Japan
ADB projects slower growth in all of Asia
According to an outlook forecast report by the Asian Development Bank, the broad Asia region including its many developing high growth economies are facing what can be best described as the most complex set of headwinds in years.
Japan PM tells Deep Purple: ‘You are my god’
An avid amateur drummer herself, the 65-year-old conservative leader said she played in a Deep Purple tribute band as a child after first becoming a fan in primary school.
Naphtha shortages leading to petrochemical plants force majeures and record prices
Petrochemical producers across Asia have begun shutting down operations after disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz reduced supplies of the critical naphtha and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) feedstocks.
Japan’s Takaichi sees approval steady as oil response draws criticism
Public support for the cabinet of Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi remained broadly unchanged in early April, although dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of oil supply disruptions has intensified.
Tokyo equities on edge as Iran tensions cloud outlook
Tokyo stocks are expected to remain highly sensitive to developments surrounding Iran in the coming week, with equity indices also likely to be influenced by news linked to artificial intelligence and semiconductor sectors.
China's invisible hand in Iran’s F-35 success
Just days before Iran claimed to have hit one of the US Air Force's most formidable jets - an F-35 stealth fighter - a Chinese social media account published a detailed guide on how such an attack could be carried out.
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Japan shifts rice policy
Japan’s cabinet has approved a shift towards a demand-driven rice production policy, alongside new measures to address supply shortages, as prices of the staple have risen sharply in recent years.
Tokyo stocks slide following Trump remarks
Tokyo equities fell sharply on April 2, with the benchmark Nikkei 225 ending more than 2% lower as a sell-off gathered pace following remarks by US President Donald Trump that reignited concerns on the Iran war.
Japan’s LNG diversification will not shield it against global price spikes
Diversified supply portfolios and crude oil-indexed contracts, do not shield Japanese buyers as is claimed. Approaching week six of the war in Iran, Japan remains fully exposed to Middle East supply disruptions.
Macron visit to Japan overshadowed by Middle East crisis
Talks with Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, are scheduled for April 1, with the crisis in the Middle East set to be central.
ASIA BLOG: China wins while Iran burns
The world needs a stable Asia – East and West – and would be better served by the removal of the current Iranian regime. Only in the removal of said regime will Beijing be forced back into a more constrained, less opportunistic global role.
Israeli embassy in Japan refuses A-bomb survivors’ statement on Iran
The Israeli embassy in Tokyo has refused to accept a statement submitted by four groups of atomic bomb survivors in Japan.
Chinese refiners eye Iran oil under temporary US waiver
China’s state-owned refiners are reviewing potential purchases of Iranian crude after Washington allowed limited sales of cargoes already loaded on tankers to ease supply pressures from the Middle East conflict.
Asia falls back on coal as LNG shortages drag on
From South Korea to Indonesia to Bangladesh, governments are increasingly turning back to coal-fired power generation to help offset a widening shortfall in LNG imports.
Cow dung to power Suzuki biogas push in India
The facility, located in Bhukhala in Gujarat in Northwest India processes cow dung to generate methane for use in compressed natural gas vehicles.
Japan rice prices dip below key threshold
Rice prices in Japan have fallen below the JPY4,000 ($25.21) mark for the first time in seven months.
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Fuel shock in the fast lane: how Asia’s drivers are paying the price of war
The war involving the United States, Israel and Iran has sent a delayed shockwave through global energy markets and nowhere is the impact more acute than at petrol pumps across Asia.
Japan given permission to send takers through Hormuz
Iran will allow Japanese oi tanker to transit the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran develops a selective blockade of the strategic waterway and effectively opens a toll road to the international energy markets.
Japan backs US push on security and energy: Takaichi
Takaichi in her latest meeting with the US president said the discussions covered co-operation on expanding US energy production and included a proposal for a joint oil reserve initiative to address supply risks linked to the conflict.
Asia turns to Russian fuel in record volumes
China is also increasing its purchases from Russia, with imports estimated at 1.2mn to 1.5mn tonnes – primarily for use as a substitute feedstock in refineries.