The Nikkei average stock price fell on May 1st due to concerns that the start of US rate cuts might be delayed. In the morning, the decline exceeded 300 yen at one point. (News On Japan)

As demand for sake rebounds both domestically and internationally, a major shortage of sake bottles has prompted a leading food wholesaler to begin selling the beverage in cans instead of bottles. (News On Japan)

A large-scale commercial facility, boasting about 50 stores from shopping to lodging and operating entirely cashless, has opened in Kishiwada City, Osaka Prefecture. (News On Japan)

May 1st marks the celebration of the international labor movement known as May Day. In Osaka, a rally was held where attendees called for the extension of recent substantial wage increases to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well. (News On Japan)

The earnings reports from Japan's five major securities firms are in, showing strong performances boosted by the rising stock market. (News On Japan)

Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced on April 30th that the number of vacant homes across the country has reached 9 million, setting a new record high. (News On Japan)

Market insiders estimate that the government and the Bank of Japan (BOJ) might have conducted a forex intervention scaled at 5 trillion yen. (News On Japan)

Starting May 1, a new president will take the helm at the company that franchises "Curry House CoCo Ichibanya" in Gunma and eight other prefectures. Remarkably, the appointee is a 22-year-old woman who currently works there as a part-time employee, making this a highly unusual promotion. (News On Japan)

A recent study by the Rengo Research Institute, which focuses on labor issues, has revealed that only a little over 6% of workers report their wage increases have exceeded the rate of inflation. (News On Japan)

Oriental Land Co., operator of Tokyo Disney Resort, announced that it achieved record revenue and net profits for the fiscal year 2023. The company reported a revenue of 618.4 billion yen ($3.9 billion) and a net profit of 120.2 billion yen ($755 million), both the highest in its history. (News On Japan)

On April 26, the Nikkei Average closed up 306 points at 37,934 yen, despite a rapidly weakening yen. Experts are noting a shift in the typical correlation between a weak yen and strong stock performance, suggesting that the previous dynamic may be weakening. (News On Japan)

Twelve years after entering the global marketplace for konjac, known in Japan as konnyaku, Akiji Sawaura has seen his company's revenue increase by 2.5 times and employee numbers double. However, his journey was not without its challenges. (News On Japan)

Novelist Hitoshi Mayama explores a groundbreaking next-generation aquaculture technology at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology with Professor Goro Yoshizaki. This innovative method allows desired fish species to be bred by transplanting their reproductive stem cells into surrogate fish. (News On Japan)

In a significant movement in the foreign exchange markets, the Japanese yen has once again depreciated, crossing the 158 mark against the U.S. dollar. This level marks the weakest the yen has been in approximately 34 years, signaling ongoing economic pressures and potentially major shifts in Japan's financial landscape. (News On Japan)

Japan's Cabinet has approved a bill designed to regulate tech giants to ensure fair competition in the smartphone business. (NHK)

Social media monitoring has become an indispensable tool for businesses worldwide, providing insights into consumer behavior, market trends, and brand perception. (News On Japan)

Tasaki, the renowned pearl jewelry brand, celebrated its 70th anniversary by hosting the "TASAKI 70th Anniversary Exhibition: FLOATING SHELL." The event kicked off on April 25 with a glamorous opening ceremony attended by a slew of celebrities. (News On Japan)

The Bank of Japan says it will leave its monetary policy unchanged. The announcement comes at the end of the BOJ's two-day meeting on Friday. (NHK)

Honda has unveiled plans to construct a factory dedicated to electric vehicles (EVs) in Ontario, Canada, as part of its broader strategy to fully transition to EVs by 2040. (News On Japan)

Four victims of imposter scams have sued the Japan unit of US IT giant Meta for damages, saying the operator of Facebook and Instagram has failed to verify the authenticity of social media ads. (NHK)