Blog – Page 12 – Diplomacy & Business

Zespri trade conference signals strong 2026 export season in Japan

08

Apr

Business

Zespri trade conference signals strong 2026 export season in Japan

The New Zealand Ambassador to Japan, Duncan, joined Zespri’s 2026 Trade Conference in Tokyo, marking the official momentum of the New Zealand kiwifruit season in its most valuable global market. The event served as a high-level strategic platform to reinforce the agricultural trade ties between Wellington and Tokyo, highlighting the importance of horticulture as a cornerstone of the bilateral economic relationship under the CPTPP framework. With the 2026 season now in full swing, Zespri is anticipating a robust volume of exports to Japan, driven by favorable growing conditions and a sophisticated logistics network that ensures premium fruit reaches Japanese consumers…

Josep Barahona: “Cuisine serves to create a climate of understanding”

08

Apr

By Josep Solano

Interview

Josep Barahona: “Cuisine serves to create a climate of understanding”

Thirty-five years after his arrival in Tokyo, the prestigious Catalan chef reflects on his career as an "informal ambassador" of Mediterranean gastronomy in Asia. From cooking for emperors and kings to the democratization of the high-end biquini (Catalan toasted sandwich), Barahona analyzes the demands of the Japanese market and the philosophy of a chef who refuses to leave the stove. When Josep Barahona landed in Tokyo in 1991, the image of Spanish cuisine in Japan was limited to folkloric clichés. Today, Catalan gastronomy is synonymous with prestige. Barahona has been the invisible bridge between Japan’s excellent raw materials and Catalan…

08

Apr

By Diplomacy and Business

Japan

Japan and Brazil target MERCOSUR pact

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi signaled a new era of trans-continental cooperation after receiving a courtesy call from the Wise Group for Strategic Economic Partnership between Japan and Brazil in Tokyo this Wednesday. The high-level meeting centered on the submission of a final report designed to revitalize bilateral trade and investment. A key takeaway from the private sector participants was the urgent need to secure an early conclusion to the Japan-MERCOSUR Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which is viewed as a vital gateway to unlocking the full potential of the South American market. The Takaichi administration has reaffirmed its full commitment to…

Corporate bankruptcies in Japan hit 12-year peak

08

Apr

By Diplomacy and Business

Business

Corporate bankruptcies in Japan hit 12-year peak

Japan witnessed a significant surge in business failures during fiscal year 2025, with bankruptcies reaching their highest level in 12 years. Data released by Teikoku Databank reveals that over 9,500 companies filed for bankruptcy, marking a stark indicator of the intensifying economic pressures facing the nation’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This sharp increase reflects a fundamental shift in the Japanese economic landscape, as the protective measures of the previous era are systematically dismantled. The primary drivers behind this upward trend are identified as the "triple threat" of rising material costs, persistent labor shortages, and the cessation of government-backed pandemic…

Tokyo to celebrate fashion icon Hanae Mori with centennial retrospective

08

Apr

By Diplomacy and Business

Arts

Tokyo to celebrate fashion icon Hanae Mori with centennial retrospective

Tokyo will honour one of Japan’s most celebrated creative figures this spring with a centennial retrospective dedicated to legendary designer Hanae Mori, commemorating what would have been the 100th anniversary of her birth. The exhibition will pay tribute to the woman widely regarded as Japan’s first global fashion icon and a pioneer who helped bring Japanese elegance to the international luxury stage. Known affectionately as “Madame Butterfly” for her signature butterfly motifs, Mori rose to prominence in the post-war decades and became the first Japanese woman admitted to the official haute couture calendar in Paris. Her designs, worn by royalty,…

Cultural synergy marks 60 years of Singapore-Japan relations

08

Apr

By Diplomacy and Business

Social

Cultural synergy marks 60 years of Singapore-Japan relations

The Singapore Embassy in Tokyo hosted a landmark musical celebration titled “Stories from an Island City” to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Singapore and Japan (SJ60). Performed by the critically acclaimed TENG Ensemble at The Garden Hall, Yebisu Garden Place, the evening served as a high-profile testament to the enduring friendship and cultural integration between the two nations. The event was further elevated by the collaboration with Little Creators, a Japanese non-profit organization, creating a unique cross-border artistic dialogue. The gala was graced by the presence of Princess Takamado and Princess Tsuguko of Takamado, underscoring the deep…

Tokyo projects chipmaking power to the Moon

07

Apr

By Diplomacy and Business

Tech

Tokyo projects chipmaking power to the Moon

The CEO of Rapidus, Atsuyoshi Koike, has presented a proposal that redefines the limits of Japanese industrial policy by suggesting the possibility of moving high-end chip manufacturing to the lunar surface in the near future. Far from being mere speculation, this vision is part of an ambitious national strategy to reclaim technological leadership through radical innovation and the robust support of Prime Minister Takaichi’s administration. The project seeks not only to compete with current industry giants but also to establish the foundations for an extraterrestrial industrial infrastructure that ensures Japanese hegemony in the coming decades. The company has already reached…

Japan eyes new language requirements for skilled foreign workers

07

Apr

By Diplomacy and Business

Business

Japan eyes new language requirements for skilled foreign workers

Japan is preparing to tighten its immigration framework for foreign professionals by introducing new Japanese-language requirements for certain skilled work visas, in a move that could significantly reshape the country’s recruitment of overseas talent. According to government sources, Tokyo plans to require applicants for the widely used “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” visa to provide proof of Japanese-language proficiency when applying for roles that specifically require communication in Japanese. The new threshold is expected to be set around CEFR B2 level—roughly equivalent to JLPT N2—and could take effect as early as mid-April. Officials say the measure is designed to prevent misuse…

Kengo Kuma strengthens Japan’s cultural influence with new National Gallery project

07

Apr

By Diplomacy and Business

Arts

Kengo Kuma strengthens Japan’s cultural influence with new National Gallery project

Japanese architect Kengo Kuma has further cemented his position as one of the country’s most influential cultural figures after being selected to design the new wing of London’s National Gallery, one of the world’s most prestigious art institutions. The appointment marks another major international commission for the architect, whose work has become synonymous with contemporary Japanese design on the global stage. Best known internationally for designing Tokyo’s National Stadium for the 2020 Olympic Games, Kuma has built a reputation around his distinctive architectural philosophy, blending natural materials, light and open space to create structures that emphasise harmony with their surroundings.…

Tokyo’s Wacha reinvents sakura as a luxury sensory ritual

07

Apr

By Diplomacy and Business

Luxury

Tokyo’s Wacha reinvents sakura as a luxury sensory ritual

As cherry blossom season reaches its peak, a Tokyo-based brand is redefining how sakura is experienced—not as a fleeting moment, but as a curated sensory ritual. Wacha, a rising name in Japan’s botanical tea space, has introduced a limited-edition “Sakura Matcha” that reinterprets a centuries-old tradition through the lens of contemporary luxury and wellness. Rather than focusing on consumption alone, the product positions itself as an experience. Inspired by the Edo-period custom of drinking sakura-infused tea, Wacha’s blend transforms preparation into a deliberate act: whisking reveals a soft pink hue, while edible blossoms float on the surface, evoking a miniature…