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] The UAE Rashid rover will fly to the moon onboard a Japanese Hakuto-R lander. DebateUS
• [New] The Japanese lander will contain a rover built in the United Arab Emirates. DebateUS
• [New] Hawkish BOJ communication, elevated Japanese inflation and growing expectations of a September rate hike could provide a stronger foundation for yen recovery. IC Your Trading Edge | Official Blog | Blog
• [New] Japan's population has already started to shrink, and the percentage of people older than 65 is expected to climb steadily through the rest of the decade. atradius
• [New] After decreases in 2024 and 2025 (-2.1%), Japan's construction output is expected to contract again in 2026, by 0.8%. atradius
• [New] Japan's Q2 real GDP is projected to rise 0.5% q/q vs. 0.5% in Q1, with the Tankan business survey pointing to upside risk. Brown Brothers Harriman
• [New] Japan's revised whistleblower regime provides an opportunity to strengthen internal reporting arrangements, but regulation alone will not create a speak-up culture. Risk.net
• [New] Japan's SkyDrive has begun formal familiarization meetings with the U.S. FAA on certification validation for its SD-05 eVTOL air taxi, which is planned to be type certified with the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau for commercial service beginning in 2028. Aviation Week Network
• [New] Continuous innovation in miniaturization, battery efficiency, and medical-grade wearable technologies is expected to reinforce Japan's leadership in high-quality wearable device development. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Tokyo pledges that Japan will become the world's most-friendly country for developing and utilizing AI. BBC News
• [New] A nationwide prospective, multi-level study in Japan examined whether community-level social capital could ameliorate the adverse impact of widowhood and living alone on depressive symptoms. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Although some doubts have been raised about Durkheim's original claims, multi-level studies from Korea and Japan do find a correlation between neighborhood social cohesion and reduced risk of suicide ideation. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Continuous innovation in AI-integrated robotics, machine vision, and collaborative automation is expected to sustain Japan's leadership in industrial robotics technology and adoption. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Continued investments in advanced battery technologies are expected to help Japan preserve its technological position while supporting demand from electric vehicles and other high-performance applications. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Japan's corporate governance focus and exchange expectations on capital efficiency elevate M&A advisory, shareholder engagement, and restructuring as boards rotate assets and pursue outbound opportunities. Mordor Intelligence
• [New] Japan is the world's most rapidly aging nation, offering a preview of the demographic and healthcare challenges all societies will face. Next Generation Longevity 2026
• [New] Japan's participation in the Global Combat Air Programme alongside the United Kingdom and Italy with a defined 2035 in-service target is embedding substantial autonomous systems technology development into the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries industrial base. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Japan's 2022 National Security Strategy which authorised counterstrike capability and tripled the defence budget timeline to 2% of GDP by 2027 has been the single most consequential regional policy catalyst. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Japan's Tokyo CPI is forecast to show headline edging up 0.1 ppt to 1.9%, and ex-Food & Energy up 0.2 ppt to 2.0%, with continued pressure from energy prices, a weak JPY for much of the year and Services pressured by rising wage settlements. ADMISI
• Japan is experiencing the fastest ageing of its population, with 47 people older than 65 per 100 working-age adults in 2015, up from 19 in 1990, and rising to 80 by 2060. OECD
• Japan's 2030 Strategic Energy Plan targets 24 GW of battery storage capacity to address renewable energy variability, creating a high-growth opportunity for grid-connected storage integration software and communication infrastructure providers. Persistence Market Research
• Japan aims to increase hydrogen consumption to 12 million tons annually by 2040, creating significant opportunities for CO2 hydrogenation technologies and catalyst deployment. Straits Research

Last updated: 05 September 2026