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Economy

Andreessen Horowitz to open Japan office by summer, co-founder tells Takaichi

Silicon Valley venture capital giant looks to support Japan's defense startups Andreessen Horowitz co-founder Ben Horowitz, left, met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kei Sato in Tokyo on May 14. (Photo by Ken Suzuki) TOKYO -- Andreessen Horowitz co-founder Ben Horowitz has told Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that the California-based venture capital giant plans to open a Tokyo office by summer to expand investment in Japanese startups.

May 14, 2026

Economy

Japan ride-hailing app Go to launch Tokyo market’s largest IPO this year

Company expected to be valued at $1bn in planned June offering A taxi with an advertisement for hailing app Go. The company launched its ride-hailing service in 2020. (Photo by Takeshi Hashimoto) TOKYO -- Tokyo-based taxi-hailing app operator Go said Thursday it has received approval from the Tokyo Stock Exchange for an initial public offering.

May 14, 2026

Economy

Analysis: Extending temporary truce could benefit Xi and Trump

Donald Trump has returned to China for the first time since 2017, when he complimented Xi Jinping as the "king" of China. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters) The two leaders will try to bring their worlds together at the Temple of Heaven 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.

May 14, 2026

Economy

Brazil reaps gains from US-China tensions with resource diplomacy

Lula wields South American country's rare earths for edge over Trump on trade Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attends an energy investment event in capital city Brasilia on May 8. © Reuters SAO PAULO -- Ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's summit in China, Brazil has been asserting itself as a key trading partner of both countries by leveraging its wealth of critical resources.

May 14, 2026

Economy

Nippon Steel projects $630m profit for US Steel on added efficiency

Japan steelmaker beats forecast but China exports and Iran war cloud outlook U.S. Steel is expected to turn a profit in fiscal 2026. (U.S. Steel) TOKYO/NEW YORK -- Japan's Nippon Steel expects subsidiary U.S. Steel to contribute to consolidated profit this fiscal year as production improvements lead to greater efficiency at the U.S.-based company.

May 14, 2026

Economy

Indonesia pushes for waste-to-energy plants to boost self-sufficiency

Sovereign wealth fund plans 33 projects in next few years as landfills reach limit Indonesia generates 140,000 metric tons of waste per day. © ANTARA JAKARTA -- Indonesia plans to build dozens of waste-to-energy power plants over the next few years, seeking to send less garbage to landfills and raise energy self-sufficiency.

May 14, 2026

Economy

Japan insurers show cautious stance on JGBs amid soaring yields

Dai-ichi, Nippon Life executives wary of Iran war, overseas investors, fiscal policy Dai-ichi Life's Kazuyuki Shigemoto said yield curves will flatten if the Bank of Japan hikes interest rates twice this year. (Photo by Shinichi Arakawa) TOKYO -- With Japanese government bond yields at historic highs, executives at two insurance groups, which are also major institutional investors, said they are taking a cautious stance on investing in JGBs at this time of unprecedented volatility due to high interest rates, fiscal policy shifts and the Iran war.

May 14, 2026

Economy

China’s demographic decline is not the disaster many fear

Population shrinkage is real, but migration, productivity and policy could make aging more manageable Children wave flags as China’s President Xi Jinping receives France’s President Emmanuel Macron during a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Dec. 4, 2025. © Reuters Lauren A. Johnston is senior research fellow at the AustChina Institute.

May 14, 2026

Economy

Iran war inflation is hitting Japan faster than previous oil shocks

Supply chain disruption looms over everything from tofu to autos A Tokyo area supermarket. Japanese consumers are bracing for faster inflation. (Photo by Nanami Sato) TOKYO -- The effects of higher crude oil and petrochemical prices are flowing downstream faster than ever in Japan, squeezing consumers when they buy a wide range of daily needs.

May 14, 2026

Economy

Japan to broaden subsidies for domestic legacy chip production

Government to scrap investment minimum, opening door to smaller firms Japan is looking to bolster domestic production of such non-cutting-edge semiconductors as analog devices and microcontrollers. (Photo by Ryosuke Eguchi) TOKYO -- Japan will expand subsidies for domestic production of legacy semiconductor devices by eliminating a 30 billion yen ($190 million) investment requirement, aiming to ensure stable supplies of products critical to a wide range of industries.

May 14, 2026

Economy

Japanese-style tiny apartments coming to Australia’s co-living market

Real estate firm plans 300 units geared to singles in Sydney, other cities Shinoken looks to operate low-rise buildings with 20 to 100 studio units, catering to single professionals. (Shinoken Group) FUKUOKA, Japan -- A Japanese real estate company plans to offer smaller, affordable rental apartments in Sydney and other cities in Australia, where rents are soaring.

May 14, 2026

Economy

Why Japanese potato chip bags are turning black and white

Snack maker Calbee's move to monochrome could herald wider industry change Calbee plans to cut ink usage by changing its packaging designs to black and white. (Photo by Hazumu Urushiyama) TOKYO -- One of Japan's most recognizable snacks -- Calbee potato chips -- will be sold in black-and-white bags instead of the brightly colored ones customers recognize.

May 14, 2026