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Used Land Cruisers fetch over double new price amid Toyota shortage

Aug 11, 2022 (Nikkei) - Resale prices of some Toyota models have topped what new ones sell for as Japan's top automaker keeps car buyers waiting.

The median price of the 2022 Land Cruiser ZX reached 17.05 million yen ($129,000) in late July, more than double the manufacturer's suggested price for the gasoline version of the popular sport utility vehicle, according to used car website operator Proto Corp.

Price inversions like this for Toyotas, which reflect the automaker's struggle to produce cars on time amid a global chip shortage, are unusual in their extent, market watchers said.

"There have been instances of localized spikes in prices for rare and popular cars, but I've never seen it happen for this many models," said Yasuyuki Matsui, a director at Nagoya-based used car dealership group Goodspeed.

For the Alphard, one of Toyota's largest minivans, the median price for the hybrid 2021 Executive Lounge S version was 8.25 million yen, above the new-car price of 7.75 million yen.

Some Harrier and Corolla Cross cars cost more used than new, depending on the model year and grade. ...continue reading

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Typhoon No. 30, a large and very powerful storm, was located approximately 60 kilometers north-northwest of Yonaguni Island in Okinawa at 9 p.m. on October 23, moving west-northwest at 20 kilometers per hour with a central atmospheric pressure of 945 hectopascals, maximum sustained winds of 45 meters per second and gusts reaching 60 meters per second, as forecasters warned that its slowing movement could bring prolonged violent winds, torrential rain and waves exceeding 8 meters to the Sakishima Islands while raising the risk of record-breaking October rainfall across western Japan.

Typhoon No. 30 continued to disrupt air and sea transport across Okinawa on October 24, with additional flight cancellations, prolonged ferry suspensions and the closure of Ishigaki Airport's terminal facilities, while forecasters warned that railway services and highways across western Japan could face major disruption from the evening of October 25 through the morning of October 26.

Japanese drone manufacturer Terra Drone has delivered interceptor drones to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense for the first time, prompting Russia to threaten retaliatory measures on October 21, as Japan considers expanding domestic drone production and strengthening its coastal defenses through thousands of unmanned aircraft.

A critical security flaw discovered in PHP, a programming language used by an estimated 70% of the world's web systems, has triggered widespread disruptions across Japan since October 21, forcing banks, restaurant chains, government agencies and other businesses to suspend online services as a precaution against potential cyberattacks.

A growing wave of cyberattacks across Japan has raised concerns over the possible use of Chinese-developed artificial intelligence in hacking operations, with personal information belonging to tens of thousands of police employees potentially exposed and major companies forced to suspend online services, while cybersecurity experts warn that slow decision-making within Japanese organizations is allowing damage to spread.

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Japan's financial markets suffered another sharp setback on October 22 as heavy selling in semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related stocks sent the Nikkei 225 down 1,713.40 points, or 2.65%, to 62,907.84, its lowest closing level since July 30.

Japan's trade deficit nearly doubled in the first half of fiscal 2026 to 2.8184 trillion yen, driven largely by surging crude oil prices following turmoil in the Middle East, while the value of oil imports from the United States increased nearly ninefold as Japan sought alternative sources of supply.

A growing wave of cyberattacks across Japan has raised concerns over the possible use of Chinese-developed artificial intelligence in hacking operations, with personal information belonging to tens of thousands of police employees potentially exposed and major companies forced to suspend online services, while cybersecurity experts warn that slow decision-making within Japanese organizations is allowing damage to spread.

Tokyo stocks rebounded on October 21, with the Nikkei 225 closing 545.82 points higher at 64,621.24, a gain of 0.85%, as stronger U.S. equities, renewed buying in technology shares and encouraging Japanese export figures helped the market recover from two consecutive sessions of losses.

Japanese banks and securities firms are moving to stop using facial photographs from driver's licenses to verify customers opening accounts online, following a series of personal information leaks that have raised concerns about fraudulent account applications.

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average closed at 64,075.42 on October 20th, falling 841.28 points, or 1.30%, as renewed selling in semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related shares, rising oil prices and concerns over inflation pushed Tokyo stocks lower for a second consecutive session.

Nearly one in three large companies in Japan have experienced a data leak or a suspected breach, according to a survey released by Teikoku Databank on October 19th, highlighting growing concerns over corporate information security as unauthorized access incidents continue to affect businesses across the country.

Japan's Nikkei Stock Average closed 407.59 points lower at 64,916.70 on October 19, a decline of 0.62%, recovering from an intraday plunge of more than 1,400 points as concerns over artificial intelligence investment weighed on semiconductor and technology shares, while buying in banks, utilities and other domestic sectors helped the broader TOPIX index finish slightly higher.