From theme parks to airports, Japan tackles brutal summer heat Changes at leisure, travel and sports hotspots help tourists, workers and athletes Japan office workers cool off with shorts amid record-breaking summers Japan keeps on rockin' despite oppressive heat Japan bond yields spike on Takaichi budget fears, worries over US view Benchmark JGB yield rises toward 3% as markets brace for next phase of fiscal planning Japan chip startup targets AI boom as industry focus turns to materials University of Tokyo spinout expands production as customer projects advance Bluefin tuna quota increase agreed on as population recovers Japan, US, South Korea and others to lower limit for smaller fish for conservation Japan rice glut sends prices tumbling 40%, below production cost Anticipated bumper crop in Niigata seen swelling already high inventories US sanctions ICC's Japanese President Tomoko Akane Trump administration also targets international court's senior lawyer Abdoulaye Seye Japan reports increase in rental car accidents involving foreigners Most visitors hail from countries that drive on the opposite side of the road Australian ambassador to Japan floats Indo-Pacific network to counter China Shearer sees middle-power group with India, South Korea complementing US security ties Japanese insurers court foreign investors to replace cross-shareholdings Capital Group takes 9% stake in MS&AD while Berkshire invests in Tokio Marine Japan must not let Putin use the Northern Territories as leverage Tokyo should keep channels with Moscow without softening sanctions over Ukraine Mitsubishi Logistics to build 2 distribution centers in US for $40m Japanese company to pursue asset turnover business abroad Japan middle class loses spending power despite years of pay raises Real take-home pay slides 10% post-COVID as tax code fails to factor in inflation Pocari Sweat maker views US, Europe heat waves as way to expand Japan's Otsuka has world leaders Gatorade and Powerade in its sights Takaichi's BOJ appointments in 2027 loom over pace of rate hikes Observers see central bank wrapping up rate tightening by July next year Japan braces for Trump demands on defense, yen ahead of US midterms

US president seeks quick diplomatic wins as Republicans try to keep control of Congress Long-term yields in US, Japan, Europe soar to highest in years Inflation, government debt, climate factors risk spreading borrowing costs into economies Tokyo office vacancy rate at 1.5%, lowest among big global cities More people return to workplace in Japan; slower take-up of AI drives demand SoftBank plans $6.3bn retail bond issue, largest by Japanese company Funds to be used for more acquisitions in physical AI Former Komatsu chief Sakane dies at 85 Sakane is credited with strengthening the construction machinery maker's competitiveness Designer denim and AI concierges: Japan's konbini put a new face forward FamilyMart tries on denim jackets; Lawson lends a hand to depopulated towns Takaichi's food tax cut will leave Japan budget relying on inflation Repeat of UK's 'Truss shock' a risk with bond investors on lookout for fiscal holes Japan readies strategic changes as drones, China upend landscape Officials prepare to revise national security documents as new threats emerge Global stock pickers' Japan buys: JX Advanced Metals, Sanrio move up Kioxia, Fujikura also enjoy inflows of foreign money in record first half Won and yen: 2 currencies, 2 very different problems South Korean companies no longer bring earnings home, while Japan is stuck with financial policies Japan Inc. raises full-year profit forecast to 14% jump on AI and chips Infrastructure, component share leaders Hitachi, Ibiden expect gains Japan faces shortfall in pension contributions from self-paying foreigners Lack of awareness, language barrier blamed for big lag in participation Japan's life insurers' unrealized bond losses near $200bn as rates soar Rising yields pile pressure on finances despite strong gains on stocks Nvidia to provide up to $105bn guarantee for OpenAI's Ohio data center US chipmaker also to invest $1.5bn in SB Energy, financing ecosystem for its products Mitsubishi Motors plans EV for Australia, New Zealand, made by Foxconn unit Automaker becomes first in Japan to tap Taiwanese assembler 10-year JGB yields slip past 2.9% on faster BOJ tightening expectations Benchmark debt yield rises to 30-year high as market increasingly prices in early hike