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20.05.2025

20.05.2025Day Agriculture Minister Falls as Bond Markets Tremble

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This page is an archive of main headlines from Japan for 20.05.2025.

It displays 40 headlines from many sources chronologically, as they appeared throughout the day, accompanied by AI overviews that were written in real time.

20.05.2025Day Agriculture Minister Falls as Bond Markets Tremble
Morning coverage focused on Trump's retreat from Ukraine peace talks after Putin refused to compromise during their two-hour call, continuing the diplomatic pattern reported in previous days. Japan's Seven & i announced a partial sale of Seven Bank shares to Itochu, restructuring its financial operations amid ongoing corporate adjustments throughout Japan's economy.

By midday, Honda's decision to cut EV investments by 30% to 7 trillion yen represented another Japanese automotive pullback following Nissan's plant closure plans. The agriculture minister's rice comments from yesterday escalated into a full political crisis, with the prime minister deciding to dismiss him after opposition parties demanded his removal.

Afternoon reporting revealed "shockingly weak" ultra-long government bond auctions with 30-year and 40-year yields hitting record highs, as financial markets seemed increasingly concerned about Japan's fiscal position amid discussions of consumption tax cuts.
20.05.2025
00:09
トランプ米大統領が「歴史上で最も重要な大統領令」として、米国の薬価引き下げを指示した。米国は世界の医薬品市場の4割を占める圧倒的な製薬大国。米国で稼いだ巨額利益を開発に充てる世界の製薬サイクルには、確かにゆがみがある。 「米国の薬価値上がりが世界のイノベーションを加速させた。一方で外国はそれにタダ乗りしているだけだ」。トランプ氏が12日に署名した大統領令の文言。攻撃的で誇張に満ちた表現であるもの…
00:09

00:11Trump Slashes US Drug Prices

The newspapers report on Trump's economic and geopolitical maneuvers. During his Middle East tour, Trump secured major business deals with Big Tech companies in tow, though not without significant risks (Japan Business Press). He has also signed what he calls "the most important executive order in history" to lower drug prices in the US pharmaceutical market, worth 100 trillion yen, claiming other countries are free-riding on American innovation (Nikkei Shimbun). Meanwhile, Singapore's private banks are targeting wealthy Chinese heirs through financial boot camps (Nikkei Asia), and US-Russia phone negotiations failed to reach a Ukraine ceasefire agreement (Yahoo News Japan).
01:26
02:43
02:43
【ブカレスト=金子夏樹、ワシントン=坂口幸裕】米ロ首脳による19日の電話協議で、ロシアのプーチン大統領はウクライナとの停戦条件について譲歩せず、強硬姿勢を崩さなかった。トランプ米大統領は進展がなければ仲介役を降りると表明し、停戦交渉が暗礁に乗り上げる事態が現実味を帯び始めた。 プーチン氏、高めの要求で時間稼ぎ 3月18日以来、2カ月ぶりになる電話協議は2時間以上に及んだ。戦況で優位なプーチン氏は…
02:43

02:44Japan Launches Ocean Carbon Capture Research

The newspapers report on Japan's environmental initiatives with the government preparing to launch offshore "blue carbon" research to capture and store carbon dioxide through sea plants, aiming to accelerate decarbonization efforts (Kyodo News English). Meanwhile, international tensions continue with reports that Putin refused to compromise on Ukraine ceasefire conditions during a two-hour phone call with Trump, who threatened to withdraw from mediation efforts if no progress is made (Nikkei Shimbun). Ukrainian President Zelensky is considering high-level discussions with US, Russian and European officials (Yahoo News Japan).
04:14
05:13
セブン&アイ・ホールディングス(HD)が傘下のセブン銀行の一部株式を伊藤忠商事に売却する方針であることが20日、わかった。セブン&アイは主力のコンビニエンスストア事業に資源を集中させ、伊藤忠は金融事業を拡大する。コンビニの垣根を越えた流通系銀行の再編につながる可能性もある。 セブン&アイグループは2024年9月末時点で、議決権ベースで約46%分のセブン銀株を保有している。30日にも一部株式を伊藤…
05:13

05:15Seven & i to Sell Bank Shares to Itochu

The newspapers report on Trump's retreat from Ukraine peace talks, which is being framed as a win for Putin (Japan Times). In business news, Seven & i Holdings plans to sell some of its Seven Bank shares to Itochu Corporation, allowing Seven & i to focus on its core convenience store business while Itochu expands its financial operations (Nikkei Shimbun). Meanwhile, Chinese battery maker CATL surged 12.5% in its Hong Kong debut after raising $4.6 billion to fund European expansion (Nikkei Asia). Additionally, a Japanese minister will visit the US on the 23rd for tariff discussions (Yahoo News Japan).

