Who Chose Espinosa as Nissan's New CEO?

TOKYO, Apr 15 (News On Japan) - Nissan’s new president, 46-year-old Ivan Espinosa, may symbolize change for the struggling automaker. However, his appointment raises eyebrows: Espinosa previously served as head of product planning—a role directly tied to the decline in the company’s brand appeal.

The question now being asked is: who selected Espinosa for the top post, given his responsibility in the company’s downturn?

Following the departure of former chairman Carlos Ghosn, Nissan has struggled to produce strong-selling models. Espinosa's promotion, despite his link to the lack of attractive vehicles, reveals the complex inner dynamics behind Nissan’s leadership decisions.

The decision to appoint Espinosa was made by Nissan’s board of directors following internal discussions and recommendations by the company’s nomination committee. As part of a broader leadership reshuffle aimed at reviving the automaker’s performance, the board identified Espinosa as the most suitable candidate to steer the company forward.

Previously serving as Chief Planning Officer, Espinosa was instrumental in shaping Nissan’s product lineup over recent years—a period marked by declining brand appeal and lackluster vehicle sales. Despite this, the board viewed his extensive international experience and deep understanding of Nissan’s internal operations as key strengths for the top role.

Espinosa has held numerous leadership positions within the company, spanning regions such as Mexico, Southeast Asia, and Europe. His appointment signals a renewed focus on product development and innovation as Nissan works to regain its footing in an increasingly competitive market.

While some see his promotion as a bold bet on continuity and internal expertise, others question the wisdom of placing a figure associated with past missteps at the company’s helm. The coming months are expected to reveal whether Espinosa can lead Nissan toward a long-awaited recovery.

Source: Kyodo

Shibuya Passes Plan for 2,000-Yen Fine for Littering

Shibuya Ward has approved an ordinance that would impose a 2,000-yen fine for littering on public streets, while also penalizing shops that fail to provide trash bins. The measure was passed on December 10th and targets both individuals who discard waste and businesses near major stations that offer takeout services, raising questions about whether the approach will meaningfully reduce trash on the streets.

Six-Time Women's Shogi Champ Challenges Maternity Restrictions

Shogi player Kana Fukuma, who currently holds six women’s titles, revealed on December 10th that she has submitted a formal request calling for revisions to the Japan Shogi Association’s rule that prevents players from competing in title matches during a set period before and after childbirth.

Popular Baby Names in Japan Reveal Cultural Shift

The most popular baby names of 2025 were led by Minato for boys and Sui for girls, according to rankings released by Meiji Yasuda Life, which highlighted continued enthusiasm for certain kanji characters and showed how naming trends have evolved since the survey began in the first year of the Taisho era.

Japan Issues Warning for Potential Large Aftershock

A powerful earthquake with a seismic intensity of 6+ struck Aomori late on December 8th, prompting the Meteorological Agency to issue a temporary tsunami warning for coastal areas along the Pacific side of the prefecture. While the warning has since been downgraded, the government is urging caution after authorities announced, for the first time, a heightened possibility of another large earthquake occurring off Hokkaido and the Sanriku coast.

Japan Adjusts Plan to Raise Departure Tax to 3,000 yen

A plan to sharply raise Japan’s departure tax is taking shape as the government and ruling coalition have begun coordinating a proposal to lift the current 1,000 yen levy to a flat 3,000 yen per person in next fiscal year’s tax reform, adding new momentum to calls for expanded funding to deal with overtourism across the country.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

JR East to Launch Japan’s First Cargo-Only Shinkansen

JR East announced that it will begin operating the nation’s first cargo-only Shinkansen on March 23rd 2026, running between Morioka and Tokyo with loading and unloading carried out on dollies directly at the rail yard.

Why SoftBank Is Taking Aim at Loss-Making Rakuten Mobile

Rakuten Mobile continues to draw attention every earnings season, and while its losses have been narrowing, the pain it inflicts on the Rakuten Group’s overall performance has not fundamentally changed. Even so, chair Hiroshi Mikitani describes the mobile business as contributing “more than expected,” and insists the company will maintain its stance of keeping low-price, unlimited data plans even as other carriers move to raise fees.

Japan Issues Warning Over Contracts Restricting Livestreamers

The Fair Trade Commission issued a warning to four livestreamer management agencies after finding that performers on the Pococha streaming app were bound by contracts that restricted their activities, including clauses requiring them to refrain from livestreaming for a certain period after leaving their agency.

Long-Term Interest Rates Keep Surging to 18-Year High, Approaching 2 Percent

Long-term interest rates continued their rapid ascent on December 8th, reaching their highest level in 18 years and six months in the latest sign of tightening financial conditions.

Japan's Revised July–September GDP Falls at Annualized 2.3%

Japan’s real GDP for the July–September quarter was revised downward to a 0.6% decline from the previous three months, equivalent to an annualized drop of 2.3%, according to updated Cabinet Office data released on December 8.

Toyota Launches First New Supercar in 17 Years

Toyota unveiled its new GR GT supercar on December 5th at Woven City, the next-generation technology testbed located in Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture, marking the model’s world debut as the automaker targets a release around 2027, positioning the vehicle as the pinnacle of its GR sports-car lineup and its first true supercar since the Lexus LFA launched in 2010.

Once-Popular Shopping District in Osaka is Seeing Wave of Store Closures

Umeda’s Chayamachi district, located on the east side of central Osaka, is undergoing a noticeable shift as major retailers including Loft and ZARA have closed or relocated this year, even as large-scale developments such as Grand Green Osaka continue to open elsewhere in the area, raising questions about whether the district is transforming from a youth-oriented fashion hub into a center for subculture; to understand what is driving the changes, we spoke with Takanobu Okahara, president of Tsubasa Asset Partners and an expert on Osaka’s real estate trends.

Unclaimed Inheritances in Japan Surge to All-Time High

The amount of property left behind by deceased individuals with no legal heirs and subsequently transferred to the state reached a record 129.1 billion yen in fiscal 2024, highlighting a steady rise in unclaimed estates as Japan’s population ages.

< 2 3 4 5 >