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Economy

Japan Coast Guard boosts cyber capabilities to combat digital crime rings

Anonymous groups use social media to recruit members, organize operations A Japan Coast Guard officer seizes illegal drugs from the hull of a ship. (Japan Coast Guard) TOKYO -- The Japan Coast Guard has set up a dedicated cyber investigation team to counter drug smuggling by groups connected through social media, as the law enforcement agency looks to protect maritime security in the face of increasingly sophisticated criminal methods.

July 16, 2026

Economy

Rural Japan tries to draw wealthy tourists with $40,000 custom swords

High-end travelers seen as way to breathe new life into local economies Japanticket brings tourists to visit this sword workshop in Japan's Gifu prefecture. (Japanticket) TOKYO -- Custom-made samurai swords have become a weapon of choice for bringing big-spending travelers to one of Japan's less-traveled areas.

July 16, 2026

Economy

Yamaha becomes target as Fender defends Stratocaster guitar design

Fender's Stratocaster is one of the world's most recognizable electric guitar designs. © Reuters HAMAMATSU, Japan -- U.S. musical instrument maker Fender has warned Japan's Yamaha to abide by copyright protections for its guitar designs, it was revealed this week, in what appears to be a widening of its efforts to defend its iconic brand.

July 16, 2026

Economy

Japan drone stocks soar as investors look beyond AI, traditional defense

Japanese companies that make drones and their components are seeing a surge of investor money. (Illustration by Nikkei) TOKYO -- Money is flowing into Japanese drone companies amid rising military demand for unmanned systems, as investors seeking diversification options away from artificial intelligence stocks look beyond the traditional defense stocks that surged last year.

July 16, 2026

Economy

India’s services exports growth highlights limits of manufacturing push

IT moves services near No. 1 spot as merchandise exports stall despite support While India's services exports have grown at a compound annual rate of 9.3% over the past 12 years, goods exports have increased at barely a third of that pace. (Source photos by Reuters) © Reuters BENGALURU -- India's services exports are on the cusp of overtaking merchandise exports for the first time, underscoring how the country is increasingly dependent on information technology for growth even as policymakers push to transform the nation into a manufacturing powerhouse.

July 16, 2026

Economy

Nissan pins Japan revival hopes on new Elgrand premium minivan

First major redesign in 16 years seen as key test of automaker's turnaround strategy Nissan Motor unveils the new Elgrand in Yokohama, Japan on July 16. (Photo by Marie Yoshimura) YOKOHAMA, Japan -- Nissan Motor on Thursday launched a fully redesigned Elgrand premium minivan in the Japanese market -- the model's first major overhaul in 16 years -- as part of the automaker's strategy to revive domestic sales as it tries to achieve a business turnaround.

July 16, 2026

Economy

South Korean central bank raises rates as economy shows strength

With the economic boom concentrated among chipmakers, central moves to address inflation BANGKOK -- South Korea's central bank raised its key rate for the first time in more than three years on Thursday as it grapples with inflationary pressure at least partially stemming from quickening growth.

July 16, 2026

Economy

Nvidia partners with Toyota’s Woven City on physical AI tech

US chipmaker to supply technologies to be used in traffic management Nvidia will team with Woven by Toyota, which operates Toyota's smart city, Woven City. (Source photos by Nikkei and Woven by Toyota) TOKYO -- Nvidia is working with Toyota Motor's Woven City, a smart city conducting demonstration experiments in Shizuoka prefecture, central Japan, as the U.S. chipmaker looks to speed up the spread of artificial intelligence in Japan by providing foundational technologies.

July 16, 2026

Economy

Nikkei Asia Forum kicks off in Bangkok to discuss energy, mobility, AI

Speakers include Thai deputy prime ministers, leaders from Sony, Didi and SGX From left: Sony Group Executive Chairman Kenichiro Yoshida, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow. (Source photos by Nikkei) BANGKOK -- A major business forum hosted by Nikkei kicks off in Bangkok on Thursday, with over 20 company and political leaders from the Asia-Pacific set to discuss topics ranging from the energy crisis to mobility and the future of artificial intelligence.

July 16, 2026

Economy

Honda to build electric scooter in Vietnam as soon as September

Japan motorcycle maker banks on continued electric shift in cities Motorcycles and scooters are essential to daily life in Vietnam. (Photo by Yuji Nitta) HANOI -- Honda Motor plans to begin production of its UC3 electric motorcycle in Vietnam as early as September, General Director Sayaka Arai of local subsidiary Honda Vietnam told Nikkei, as the company expects a continued shift toward electric vehicles in urban areas.

July 16, 2026

Economy

Your new online friend may work for Beijing

China's AI tools are making cognitive warfare personal, persistent and cheap A fake video claiming that a demonstration calling for Okinawa's independence took place in Japan went viral after being posted on May 12, 2024. (Screenshot from bbcctv6's X page) Brett J. Goldstein is a professor at Vanderbilt University who specializes in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence and is Director of the Wicked Problems Lab at Vanderbilt's Institute of National Security.

July 16, 2026

Economy

Analysis: Xi Jinping tests Trump’s limits with Pacific SLBM firing

Xi Jinping had an ulterior motive in launching an SLBM over the Pacific Ocean on July 6 -- to see if Donald Trump might acquiesce to a suggestion that Barack Obama long ago snubbed. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters and PLA Navy's WeChat account) Route sent a message to the Philippines while avoiding South Korea fallout Katsuji Nakazawa is a Tokyo-based senior staff and editorial writer at Nikkei. He spent seven years in China as a correspondent, and later as China bureau chief, and was the 2014 recipient of the Vaughn-Ueda International Journalist prize.

July 16, 2026