For Americans who were awaiting the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, the delay of U.S. pre-orders for the gaming console this April was one indication of what’s to come.

T HE IMAGE Tamaki Yuichiro wants to convey is of upward mobility. His campaign poster shows him grinning against a vivid orange backdrop, arms extended and fingers pointing skyward. The slogan beneath is hardly revolutionary: “Increase take-home pay.” But Mr Tamaki has turned this into a rallying-cry among younger voters.

Purchasing managers’ surveys in the U.S. and a number of other countries will be watched closely. A decision by the European Central Bank will be the other highlight of the week.

Japan has worked hard to attract foreigners to boost its sluggish economy but now the perception there are too many has prompted the creation of a new task force, as competition for votes heats up ahead of Sunday’s national election.

Russia operations and North Korean threats pose the greatest challenge to global order since World War II, in its annual assessment.

Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato said on Friday he was aware of bond market concerns about the country's fiscal policy ahead, in the build-up to an upper house election where the minority government is poised for another setback.

Japan is facing its most severe security environment since World War II as three potential adversaries in East Asia – China, Russia and North Korea – ramp up military activities in the region, the country’s defense minister said Tuesday.

Japan’s ruling party is betting on lower rice prices winning urban votes at the risk of alienating their traditional farm base.

A Japanese government official called on China to expand a program allowing certain mainland investors to put more money abroad, citing “strong enthusiasm” for Japanese stocks.

When Pokemon Sleep launched in July 2023, many saw it as a quirky side project, but two years later, it’s quietly making a real-world impact in Japan.

Tard's attempt to create a global convenience store behemoth was set back when it pulled its $46 billion bid for Seven & i, whose consumers in Japan have emotional ties to their purveyor of rice balls.