Tourism and Investment in Japan

Toyota has demonstrated greater flexibility in adapting to supply chain disruptions Toyota Motor Corporation is a Japanese automaker which investors around the world admire its strong business profile, the highest margin in its peer group and resilient credit metrics that provide significant downside resiliency.  Even Toyota is facing difficult business conditions this year such as a shortage of semiconductors forcing Toyota to reduce its production and rising raw material prices, the new coronavirus infection’s lingering effects.  However, Toyota has managed to revise its earnings forecast for FY 2021 upward by securing higher than expected profits through strengthening sales of profitable SUVs, efforts in rationalization and the tailwind of the depreciation of the yen. Toyota has demonstrated greater flexibility in adapting to supply-chain disruptions since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in a continuing advantage for Toyota when supply normalizes. ...

Japan’s tourism industry hopes visitors come back as more than 70% of population get the second dose The number of new infections of COVID-19 in Japan continues to decline in many prefectures and total newly infected cases in Japan hit the lowest level this year. The cases have been declining since the end of August while the number of newly infected people at the beginning of November dropped sharply to about 200.  The number of newly infected people in Tokyo decreased to around 20, which is the lowest level this year. The similar downward trend has been seen in Osaka Prefecture with the number declining to below 40.  The fact that more than 70% of the people have been vaccinated for the second jab in Japan has people in the tourism industry hope for the improvement in the industry’s revenue due to the resumption of economic activities. Countries around the world with improved vaccination rates have begun to relax restrictions on those who enter their countries.  Japan...

Incoming Japanese PM stimulates the economy with COVID-19 state of emergency covering Japan lifted The Japanese government has lifted the COVID-19 state of emergency covering Tokyo and 18 other prefectures, as well as the quasi-state of emergency in other areas on September 30, as new cases have declined from their peak.  From October 1, none of the country's 47 prefectures is under a state of emergency nor quasi-state of emergency for the first time since April 4. Now restaurants and other dining establishments are allowed to serve alcohol until 8 p.m. and remain open until 9 p.m. as long as they take anti-virus measures.  If infections settle down further, all regulations are expected to be eliminated in the months to come. Kishida, who will be named as Prime Minister in the Diet on October 4, thanks to the LDP-led coalition power to control both chambers said he envisions a further easing of restrictions around November when more people have been fully vaccinated. He is...

Japanese PM resigns at the end of September with the state of emergency to be extended Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga revealed his intention to resign as ruling Liberal Democratic Party support erodes and public criticism over his response to the COVID-19 pandemic mounts diminishing his chances of winning a second term.  Prime Minister Suga announced on September 3 that he would not run for the LDP presidential election scheduled at the end of September. In the Liberal Democratic Party, which is in charge of the current Japanese administration, it is customary for the prime minister to be the president of the party, so the fact that Prime Minister Suga does not run for the presidential election means he will resign at the end of September.  Suga explained the reason for his decision not to run for the election was to devote himself to the containing measures against the new coronavirus. At present there is no prospect seen to eradicate the pandemic any time soon in J...

Foreign visitors to Japan have plummeted caused by restrictions on cross-border traffic Japan National Tourism Organization announced on July 21 that the estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan in June 2021 was 9,300, 99.7% decrease compared to the same month of 2019 before the spread of COVID-19.  Dramatic plunge in foreign tourists was caused by restriction measures on cross-border traffic to contain COVID-19 infection. Travelers to Japan for tourism purposes are still not permitted to enter the country, unless exceptional circumstances are found.  As for the first half of 2021, the number of foreign visitors to Japan was 96,300, a decrease of 99.4% from the same period of 2019.  Japan has strengthened quarantine measures for visitors to the country to cope with the spread of COVID-19 infection since late January 2020. Since then, the number of newly cases of COVID-19 repeated ups and downs forcing the government to strengthen and mitigate its preventive measure...

Japan’s business sentiment rises fourth straight quarters led by exports According to the Bank of Japan's latest “Tankan” quarterly survey released in June which shows a short-term economic outlook of enterprises in Japan, the index showing business sentiment of large manufacturing companies was plus 14 points, 9 points higher than the previous survey and improved for the fourth consecutive quarter.  The index for large manufacturers was the highest in two and a half years since the December 2018 survey. The plethora of sectors in the large manufacturing industry remained optimistic thanks to the backdrop of increasing exports accompanying the recovery of overseas economies.  For example, the index of general-purpose machinery sector such as turbines rose by 34 points and the index of electrical machinery by 28 points. On the other hand, the production of automobiles has deteriorated by 7 points due to the suspension of production at the factory due to the shortage of semico...

Gifu is well known for enthusiastic activities by a plethora of groups performing local Kabuki and other Ji-shibai plays “Ji-shibai ” is a generic term for traditional Japanese plays performed by local residents in various parts of Japan. The plays include Kabuki, Bunraku, Noh Kyogen and Shishi-shibai .   One of great pleasures to view the local plays is that it is performed based on scripts made in as far back as the Edo period or earlier, so you can easily be exposed to Japanese traditional culture and history passed down in Japan for a long period of time.   The other feature of Ji-shibai is that it is not performed by professional actors, but by local residents themselves. In addition, local residents prepare almost everything used on the stage from choreography to costumes to musical instruments.  This gives the audience a sense of familiarity with Ji-shibai and its performers. Gifu Prefecture is well known for enthusiastic activities by a plethora of groups perfo...