Japan’s $550 billion capital commitment to the U.S. is stuck in committee as significant gaps remain on the fine details of the first deals. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/02/13/economy/akazawa-dc-lutnick/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #ryoseiakazawa #tariffs #donaldtrump #trade #carmakers #us #japaneseeconomy #usjapanrelations

Following her electoral mandate, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi must prioritize restructuring Japan’s China strategy to strengthen deterrence while preserving stability amid shifting U.S.-China dynamics. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/02/11/japan/us-china-truce-japan-challenge/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #china #us #japan #chinajapanrelations #usjapanrelations

Japan's vote was for a realist in a dangerous neighborhood, not a license for performative nationalism or domestic culture wars. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/02/10/japan/takaichis-win-victory-for-realism/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #2026lowerhouseelection #sanaetakaichi #ldp #us #china #defense #indopacific #usjapanrelations #chinajapanrelations

Trade minister Ryosei Azakawa is heading to the United States to discuss the first project under Japan's $550 billion pledge with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/02/10/economy/akazawa-trip-us-pledge/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #ryoseiakazawa #tariffs #donaldtrump #trade #carmakers #us #japaneseeconomy #usjapanrelations

Following the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's landslide victory in Sunday's House of Representatives election, the United States plans to enhance cooperation with the Asian ally in security and economic matters. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/10/japan/politics/us-boost-economic-security-cooperation-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #us #usjapanrelations #2026lowerhouseelection #donaldtrump #defense

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s landslide election victory holds a foreign-policy lesson for American observers. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/02/09/japan/takaichi-us-foreign-policy/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #sanaetakaichi #2026lowerhouseelection #usjapanrelations

Japan is seen selecting gas-fired power generation, synthetic diamonds and ports as the first round of $550 billion investments and loans it agreed to make in the United States. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/02/08/economy/japan-investments-us-power-diamonds/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #usjapanrelations #investments

U.S. President Donald Trump has again broken with tradition, offering his “total endorsement” of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Sunday’s election and announcing the pair's planned meeting in Washington on March 19. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/06/japan/politics/trump-takaichi-endorsement/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #2026lowerhouseelection #sanaetakaichi #donaldtrump #china #xijinping #us #usjapanrelations #chinajapanrelations #ldp

The option being talked about — whispered, actually — is the nuclear option. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/02/05/japan/the-list-of-japanese-security-options/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #markcarney #us #indopacific #shigeruishiba #defense #nato #sdf #usjapanrelations #donaldtrump #china #taiwan #sanaetakaichi #nuclearweapons

The United States has unveiled a critical-minerals partnership with Japan and the European Union amid growing concerns about China's dominant role in the sector. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/02/05/economy/us-japan-eu-critical-minerals-partnership/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #rareearths #minerals #usjapanrelations #eujapanrelations