic power plant in Fukuoka, showcasing a new renewable energy technology that could complement solar, wind, and hydropower in its decarbonization strategy. oilprice.com
• [New] Japanese scientists have developed ADRIANA, a non-opioid painkiller that could provide powerful relief without the dangers of addiction. ScienceDaily
• [New] Japan's Ministry of Defense revealed plans to deploy upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles and Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectiles across key islands, enhancing counter-strike capabilities against potential threats from China and North Korea. The Rio Times
• [New] SHIELD, Japan said, is a multi-layered littoral defence system that will utilize a network of land, surface, underwater and aerial unmanned systems to counter invading surface and amphibious forces. USNI News
• [New] Japan fears that China could attempt a forceful takeover of Taiwan - the self-governed island it claims - potentially triggering a conflict with Washington that could drag in Tokyo as well. Space War
• [New] The U.S., Japan, and South Korea announced large-scale joint exercises focusing on aerial, naval, and cyber capabilities against North Korean threats. The Rio Times
• [New] Japan, Singapore, Australia, and Canada: Each has climate - or sustainability-related disclosure rules either in place or moving toward alignment with ISSB standards by the mid-2020s. Pulsora
• [New] Japan should continue to raise interest rates while paying attention to the risks posed by global uncertainty. Central Banking
• If there's an easy-to-use AI that understands the unique customs of people in Japan, it will be able to attract more users, provide greater value to various life situations and business occasions, and become a catalyst to root AI into Japanese society. SoftBank Group Corp.
• Japan has set a national target for SAF to make up 10% of jet fuel consumption by 2030. LanzaJet
• RIKEN, Fujitsu, and NVIDIA started development of Japan's next supercomputer, which will include GPUs as accelerators and is targeted to begin operation in 2030. Semiconductor Engineering
• Japan Post Bank has announced plans to introduce its own digital currency, DCJPY, starting in fiscal year 2026. CoinCentral
• In spite of looming tariff risks, the successful negotiation of bilateral trade agreements - with Japan, the U.K., and South Korea - has helped bolster investor confidence. Banjaran Asset Management
• In Japan, as a result of the baby boom, the population of older people over 75 years of age will reach its peak in 2025. PubMed Central (PMC)
• The US, Japan and South Korea pledged to intensify efforts to block North Korea's use of overseas IT workers to raise money for its weapons programs, warning that Pyongyang's operatives are using increasingly sophisticated tactics to evade detection. Insurance Journal

Last updated: 13 September 2025