The United States imposes a 15% 'reciprocal' tariff on most Japanese goods as the two sides disagree about the method of its calculation. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/08/07/economy/reciprocal-tariff-effective/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #ryoseiakazawa #tariffs #shigeruishiba #donaldtrump #trade #carmakers #us #japaneseeconomy #usjapanrelations #scottbessent
Japan is poised to reverse its long-standing rice curb policy, following a government admission that it had been miscalculating demand. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/06/japan/rice-ishiba-increase/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #rice #shigeruishiba #agriculture
Beleaguered Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba continues to face pressure to resign from his usual political rivals within the Liberal Democratic Party. Do they have what it takes to make it happen? https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/06/japan/politics/ldp-conservatives-against-ishiba/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #shigeruishiba #ldp #yasutakanakasone#toshimitsumotegi #hiroshigeseko
U.S. President Donald Trump said the $550 billion of investment pledged by Japan is 'our money' and that he is free to deploy it as he wishes. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/08/06/economy/trump-money-is-ours/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #ryoseiakazawa #tariffs #shigeruishiba #donaldtrump #trade #carmakers #us #japaneseeconomy #usjapanrelations #scottbessent
Akazawa returns to the U.S. for more talks as the tariff deal looks shaky due in part to differences in the interpretation of the agreement. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/08/05/economy/akazawa-ninth-round/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #ryoseiakazawa #tariffs #shigeruishiba #donaldtrump #trade #carmakers #us #japaneseeconomy #usjapanrelations #scottbessent
Nippon Ishin no Kai co-leader Seiji Maehara and three senior party leaders are stepping down from their positions to take responsibility for the party’s lackluster performance in the July 20 Upper House election. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/05/japan/politics/nippon-ishin-maehara-resignations/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #nipponishinnokai #seijimaehara#hirofumiyoshimura #ldp #shigeruishiba #osaka
Prime Minister Shigreu Ishiba, finding himself in a unique position to deliver straightforward remarks as he fends off calls to resign, has offered colorful views of U.S. leader Donald Trump and his negotiating tactics. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/05/japan/politics/ishiba-trump-not-normal/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #shigeruishiba #tariffs #us #donaldtrump #usjapanrelations
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has expressed willingness to deliver a message to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, having decided not to release a Cabinet-approved official statement. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/05/japan/politics/ishiba-open-anniversary-message/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #shigeruishiba #ldp #wwii
As inflation hits households, a government panel has recommended a record hike of ¥63, or 6%, for the average minimum hourly wage in the country, which would bring the figure up to ¥1,118 per hour. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/08/05/economy/japan-minimum-wage-record-hike/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #wages #japaneseeconomy #inflation #shigeruishiba #jobs #mhlw
Opposition parties, concerned about U.S. President Donald Trump’s unpredictable diplomacy, said the U.S.-Japan trade agreement must be in writing — a step the government fears could impact planned tariff reductions. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/04/japan/politics/budget-committee/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #shigeruishiba #ldp #dpp #cdp #diet #tariffs #trade #usjapanrelations #us #japaneseeconomy #donaldtrump #nipponishinnokai #yoshihikonoda #yuichirotamaki
With the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito no longer having a majority in parliament, Osaka-based Nippon Ishin no Kai leaders have indicated they might be willing to become a third member — under the right conditions. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/04/japan/politics/ishin-coalition-ldp/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #nipponishinnokai #seijimaehara#hirofumiyoshimura #osaka #ldp #shigeruishiba
In a break with recent tradition, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has decided not to make a personal statement on the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender, sources have said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/03/japan/politics/ishiba-wwii-personal-statement/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #shigeruishiba #history #wwii #ldp
Japanese politics are in turmoil, with all of the main parties losing seats in the past election. Is what we are witnessing the end of the “big tent” parties? https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/08/01/japan/the-end-of-japans-big-tent-parties/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #shigeruishiba #ldp #komeito #cdp #jcp #dpp #cpj #reiwa #2025upperhouseelection
U.S. sets Aug. 7 as the start date for Japan's 15% 'reciprocal' tariff, with the focus now on unfinished business as auto duties go unmentioned. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/08/01/economy/reciprocal-15-percent/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #trade #tariffs #carmakers #donaldtrump #us #japaneseeconomy #usjapanrelations #ryoseiakazawa #scottbessent #shigeruishiba
Despite a historic election setback and deep public frustration, the LDP faces an identity crisis between its conservative and centrist factions while voters remain unsure what alternative they want. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/07/29/japan/a-moment-of-truth-for-japanese-politics/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #shigeruishiba #ldp #2025upperhouseelection
Investors love the trade deal Tokyo struck with Trump. Now for the nagging details. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/07/29/japan/more-japan-deal-mysteries/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #donaldtrump #shigeruishiba #tade #useconomy #japaneseeconomy
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has refused to resign out of concern that leaving would create a political vacuum and put the U.S. tariff deal — not yet implemented — in jeopardy. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/29/japan/politics/why-ishiba-refuses-to-quit/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #shigeruishiba #ldp #2025upperhouseelection
Calls erupted for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s resignation as Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers and executives faced off in their first meeting after the disastrous July 20 Upper House election. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/28/japan/politics/ldp-meeting/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #shigeruishiba #hiroshimoriyama #2025upperhouseelection
Japan’s surprise trade deal with the U.S. pushed stocks to all-time highs. But as the dust settles and focus returns to problems closer to home, investors are questioning whether the rally was a sign of things to come. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/07/27/markets/investors-boj-earnings/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #markets #stocks #boj #trade #tariffs #shigeruishiba
Will he stay or go? For Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, a number of key political events in the coming weeks are expected to affect the timing of any decision to quit or remain in his post. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/27/japan/politics/ishiba-resign-depend-political-events/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #shigeruishiba #ldp #diet #2025upperhouseelection #tariffs #trade #wwii