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Tensions in the Middle East are surging after President Trump announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following failed peace talks with Iran. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Takaichi is pushing for constitutional reform and targeting a victory in next year’s local elections. Economically, the government has approved a $4 billion support package for chipmaker Rapidus, even as government bond yields hit a 27-year high.
The IMF is advising the Bank of Japan to keep raising interest rates, even as Middle East tensions create new economic hurdles. Meanwhile, Japan is planning a diplomatic mission to Russia for post-conflict business, and global markets are feeling the heat as fuel supplies tighten.
Japan’s Finance Ministry is signaling potential FX intervention to curb the yen's sharp decline. Meanwhile, the Nikkei rebounded today after yesterday’s 1,000-point drop sparked by comments from President Trump. On the diplomatic front, Japan and France have pledged to coordinate on ending the conflict in Iran and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The Bank of Japan’s latest Tankan survey shows a slight improvement in large manufacturer sentiment, suggesting resilience despite global uncertainty. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron is in Tokyo, praising Europe’s "predictability" in a move seen as a dig at the Trump administration. Tensions are also rising with China following their decision to sanction lawmaker Keiji Furuya over his recent Taiwan visit.
A new CNN poll shows President Trump's economic approval rating has hit a record low of 31%. In Japan, today marks the start of the 2026 fiscal year, bringing major changes to childcare access and tuition-free high school programs. Meanwhile, G7 finance ministers are holding an emergency virtual meeting to discuss the deepening economic fallout from current global conflicts.
The Japanese stock market has slid for four consecutive days as the Middle East crisis intensifies, marking the Nikkei’s worst monthly performance since the 2008 global financial crisis. With the yen crossing the 160 mark against the dollar, the government has labeled the currency's decline as "speculative," hinting at potential intervention. Meanwhile, Brent crude has surged past $115 a barrel, posing a major threat to Japan’s economy.
The yen has plummeted past 160 per dollar, triggering a 5% drop in the Nikkei as officials hint at possible market intervention and rate hikes. Meanwhile, the government passed an 8.56 trillion yen interim budget—the first in 11 years—while rising oil prices and a deepening Middle East crisis continue to squeeze the Japanese economy.
On March 28, the Japanese government announced a plan to push forward R&D for dual-use technology, including the creation of a new institute for critical technology strategy in the coming fiscal year. To counter a potential energy shock from the prolonged Middle East conflict, they’re also allowing for an increase in coal-fired power generation. Meanwhile, protests are heating up in front of the Diet as thousands rally against Prime Minister Takaichi’s constitutional amendment plans.
The Japanese government is set to hike tobacco and corporate taxes in April to fund expanded defense spending, while simultaneously releasing oil reserves to stabilize markets amid Middle East tensions. Foreign investors have pulled a record 2.51 trillion yen from Japanese stocks as regional risks weigh on the market. Meanwhile, the government is ramping up its economic security strategy by fast-tracking the development of dual-use technologies.
Japan’s space startup ispace has pushed back its NASA-backed moon landing to 2030, grabbing global headlines. Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East have escalated after Iran rejected a U.S. ceasefire proposal, leading to further conflict. This regional instability is hitting the Tokyo stock market hard, with foreign investors offloading Japanese equities at the fastest rate in 18 months.
A mix of diplomatic and economic tension today: a Self-Defense Force member’s arrest at the Chinese Embassy is straining ties, while the escalating Middle East conflict—sparked by Iran rejecting a U.S. ceasefire—has triggered Japan to release oil reserves. Naturally, the market is feeling the heat, with foreign investors offloading Japanese stocks at an 18-month high.
Middle East tensions are spiking as Israel hits Iranian infrastructure, backed by a Trump ultimatum. Back home, Tokyo markets are reeling, while the government’s new diplomatic stance on China is stirring up fresh security concerns.
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