Japan

「持ち家か、賃貸か」。法的視点から「住まい」を考える（7）～登記することで、第三者に対して「所有権」を主張できる

NLI Research Institute | Local Language | AcademicThink | Jan. 15, 2026 | UndeterminedLegal Exposure

Real estate registration is a crucial legal system that publicly records ownership rights and relevant facts regarding real estate, helping to clarify rights relationships and ensure transaction safety. Registering property is the formal requirement necessary to assert ownership against third parties, especially in cases like double sales, where the first person to complete registration holds legal protection.

The property registry includes the heading section, Section A, and Section B, where anyone can verify ownership and the content of rights. In practical real estate transactions, registration is usually completed promptly at the time of property delivery. Registration for inheritance acquisitions has become mandatory, further increasing the importance of this system.

Understanding and performing real estate registration helps individuals safeguard their ownership rights legally and avoid disputes. Checking the certified copy of the property registry and not neglecting registration procedures are essential steps for asserting ownership and protecting real estate interests.

「九州・沖縄」など6地域で改善～リスク要因を注視も、AI関連・インバウンドに期待

Daiwa Institute of Research | Local Language | AcademicThink | Jan. 15, 2026 | UndeterminedEconomic Growth

In January 2026, the Daiwa Regional AI Index showed improvement in six Japanese regions, including Kyushu, Okinawa, and Tohoku, while it declined in Kanto-Koshinetsu and Kinki and remained steady in Hokkaido. Household consumption rose in Hokkaido, Kyushu, Okinawa, and Hokuriku, with tourism driving Hokkaido’s improvement despite limited impact from canceled Chinese tourist bookings. Consumer electronics sales increased in Hokuriku due to operating system support ending, and department stores in Kyushu and Okinawa benefited from affluent spending bolstered by rising stock prices. However, nationwide consumer caution due to high prices persisted. Housing investment declined in Hokuriku, affected by Building Standards Act revisions, rising housing prices, and anticipated interest rate hikes. Wage growth continued steadily, though employment and income saw little change.

Corporate sentiment improved in many regions, particularly Tohoku (chemicals and business services), Hokkaido (food products), and Kyushu and Okinawa (steel). Capital investment expanded in Hokuriku with an emphasis on capacity expansion, new business ventures, and labor-saving technologies addressing workforce shortages. Production trends varied: Shikoku’s production improved in machinery sectors tied to transport, pulp and paper, and data centers, while Hokkaido and Kanto-Koshinetsu experienced declines in transport machinery and steel production. Exports were moderately impacted by U.S. trade policy; automobile exports to China and electrical machinery exports in Kyushu and Okinawa rose, but some exports from Kanto-Koshinetsu to China declined.

Overall, Japan’s economy is gradually recovering, supported by strong tourism, food and beverage, and accommodation sectors, as well as growing AI and data center-related demand. Corporate sentiment, production, and capital investment are strengthening amid limited trade policy effects. Risks remain from high prices and potential interest rate increases, which may suppress consumption and housing investment. Future growth is expected to be driven by AI and digital investments, wage increases alongside labor-saving measures, steady affluent consumption fueled by rising stock prices, and continued inbound demand, sustaining regional economic recovery.

Asahi Shimbun - E | English | News | Jan. 15, 2026 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

Jinchao Wei, a former U.S. Navy sailor and engineer on the amphibious assault ship USS Essex, was sentenced to 200 months (more than 16 years) in prison for selling technical and operating manuals about Navy ships and systems to a Chinese intelligence officer. Wei was convicted in August 2025 of six crimes, including espionage, after accepting over $12,000 for the classified information he provided over an 18-month period.

Wei was recruited in 2022 via social media by an individual posing as a naval enthusiast working for China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation. Despite recognizing the suspicious nature of the contact and being advised to sever ties, Wei continued communication through encrypted messaging apps. He supplied photos, videos, ship locations, defensive weapons details, and 60 manuals related to weapons control, aircraft, and ship operations, all containing export control warnings.

Wei was one of two California-based sailors charged in 2023 for providing sensitive military information to China. The other sailor, Wenheng Zhao, received a sentence of over two years after pleading guilty to conspiracy and bribery charges in 2024. Wei, who held the rank of petty officer second class, apologized in a sentencing letter, attributing his actions to "introversion and loneliness" that clouded his judgment.