08:39Japan Takes Hard Line on US Tariffs

The newspapers report on Japan's trade tensions with the US as officials confirm a hard-line position ahead of possible tariff talks in Washington (Japan Times). Honda Motor Co. announces plans to cut its electric vehicle investment by 30% to 7 trillion yen (Kyodo News English). In domestic politics, Japan's agriculture minister is explaining controversial remarks, reportedly claiming they were expressed in Miyazaki dialect (Yahoo News Japan). Meanwhile, Seven & i Holdings continues with plans to sell some Seven Bank shares to Itochu Corporation (Nikkei Shimbun), while Chinese battery maker CATL surged in its Hong Kong debut (Nikkei Asia).
08:45
08:52

11:27Shinkansen Slashes Prices With 60% Time Sale

The newspapers report on transportation developments with a new feature in taxi apps and JR East implementing its first "time sale" with 60% discounts on Shinkansen tickets (Huffington Post Japan). In business news, Chinese battery maker CATL surged 16.4% in its Hong Kong debut after raising $4.6 billion to fund European expansion (Nikkei Asia). Other headlines note that only 7% of government stockpiled rice has reached supermarkets (Yahoo News Japan), while Japan maintains a hard-line stance ahead of potential Washington tariff talks (Japan Times) and Honda cuts its EV investment plan by 30% to 7 trillion yen (Kyodo News).
13:09
国内債券市場で長い年限の金利上昇(債券価格は下落)が止まらない。参院選を控え消費税減税を巡る議論が活発になり、財政膨張に歯止めがかからなくなるとの懸念がある。主な投資家だった生損保の需要は減少した。短期的な売買が多い海外勢が買いの中心となり、国債の安定消化に黄信号がともる。 財務省が20日に実施した20年物国債入札は、入札の好不調を示す指標で平均落札価格と最低落札価格の差「テール」が1円14銭ま…
13:09

14:38Ultra-Long Bond Auctions Shock Japanese Markets

The newspapers report on growing concerns in Japan's bond market as ultra-long-term government bond auctions showed "shockingly weak" results, with 30-year and 40-year bond yields reaching record highs (Nikkei Shimbun). Discussions about consumption tax cuts ahead of upper house elections are fueling fiscal expansion fears. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister plans to dismiss the agriculture minister over controversial rice-related remarks (Yahoo News Japan). Japan continues its hard-line position on potential US tariff talks (Japan Times), while Honda cuts its EV investment plan by 30% to 7 trillion yen (Kyodo News).
15:19
17:18
17:52
日本製鉄の米鉄鋼大手USスチール買収を巡る交渉が佳境に入った。完全子会社化を条件に設備投資を大幅に増額すると米政府に提案したことが明らかになった。日鉄は悲願の実現へ買収反対ともとれる発言を繰り返してきたトランプ米大統領に対し、米製造業の復活には巨額投資が不可欠と説得を図る。溝を埋める詰めのディールが進む。 日鉄のUSスチール買収計画については米国時間の21日に、対米外国投資委員会(CFIUS)に…
17:52

20:37Agriculture Minister Fired Over Rice Remarks

The newspapers report on a political crisis as Prime Minister Ishiba prepares to dismiss Agriculture Minister Taku Eto over controversial rice remarks (Kyodo News English, Yahoo News Japan). In economic news, investors are reducing dollar assets and looking toward Asia amid concerns about US policy and geopolitical tensions (Nikkei Asia). A headline about Trump administration versus universities suggests conflicts over science and technology funding in the US, with budget cuts affecting 1,400 cases (Nikkei Shimbun). Meanwhile, JR East is implementing its first "time sale" with 60% discounts on Shinkansen tickets (Huffington Post Japan).
21:16
23:12
江藤拓農相は21日、首相官邸で石破茂首相に辞表を提出した。江藤氏は18日に佐賀市での講演で「コメは買ったことがない」などと発言し、批判を招いていた。石破内閣が2024年10月に発足して初めての事実上の閣僚更迭で、夏の参院選を前に政権運営への打撃となる。 江藤氏は18日、佐賀市での講演で「私はコメは買ったことがない。支援者の方々がたくさんコメを下さるので、まさに売るほどある。私の家の食品庫には」と…
23:12

23:22Agriculture Minister Resigns Over Rice Gaffe

The newspapers report on Agriculture Minister Taku Eto's resignation following controversial remarks about never buying rice because he receives so much from supporters (The Japan Times, Nikkei Shimbun, Yahoo News Japan, Kyodo News). This represents the first effective cabinet dismissal since Prime Minister Ishiba took office in October 2024 and comes as a blow to the administration ahead of summer Upper House elections. Other headlines discuss AI startups reshaping legal services in South Korea and Japan (Nikkei Asia) and optimal timing for selling condominiums, with 11-15 year-old properties fetching the best prices (Japan Business Press).