Japan
Chip markets swing, the yen wobbles, a shrinking workforce reshapes manufacturing from underneath — an economy that keeps rewriting itself while still setting the regional pace.
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May- 2026 -28 MayCapital
Taiwan and South Korea’s chip boom masks dangerous export concentration risk
Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan are riding an AI hardware boom that has pushed Taiwan's output growth to 14% annually and South Korea's chip profits up 500%, but both economies…
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28 MayPower
Quad ministers unite on critical minerals and maritime surveillance as China watches closely
Quad foreign ministers from the United States, India, Japan, and Australia met in New Delhi on May 27, 2026, issuing a joint vision statement on Indo-Pacific maritime domain awareness, resilient…
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28 MaySociety
Tokyo’s Hands Shibuya flagship closes after 48 years, signalling shift in prime retail real estate
Hands Shibuya flagship store closing November 2026 after 48 years of operation. Lease non-renewal driven by aging building structure. Closure signals broader shift in Tokyo's prime commercial real estate toward…
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27 MayPower
US arms failures in Taiwan and Japan spark anxiety at Asia security forum
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrived in Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue facing allied anxiety over two concrete weapons delivery failures: a paused USD 14 billion arms package to Taiwan and…
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25 MayLife & Health
Rosewood Hotels institutes 16-week parental leave as Asia grapples with crashing birth rates
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, a Hong Kong-based luxury chain, introduced a 16-week fully paid parental leave policy in early 2026, applying equally to all employees regardless of gender, seniority, or…
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24 MayCapital
Hormuz blockade drives Japan, South Korea naphtha prices to record highs, threatening plastics supply
A three-month blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has driven Japan's benchmark naphtha spot price to $910 per metric ton, a 26% increase. This surge is forcing Japan and South…
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22 MayCapital
Wan Hai Lines raises Asia freight rates by up to $200 per container, citing Red Sea costs
Wan Hai Lines will apply a rate restoration on Asia trades from June 1, 2026, charging USD 100 per 20-foot container and USD 200 per 40-foot and high-cube containers, citing…
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22 MayEarth
Hormuz crisis forces South Asian nations to reverse decarbonisation, risking higher emissions
Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is running at 5% of pre-war rates, causing widespread disruptions across South Asia and the Pacific. Bangladesh's fertiliser and garment factories are severely…
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Feb- 2026 -24 FebruaryLife & Health
Japan’s departure tax triples in July 2026 — adds $55 per family
Japan's international departure tax, currently set at ¥1,000, will triple to ¥3,000 starting July 1, 2026. This increase applies to all travelers departing Japan on international flights. This change represents…
