Blog – Page 7 – Diplomacy & Business

Tokyo and London strengthen citizen protection abroad

20

Apr

Diplomacy

Tokyo and London strengthen citizen protection abroad

Japan and the United Kingdom have signed a new Memorandum of Cooperation aimed at strengthening mutual assistance for their nationals abroad during crises, marking a further step in the two countries’ expanding strategic partnership. The agreement was signed in Tokyo by Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and the UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper during the tenth Japan–UK Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue. The memorandum establishes a framework for closer coordination between the two governments in supporting citizens overseas. Under the arrangement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will enhance information sharing in peacetime,…

20

Apr

By Diplomacy and Business

Tech

Japan’s AI-driven hiring cut

A growing number of Japanese companies are preparing to scale back hiring of new university graduates for 2027, as productivity gains from generative artificial intelligence begin to reshape long-term workforce planning, according to the latest industry survey. The findings point to a gradual but significant shift in corporate recruitment strategies in Japan, where firms have traditionally maintained stable pipelines of graduate hiring as part of a lifelong employment model. However, the rapid adoption of AI tools across administrative, customer service and analytical tasks is now prompting a reassessment of staffing needs. Executives cited in the survey suggest that generative AI…

Fujitsu launches GLOVIA One to accelerate SME digitalisation in Japan

20

Apr

By Diplomacy and Business

Business

Fujitsu launches GLOVIA One to accelerate SME digitalisation in Japan

Fujitsu has announced the launch of GLOVIA One, a new integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform aimed at mid-sized Japanese companies, as the tech giant seeks to capitalise on growing demand for digital transformation across the country’s business sector. The platform, set to be rolled out from April 22, consolidates Fujitsu’s existing ERP solutions — spanning accounting, human resources, payroll, sales and production — into a single cloud-based system designed to streamline operations and improve data visibility. GLOVIA One is primarily targeted at companies with annual revenues between ¥3 billion and ¥100 billion, a segment often described as Japan’s digital…

Fear and vigilance grip northern Japan after 7.7 quake and tsunami alert

20

Apr

By Diplomacy and Business

Japan

Fear and vigilance grip northern Japan after 7.7 quake and tsunami alert

A powerful earthquake off the northern coast of Japan has left communities on alert after authorities warned that the risk of an even larger quake remains unusually high, raising fresh concerns in a country long accustomed to living with seismic uncertainty. The 7.7-magnitude tremor struck offshore near Iwate Prefecture on April 20, sending strong shaking as far as Tokyo and triggering tsunami warnings along parts of the Pacific coast. Within hours, evacuation orders were issued in several coastal towns, where residents moved to higher ground amid fears of waves reaching up to three metres. Although no major damage or casualties…

Japan urges renewed talks after China installs new offshore structure

20

Apr

By Diplomacy and Business

Diplomacy

Japan urges renewed talks after China installs new offshore structure

Japan has issued a formal protest to China following the confirmation of a new offshore structure installed by Beijing on the western side of the geographical equidistance line in the East China Sea, a move that risks further straining already fragile bilateral relations. According to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the installation underscores China’s continued push for unilateral development in waters where maritime boundaries — including the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf — remain unresolved. Tokyo described the move as “extremely regrettable,” warning that such actions undermine trust and complicate efforts to manage shared resources. The protest was…

Tokyo luxury housing hits record highs as supply tightens

20

Apr

By Diplomacy and Business

Luxury

Tokyo luxury housing hits record highs as supply tightens

Luxury residential prices in Tokyo have reached a new historic peak, with the average price of newly built apartments across the capital’s 23 wards climbing to ¥137.8 million in April 2026, underscoring the growing exclusivity of one of Asia’s most resilient prime property markets. The surge reflects a tightening supply pipeline in central districts, where developable land remains scarce and new high-end inventory is increasingly limited. Developers are focusing on fewer, higher-spec projects, reinforcing a shift toward premium positioning rather than volume-driven growth. Rising construction costs are also playing a decisive role. The increase in global material prices—partly exacerbated by…

Nobuya Hitsuda retrospective opens in Toyota

20

Apr

By Diplomacy and Business

Arts

Nobuya Hitsuda retrospective opens in Toyota

The inauguration of a major retrospective dedicated to artist Nobuya Hitsuda at the Toyota Municipal Museum of Art marks a significant moment in the Japanese contemporary art calendar. The exhibition brings together a wide selection of works spanning several decades of the artist’s career. The show traces Hitsuda’s evolving visual language, characterised by a subtle balance between material experimentation and conceptual rigor. His practice, often rooted in abstraction, reflects broader shifts in post-war and contemporary Japanese artistic discourse. Curated as a comprehensive retrospective, the exhibition highlights key phases of his production, including early works that explore form and texture, as…

Inward innovation and the Galapagos effect 2.0

20

Apr

By Josep Solano

Opinion

Inward innovation and the Galapagos effect 2.0

Japan stands at a crossroads where economic security appears to take precedence over international openness. Under the administration of Sanae Takaichi, Tokyo has constructed a legal architecture that, instead of attracting the talent necessary for strategic sectors, is complicating its integration. This trend toward "inward innovation" suggests an attempt to progress in fields such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence while effectively restricting the global circulation of knowledge. Economic Security Minister Kimi Onoda is leading this shift toward stricter controls. The new security clearance system requires companies to conduct exhaustive vetting of foreign professionals, including their family ties and backgrounds. This…

20

Apr

By Diplomacy and Business

Editorial

Japan’s New Architecture of Security

Japan is no longer a mere spectator of the international order in the Indo-Pacific; it has become its architect. The recent statements by Minister Motegi underscore a silent yet profound transformation: a transition from a diplomacy of reaction to one of proactive coordination. This "new architecture" does not rest on a single pillar but on a complex and deliberate web of alliances.The institutionalization of the Quad and the strengthening of multilateral frameworks—including cooperation with the Philippines and South Korea—are not isolated movements. They represent a multi-layered security strategy that seeks to guarantee stability where geopolitics is most volatile. From ensuring…

Pacific ambassadors gather in Tokyo for diplomatic welcome

17

Apr

By Diplomacy and Business

Social

Pacific ambassadors gather in Tokyo for diplomatic welcome

Ambassador Lucy Duncan hosted a reception at her residence in Tokyo bringing together Pacific Islands ambassadors to formally welcome two new diplomatic appointments in Japan: Australia’s new ambassador, H.E. Andrew Shearer, and Fiji’s new ambassador, H.E. Kemueli Naiqama. The meeting gathered representatives of Pacific Island nations based in Tokyo in a gesture of regional coordination and continuity. The event highlighted the importance of maintaining close diplomatic ties among members of the Pacific Islands Forum. Discussions centred on shared priorities in the region, including economic resilience, maritime security, and climate-related challenges, areas where Pacific states and Japan have increasingly aligned interests.…