Industry minister Ryosei Akazawa has been appointed critical-materials czar in response to conflict in the Middle East and is tasked with reviewing the supply situation and devising policy solutions. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/03/31/akazawa-critical-supply/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #oil #iran #energy #sanaetakaichi #medicine #ryoseiakazawa

Japan is rolling out subsidies for fuel products to keep gasoline prices — which have risen to record highs due to the war in Iran — capped at around ¥170 per liter. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/03/18/economy/high-gasoline-prices/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #energy #oil #iran #middleeast #japan #ryoseiakazawa

Japan and the United States agreed to launch a framework in which the two countries will quickly work together to prevent disruptions to critical mineral supplies, industry minister Ryosei Akazawa said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/03/16/economy/us-mineral-supply-chain/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #ryoseiakazawa #meti #dougburgum #rareearths #energy #economicsecurity

Industry minister Ryosei Akazawa has called on countries and regions in Asia to diversify energy supply sources amid rising Middle East tensions. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/03/15/akazawa-energy-supply-sources/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #ryoseiakazawa #energy #meti #ryoseiakazawa #straitofhormuz #iran #oil #lng

Japan's industry minister Ryosei Akazawa on Saturday asked Australia, Japan's biggest supplier of liquefied natural gas, to boost output in light of the Middle East crisis. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/03/14/australia-lng-boost/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #australia #australiajapanrelations #lng #energy #middleeast #iran #meti #ryoseiakazawa

Japan will sell oil from its national reserves at prices based on levels before the start of the Middle East war, according to the country’s trade minister. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/03/13/markets/oil-sell-price-iran/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #markets #ryoseiakazawa #iran #oil #energy

Japan may release oil from its stockpiles for the first time since 2022, either in coordination with other countries or on its own, as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively shut and the oil market is on edge. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/03/11/markets/japan-oil-intervention/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #markets #oil #iran #israel #us #energy #japaneseeconomy #ryoseiakazawa

Japan has sought assurances it will not be treated less favorably under new U.S. tariffs as trade minister Ryosei Akazawa met with his U.S. counterpart on Friday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/03/07/economy/japan-us-trade-chiefs-talk/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #ryoseiakazawa #tariffs #donaldtrump #trade #carmakers #us #japaneseeconomy #usjapanrelations

Akazawa is heading to the U.S. to discuss more projects under Japan’s $550 billion pledge and to ensure that Japan is not worse off under new tariffs. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/03/04/economy/akazawa-trip-12/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #ryoseiakazawa #tariffs #donaldtrump #trade #carmakers #us #japaneseeconomy #usjapanrelations

Despite the U.S. Supreme Court finding President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs unconstitutional, Japan is expected to maintain its $550 billion investment and loan pledge to the U.S.› https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/22/japan/politics/trump-japan-keep-investment-pledge/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #us #usjapanrelations #donaldtrump #japaneseeconomy #investments #tariffs #ryoseiakazawa