Global Scans · Japan · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: The latest sign of weakness in Japan's economy will likely add to mounting skepticism about the prime minister's expansionary policies. His coalition government has just achieved the supermajority it needs to amend the constitution which many are worried that Japan is about to remove the mask of pacificism and convert its "Self-Defense Force" into the military threat it really is.

• [New] Japan has set an aggressive target of 10% for all departing flights by 2030. JD Supra
• [New] Coal is an early winner: Thailand restarting coal plants, Japan and South Korea lifting caps, Italy delaying coal phase-out to 2038, Germany's coal outproducing natural gas. youth4planet
• [New] With a proven record of disruptive innovations, Japan has secured its position as a global leader in technology. Vivatechnology
• [New] Japan, Country of the Year, will be showcasing its tech ecosystem and arriving with a delegation of institutions, companies and startups, while many other countries in Asia as well as in America and Africa will also be well-represented. Vivatechnology
• [New] Swarms of pico-satellites could work together as a single large antenna for direct-to-smartphone communications, as reported by researchers from Japan. Science Tokyo
• [New] Japan 'closely monitoring' U.S. plans to blockade Strait of Hormuz. The Asia Cable
• [New] The broader consortium includes Sony, Honda, and other firms pursuing a large-scale physical AI foundation model effort by 2030. / Japan Tech Startups - Tech News, Tech Trends & Startup Fundin
• [New] With Japan facing an existential labour shortage and AI reshaping every knowledge profession, C-suite leaders must rethink talent, productivity, and purpose before 2050. Tech for Impact Summit
• [New] Japan, also a major energy importer, faces a similar set of challenges and could face a resurgence of inflation, especially if the yen continues weakening. Brookings
• [New] The news highlights the projected 19.3% CAGR through 2035 for AI in life sciences, alongside major investment signals: Perplexity's fast revenue growth, Microsoft's $10 billion Japan commitment, and Australia's new AI research centers. Pascal's Substack
• [New] SoftBank Corp. will be the first customer to deploy SN50 within its next-generation AI data centers in Japan. AIMultiple
• [New] With a projected shortfall of 3.26 million AI and robotics workers by 2040, Microsoft has committed to training over one million engineers and developers by 2030. / Japan Thought Canvas
• [New] The Financial Services Agency plans to bring crypto under a framework similar to stocks and bonds by 2026, including a landmark reduction of the crypto gains tax to a flat 20% - aligning digital asset taxation with traditional investments for the first time. / Japan Tech for Impact Summit
• [New] The Martian Moons eXploration sample return mission to Phobos is scheduled for fiscal year 2026 launch on an H3 rocket from Tanegashima, aiming for Mars orbit insertion in 2027. / Japan Grokipedia
• [New] Japan's JAXA and domestic providers will conduct several missions in 2026, focusing on deep-space exploration and satellite deployments. Grokipedia
• [New] Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will schedule the launch of the Martian Moons eXploration spacecraft aboard an H3 rocket from Tanegashima Space Center NET November-December 2026. Grokipedia
• [New] Japan restarted the world's largest nuclear power plant: TEPCO's reactor number six will support 20% of Japan's electric needs by 2040. Liberty Through Wealth
• [New] Japan's regulatory environment, shaped by the 2014 Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine and a culture of careful but purposeful innovation, is well-positioned to develop governance frameworks for neurotechnology that the rest of the world will watch closely. Tech for Impact Summit

Last updated: 18 April 2026