Tankan Survey Shows Deterioration in Sentiment

TOKYO, Apr 01 (News On Japan) - The Bank of Japan's March "Tankan" survey, which gauges the business sentiment of approximately 9,000 domestic companies, revealed that sentiment among "large manufacturers" has worsened for the first time in four quarters.

The Tankan survey, conducted quarterly based on feedback from around 9,000 companies across Japan, is a highly regarded economic index that plays a crucial role in shaping monetary policy decisions due to its insights into economic trends.

According to the results published today for the March period, the sentiment in "large manufacturing companies" declined by two points to "+11" from the previous survey in December, marking a downturn for the first time in four quarters.

The sentiment was significantly affected in sectors such as "automobiles" and "non-ferrous metals," partly due to production suspensions by major car manufacturers like Daihatsu Industries following certification scandals.

Conversely, "large non-manufacturing businesses" have seen an improvement, with sentiment rising by two points to "+34," driven by robust inbound demand and progress in passing on higher costs to prices. This marks the eighth consecutive quarter of improvement and the highest level of sentiment since August 1991, nearly 33 years ago.

Source: TBS

City of Los Angeles names May 17 Shohei Ohtani Day

or as long as Shohei Ohtani plays for the Dodgers -- which will be at least for the next decade -- May 17 will be known as “Shohei Ohtani Day” in Los Angeles County. (MLB)

Two Die After Consuming Toxic Plant

Two residents of Sapporo who died earlier this month likely succumbed to food poisoning caused by mistakenly consuming toxic autumn crocus, according to the Sapporo City Health Department. The department confirmed on May 17 that the deaths were indeed due to poisoning from this plant.

Japan Approves Joint Custody After Divorce

A revised Civil Code introducing 'joint custody' for children after divorce has been passed by the Diet. This marks the first time in 77 years that Japan has reviewed the approach to post-divorce custody.

'Challenge to Democracy': Tokyo Police Arrest Three Tsubasa Party Leaders

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested three leaders of the political group 'Tsubasa Party' on suspicion of violating the Public Offices Election Act by disrupting the speeches of other candidates during a House of Representatives by-election in Tokyo's 15th district. Investigators view this as a "challenge to democracy" and plan to pursue a thorough investigation.

Experience Future Living in 2050: Space Elevators and Smart Living Rooms

An event allowing visitors to experience life in 2050 has launched in Tokyo, including an elevator which enables transportation to space via a cable extending from a satellite to Earth.

MORE Business NEWS

High-End Apartments Sprout in Osaka's Umeda

The Umeda area in Osaka is seeing a surge in high-rise apartment construction, including a 49-story residential skyscraper south of JR Osaka Station.

'Impersonation Scam' - Akira Ikegami Warns About Fake Voice Messages

Japan's National Police Agency revealed on May 16 that the amount of money lost to impersonation investment scams on social media totaled 21.9 billion yen in just three months from January to March this year.

The Grand Shield Collects 8 Billion Yen Through Illegal Bonds

The president and seven employees of The Grand Shield, previously featured in Japanese media due to financial troubles with dental braces, have been arrested for selling high-yield bonds without registration, promising annual returns of 20%. It is believed that two women among the suspects collected 4.6 billion yen alone.

Japan's GDP Shrinks by 2.0% in Q1 Due to Daihatsu Scandal

Japan's real GDP growth rate for the first quarter of this year, from January to March, was announced by the Cabinet Office to be an annualized minus 2.0%.

Yusaku Maezawa Sues Meta for 1 Yen Over Impersonation Investment Scams

Businessman Yusaku Maezawa has filed a lawsuit against Meta, the company operating Facebook, seeking 1 yen in damages in response to a series of investment scams involving impersonation of famous personalities on social media.

TEPCO Constructs Substation to Meet Rising Data Center Power Demand

As the Japanese government begins discussions on the basic policies for its energy strategy, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has constructed a new substation and other infrastructure in Inzai City, Chiba Prefecture, to address the increasing power consumption of data centers.

Honda to Spend $65 Billion on EVs, Self-Driving Tech

Honda Motor says it will invest 10 trillion yen or roughly 65 billion dollars in electric vehicles and software for self-driving technology through fiscal 2030. (NHK)

Over Half of Japanese Companies in China Report Declining Sales

The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China has released the results of a survey targeting Japanese companies operating in China, revealing that over half of them report worsening sales trends.

< 2 3 4 5 >