Japan

The Mainichi | English | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | UndeterminedTrade Issues and Numbers

In 2025, Japan's trade deficit decreased by 52.9 percent compared to the previous year, reaching 2.65 trillion yen ($16.7 billion), despite a decline in exports to the United States. Total exports set a record at 110.45 trillion yen, up 3.1 percent year-on-year, while imports rose slightly by 0.3 percent to 113.10 trillion yen. The trade deficit persisted for the fifth consecutive year.

Japan maintained a trade surplus with the United States of 7.52 trillion yen in 2025, although this figure dropped 12.6 percent from the year prior. Exports to the U.S. declined 4.1 percent to 20.41 trillion yen, primarily due to an 11.4 percent decrease in vehicle shipments by value. Imports from the U.S. increased by 1.6 percent to 12.89 trillion yen.

With China, Japan recorded a trade deficit of 7.91 trillion yen, marking a 22.7 percent increase. For the month of December 2025 alone, Japan posted a trade surplus of 105.69 billion yen, with exports rising 5.1 percent to 10.41 trillion yen and imports increasing 5.3 percent to 10.31 trillion yen.

3/17、2026年版九州経済白書説明会「食･農の未来」【久留米会場】

Kyushu Economic Research Center | Local Language | AcademicThink | Jan. 23, 2026 | UndeterminedEconomic Growth

On March 17, 2026, a briefing session titled "The Future of Food and Agriculture" was held in Kurume City, focusing on the challenges and prospects for Kyushu's agricultural sector. The session addressed issues such as the decline and aging of the agricultural workforce, increasing abandoned farmland, and unstable yields due to climate change-related factors like abnormal weather and natural disasters. The briefing aimed to discuss strategies for enhancing agriculture's appeal, maintaining and strengthening production bases—including people, land, and technology—and adapting to changing consumer demands.

The 2026 Kyushu Economic White Paper was the basis for the briefing, covering topics such as food security, current production and distribution challenges, structural changes in Kyushu agriculture, labor securing in local communities, changes in food distribution, and environmental responses related to food production. The event was held at the Chikugin Bank Head Office with a capacity of 60 participants, free of charge, and featured Hideyuki Okano, Executive Managing Director of the Kyushu Economic Research Association, as the presenter.

Participants were encouraged to purchase the 2026 White Paper at the venue for a discounted price to enhance their understanding. The event was organized by Chikugin Bank, the Chikugin Regional Economic Research Institute, the Kurume Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Kyushu Economic Research Association. Attendees were advised there was no parking available and entry was on a first-come, first-served basis without issued admission tickets.

維新公約に議員定数１割減 専守防衛、定義見直しも

Tokyo Shimbun | Local Language | News | Jan. 23, 2026 | UndeterminedPolitics and Elections

The Japan Innovation Party announced its election pledges on January 21, focusing on political, security, and social policies. It plans to submit a bill to reduce the number of House of Representatives seats by 10% and to review regulations on corporate and organizational political donations. The party also intends to revisit the strict interpretation of "exclusive defense," which currently limits the use of defensive force to the minimum necessary for self-defense.

In social security, the party aims to cut national medical expenses by 4 trillion yen annually, reduce support payments for the latter-stage elderly, and lower social insurance premiums by 60,000 yen per working-generation person. To strengthen national deterrence, it proposes deploying long-range counterattack missiles and acquiring submarines capable of carrying missiles and conducting long-range submerged operations.