Japan

Has the demise of the department store finally arrived in Japan, which has held on to them longer than most?

The investment made by Microsoft in Japan will see the company training 1 million engineers and developers by 2030, it said. The plan was unveiled during a visit to Tokyo by Vice Chair and President Brad Smith.

Tesla is making a major investment in Japan, expanding service centres from 14 to over 30 to improve after‑sales service as vehicle sales surge in the country. Details here.

Japanese government bond yields have risen, while bond prices have declined, tracking a broader global selloff in fixed-income markets. The move reflects mounting concerns over persistent inflation, driven by a surge in crude oil prices following the escalation of the US-Iran war.

Bank of Japan Rate Decision Highlights: The BoJ keep rates unchanged at 0.75% following its two-day policy meeting amid escalating US-Iran war tensions.

The Bank of Japan raised the short-term benchmark interest rate to a range of 0 to 0.1% from minus 0.1% earlier on March 19, 2024, ending its era of negative interest rates. On December 19, 2025, the BoJ further raised rates to 0.75%, the highest level since September 1995.

French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Japan from March 31 to April 2 and South Korea from April 2 to 3. His visit aims to strengthen ties between France, Japan, and South Korea.

The agreement comes after the Reserve Bank of India issued the final guidelines for banks to finance mergers and acquisitions on 13 February, executing a significant regulatory shift that's expected to boost deal funding by domestic lenders.

The request highlights Tokyo’s concern that higher tariffs could erode the concessions it secured in 2025. While the US Supreme Court invalidated much of Trump’s earlier tariff regime, duties on cars, steel and aluminum were left intact, meaning Japan’s gains are fragile if the US broadens the levy.