Kana Inagaki

Wednesday, 15 November, 2023

Inside BusinessWhistleblowing

Japan needs stronger whistleblower protections

The absence of several safeguards contrasts with country’s pitch to foreign investors on improving corporate governance

Thursday, 9 November, 2023

SoftBank Group Corp

SoftBank posts unexpected $6.2bn loss after WeWork bankruptcy

Japanese tech conglomerate hit by falling valuations in portfolio companies

Thursday, 9 November, 2023

InterviewBank of Japan

BoJ governor warns unwinding ultra-loose policy is ‘serious challenge’

Kazuo Ueda tells FT conference that central bank will move carefully on raising interest rates

Monday, 6 November, 2023

FT News Briefing podcast11 min listen

Private equity wrestles with higher interest rates

Japan’s prime minister bets on stimulus to tackle the pain of inflation

Monday, 6 November, 2023

Electric vehicles

Toyota takes on Tesla’s gigacasting in battle for carmaking’s future

Japanese manufacturer works on new approach as it targets big increase in electric vehicle production

Sunday, 5 November, 2023

News in-depthJapanese business & finance

Japan’s scallop industry seeks safe harbour from China ban

Investors say Beijing’s sanctions could offer an unexpected boost by creating a national champion

Thursday, 2 November, 2023

ExplainerJapanese government bonds

What the end of Japan’s yield curve control experiment means for markets

Investor reaction to the BoJ removing the hard ceiling on 10-year yields has so far been muted

Thursday, 2 November, 2023

News in-depthJapanese economy

Japan’s PM Kishida bets on $113bn stimulus to tackle inflation pain

Tax cuts and cash handouts fail to convince public and could complicate central bank’s policy unwinding

Tuesday, 31 October, 2023

InterviewMitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd

MHI plans global defence sales push after Japan expands military budget

Military contractor says industry has failed to make inroads abroad to compete with US and Europe

Tuesday, 31 October, 2023

Bank of Japan

BoJ sets stage for end of bond yield controls

Central bank raises interest rate cap under pressure from weakening yen, inflation and rising US Treasuries

Monday, 30 October, 2023

Bank of Japan

Bank of Japan under pressure from weak yen and soaring yields

Two-day policy meeting could end with changes to trading band for government bonds

Friday, 27 October, 2023

The Big Read

How solid-state batteries could transform transport

Toyota appears close to a manufacturing breakthrough that could accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. But will the technology ever be commercially viable?

Friday, 27 October, 2023

Western Digital Corp

Chipmaker Western Digital walks away from Kioxia merger talks

Opposition from rival SK Hynix puts brakes on Bain Capital’s ambitions to create US-Japan chip giant

Thursday, 26 October, 2023

Semiconductors

Chipmaker SK Hynix says it opposes merger between Kioxia and Western Digital

South Korean company’s sign-off is needed for Bain Capital’s attempt to create a US-Japan chip champion

Wednesday, 25 October, 2023

IPOs

Kokusai Electric jumps 32% in Japan’s biggest IPO for five years

Chip equipment maker’s debut comes as country rides wave of interest from foreign investors

Monday, 23 October, 2023

Batteries

Toyota nears mass production of solid-state batteries

World’s biggest carmaker says stacking speed needed for full manufacturing is ‘almost there’

Friday, 20 October, 2023

The Top LineMergers & Acquisitions

Japan’s acute labour shortages fuel a long-awaited domestic consolidation

A series of so-called ‘acqui-hires’ are a sign of changing dynamics in Japanese dealmaking

Thursday, 19 October, 2023

Due Diligence

Why CVC is going public now Premium

Plus, Bain’s attempt to create a chip champion meets roadblocks and Wall Street heralds mixed investment banking results

Wednesday, 18 October, 2023

Semiconductors

Bain Capital’s ambitions to create US-Japan chip champion in jeopardy

Kioxia and Western Digital merger opposed by South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix

Tuesday, 17 October, 2023

Japanese business & finance

Hunt for trophy apartments in Tokyo sends prices sky high

Newly minted millionaires vie with foreign buyers for scarce property

Monday, 16 October, 2023

Japanese business & finance

Chinese boycott beauty products after Fukushima water discharge

Online shoppers compile lists of brands they believe could be linked to stricken nuclear plant

Monday, 9 October, 2023

Inside BusinessJapanese business & finance

Why attracting BlackRock’s Larry Fink is not enough for Japan

Japanese investors and companies need to have faith in their own markets

Friday, 6 October, 2023

News in-depthJapanese economy

Kishida calls on BlackRock and other funds to ‘invest’ in Japan’s future

Larry Fink and other investors hear prime minister outline reform plans

Thursday, 5 October, 2023

#techAsia

TSMC in Japan and India’s IPO hopes Premium

The inside story on the Asia tech trends that matter, from Nikkei Asia and the Financial Times

Kana Inagaki

Tokyo bureau chief

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