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Daniel Leussink
Partly assembled cars pass through the battery installation section of the production line at the Nissan car factory in Sunderland, Britain, in December 2025.
BUSINESS
Jun 18, 2026
U.K. in advanced talks with Nissan over Sunderland plant support, sources say
The Japanese carmaker is undertaking a major global ?restructuring that includes selling or closing other factories, cutting 15% of its workforce and shrinking its product lineup.
An employee of Fuchu Car, a repair shop in suburban Tokyo, works on a "pearl white" body car at their workshop. The lustrous finish is one of the most popular colors for cars in Japan and increasingly difficult for the repair shop to obtain.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 17, 2026
U.S.-Iran deal may not bring quick relief for auto shops
Auto shops in Tokyo and Detroit car dealerships have been running low on motor oil, paint and other products for months since the Middle East conflict snarled global supply chains.
Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe speaks during a joint news conference in Tokyo in January.
BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS
Jun 9, 2026
How Honda¡¯s old guard tried, and failed, to oust its CEO
Honda and others face the expensive balancing act of defending their legacy businesses while developing EVs to compete elsewhere.
An employee points at a "sold out" sticker at a used-car export complex in Incheon, South Korea.
BUSINESS / Markets
Mar 25, 2026
Lamborghinis stranded in Sri Lanka as war disrupts Asia¡¯s used-car trade
Japan and South Korea exported a combined $19 billion worth of used cars last year, with Japan accounting for a little ?more than half of that.
Toyota Motor's all-new RAV4 SUVs are displayed during its world premiere event in Tokyo in May 2025
BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS
Jan 31, 2026
How activist investors turned a Toyota buyout into a battleground
The transaction has become a test case for dealmaking in Japan, which prizes stakeholder harmony over shareholder returns.
Aston Martin Chairman Lawrence Stroll, Formula One President Stefano Domenicali and Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe during a joint news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday.
MORE SPORTS / Auto Racing
Jan 21, 2026
Aston Martin¡¯s chairman sees ¡®development journey¡¯ with Honda amid F1 overhaul
Speaking in Tokyo at an event to launch Aston Martin¡¯s partnership with Honda, Stroll said he has high hopes for the team¡¯s new power unit.
People ride their motorbikes during rush hour in Hanoi in August.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 21, 2025
Japan warns Vietnam of job losses as Hanoi motorbike ban hits Honda
In July, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued a directive prohibiting gas-powered motorbikes from entering the center of the capital from the middle of 2026.
Mazda cars at the company's main plant in Fuchu, Hiroshima Prefecture, in July
BUSINESS / ANALYSIS
Sep 6, 2025
U.S. tariffs still spell big pain for Japan¡¯s small automakers
Smaller automakers Mitsubishi Motors, Mazda and Subaru are less able to absorb the tariff shock than bigger rivals like Toyota and Honda.
An employee of Nissan Motor works on a Leaf electric car on an assembly line at its Oppama plant in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture.
BUSINESS
May 29, 2025
Factory that symbolized Nissan¡¯s rise may become victim of its decline
Nissan faces a mountain of debt repayment and is scrambling to upgrade its aging lineup of vehicles, but hasn¡¯t said which of its 17 plants will be closed.
An employee of Kyowa Industrial walks next to the company's factory in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, in April.
BUSINESS / Companies
May 24, 2025
Tariff crossfire hits Toyota, Nissan and Ford suppliers in Japan
Thousands of small and midsize makers of auto parts in Japan, including suppliers for Toyota and Nissan, are facing a crisis as U.S. tariffs threaten their bottom lines.
Talks by Honda and Nissan to create the world¡¯s third-largest carmaker have gone haltingly since the plans were first announced in December.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 5, 2025
Nissan shares plunge, Honda¡¯s rise as end to merger talks reported
Shares in Nissan slid more than 4% before trade was suspended by the Tokyo Stock Exchange following the Nikkei report.
While it's unclear whether U.S. President Donald Trump will follow through with his promised 25% levies on Mexico and Canada after agreeing to a 30-day pause on Monday, the blowback would be profound for Nissan.
BUSINESS / Companies / ANALYSIS
Feb 4, 2025
Trump tariffs will only add to the pain for hard-hit Nissan
The blowback from potential tariffs on Mexico and Canada would be profound for Japan¡¯s No.3 carmaker, which is struggling to turn itself around.
Toyota is expected to report a 14% year-on-year operating profit decline in July-September, to ?1.2 trillion ($7.9 billion), according to an average estimate by analysts.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 5, 2024
Toyota to post first profit drop in 2 years as demand cools after big run
Toyota is expected to report a 14% year-on-year operating profit decline in July-September, to ?1.2 trillion ($7.9 billion), according to an average estimate by analysts.
Visitors look at the preserved Atomic Bomb Dome in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on Saturday, a day after the Nihon Hidankyo atomic bomb survivors' group was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
JAPAN
Oct 13, 2024
In Hiroshima peace park, visitors hope Nobel win will boost peace efforts
With the 80th anniversary of the bombings next year, the Nobel Prize could spotlight the legacy of its survivors and renew debate over nuclear weapons.
Demand for electric vehicles in Japan has long been sluggish, and the government this year changed how EV subsidies are calculated, reducing them for BYD and several of its rivals, raising concerns about protectionism.
BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS
Sep 5, 2024
BYD¡¯s global expansion push runs into a stiff test in Japan
Demand for electric vehicles in Japan has long been sluggish, and the government this year changed how EV subsidies are calculated.
Nissan's operating profit for the April-June period totaled ?995 million, compared with ?128.6 billion in the same period a year earlier.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 25, 2024
Nissan shares hammered as Q1 profit wiped out by U.S. discounts
The automaker has cut its operating profit forecast for the financial year by 17% to ?500 billion from ?600 billion.
Toyota has been looking to cash in on stakes in affiliates as it steps up development and production of battery-powered vehicles.
BUSINESS
Jun 27, 2024
Toyota and affiliates to offload some $1 billion in Aisin shares
Toyota Motor and two affiliates will divest at least 12.5% of supplier Aisin
Panasonic Energy's operating profit for the past business year fell short of its forecast due to lower electric vehicle battery production in Japan.
BUSINESS / Companies
May 9, 2024
Panasonic¡¯s battery unit misses annual profit estimate
Panasonic Energy faces fierce competition from other Asian battery makers such as China¡¯s CATL and South Korea¡¯s LG Energy Solution.
An electric screen displaying the Nikkei share average and yen exchange rate against the U.S. dollar outside a brokerage in Tokyo on Friday.
BUSINESS / Economy / ANALYSIS
May 1, 2024
For Japan Inc., the weak yen may be too much of a good thing
The currency¡¯s weakness has pushed up costs of raw materials, food and fuel.
Masahiro Moro, CEO of Mazda Motor, speaks next to EZ-6 electric vehicles during the Beijing Auto Show in Beijing on Thursday.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 25, 2024
Nissan and Mazda roll out new models for China as they aim for comeback
The models, including some concept cars, were introduced at the Beijing Auto Show.

Longform

Social camouflaging can help neurodivergent people navigate social situations, but researchers say the effort often comes with significant emotional and mental strain.
The challenge of being neurodivergent in Japan¡¯s culture of conformity

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