SelfStaking

It is reported that Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz. The strait is also a strategic point for energy imports for Japan. The Japanese government has previously considered "mine blockade of the strait" as an example of a situation where collective self-defense rights could be exercised, under the concept of a "crisis of existence." However, this time, they will carefully assess the situation.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Toshiro stated at a press conference on March 2: "At this stage, it has not been recognized as a significant impact situation or a crisis of existence based on security-related laws."
A crisis of existence is a concept defined in security-related laws passed during Shinzo Abe's administration in 2015.
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By 2025, China's automobile sales are expected to lead the world for the first time, surpassing Japan with approximately 27 million units, becoming the top car exporter. Countries may strengthen protective measures to counter Chinese companies' competition.

After the United States and Israel attacked Iran, gold prices remained weak, affected by the appreciation of the US dollar and rising interest rates. Meanwhile, financial market volatility increased, and investors sold off gold to offset losses. The New York futures gold price continued to decline, failing to become a safe-haven asset.

Jim Rogers stated that China has the potential to become the next hegemonic power and recommended accelerating market opening. At the same time, he pointed out that Japan's high debt levels will lead to long-term economic recession.

In the 2025 international commodities market, precious metal prices are rising. Silver has surpassed oil prices for the first time, reflecting China's decarbonization and economic deflation risks. A Bank of America Securities report shows that the silver-to-oil price ratio is below 1, with silver reaching a record high while oil prices have fallen to their lowest in nearly five years.

Chinese AI semiconductor companies are rapidly developing, with companies like Moore Thread actively entering the market to increase domestic self-sufficiency, aiming to reach 80% by 2026. Zhang Jianzhong emphasized that new products can meet the needs of local developers and reduce reliance on foreign sources.

The Japanese government will provide Malaysia with rare earth mining technology support, planning to offer equipment and environmental protection technology cooperation through ODA projects, aiming to diversify rare earth procurement channels. This is the first collaboration between the two countries in this field, with experts dispatched to promote the project and plans to invite Malaysian technicians to Japan for training.

The rapid development of artificial intelligence is transforming the employment landscape in the United States, with college graduates facing greater employment pressure and a significant increase in enrollment at technical vocational schools. Due to concerns about the future brought by AI, more people are inclined to choose jobs that are difficult to automate.

The Japanese yen continues to depreciate as interest rate differentials narrow, overturning traditional consensus. Although the Bank of Japan is expected to raise interest rates, the USD/JPY exchange rate remains stable around 155 yen, revealing complex and changing market dynamics.

Chinese semiconductor companies are accelerating technological research and development as well as capacity expansion. North Huachuang Technology Group launched new products at an international exhibition and announced a goal of achieving an 80% domestic self-sufficiency rate by 2030, demonstrating a strong determination and capability to catch up with the United States.

Since its launch in 2017, SoftBank Group's Vision Fund has increased its total investments to $163.2 billion, with pre-tax investment gains of approximately ¥3.7 trillion. Despite challenges, the fund's improved performance has strengthened the group's financial position and promoted investments in the AI sector.

Denso has made an acquisition offer to the semiconductor giant RYOHIN. The proposal is considered to be a takeover (TOB) to acquire all shares. The acquisition is expected to reach approximately 1.3 trillion yen. If successful, it will establish a major presence in Japan's power semiconductor sector for pure electric vehicles (EVs) and data center power control. Previously, industry restructuring centered on cooperation will shift toward elimination through mergers and acquisitions.
In the power semiconductor field, Japanese companies have traditional advantages, but with the rise of Chinese firms, capacity oversupply has emerged among Japanese companies. The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has also urged companies to undergo restructuring. Previously, Denso collaborated separately with Fuji Electric and RYOHIN with Toshiba; now, the framework may undergo significant changes.
Denso and RYOHIN announced in May 2025 that they would cooperate in the semiconductor field, planning to jointly develop analog semiconductors for controlling sensors in pure electric vehicles. Denso has gained through this collaboration.

In 2025, Japan's imported car sales are expected to increase by 7%, reaching 243,129 units, with pure electric vehicle sales growing by 26%, setting a new record. Tesla and BYD performed notably in the Japanese market, with Tesla's sales surpassing 10,000 units for the first time, and BYD's sales increasing by 62%.

Toyota has unveiled three ultra-luxury sports cars in "Woven City," a technology validation city in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, with plans to launch around 2027. Among them, the "GR GT" will be the first to feature a 4.0L V8 engine, while the hybrid "Prius" introduces a large-displacement engine under environmental regulations, aiming to create a top-tier sports car.

After experiencing fluctuations, China's shipbuilding industry has seen a rebound in order volume, especially in the high value-added vessel sector. Although facing U.S. regulatory measures in 2025, recent order volumes have increased as these measures have been postponed, demonstrating China's competitiveness in the global market.

The prospect of integrating dormant data with artificial intelligence (AI) on manufacturing sites is driving the robotics R&D race to heat up further. With SoftBank Group (SBG)’s acquisition of Swiss industrial giant ABB’s robotics business as an opportunity, Yaskawa Electric and Fanuc have announced cooperation one after another and measures such as opening up control-related software. In the field of “physical AI,” where machines are made capable of autonomous operation, Japan—already behind China and the U.S.—is now pinning its hopes on restoring its status as a “robotics superpower.”
“Achieve a historic evolution through the integration of super AI (ASI) (which surpasses human intelligence) with robotics technology,” said Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group. In October 2025, SoftBank Group announced that it would acquire ABB Robotics, ABB’s robotics business subsidiary, for $5.375B. The company ranks alongside Fanuc, Yaskawa Electric, and KUKA (KUKA) under China’s Midea Group, placing it among the top in

The "global strategic models" in the global supply chain are disappearing. Tesla has ceased development of low-cost models, reflecting an increasing industry trend of "fragmentation," forcing automakers to reconstruct their business models. Tesla's "Model 2" project has been canceled, and they will continue to optimize the "Model Y" in the future.

Japan Printing (DNP) has developed technology that can produce advanced semiconductors using one-tenth the electricity consumption. A new manufacturing method aimed at producing for Canon will enable mass production in 2027 of the core components supporting next-generation 1.4-nanometer (1 nanometer equals one-billionth of a meter) products. There is a possibility that manufacturing costs for artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors could be significantly reduced.
At present, to mass-produce the most advanced semiconductors, it is necessary to use extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines produced only by ASML Holdings in the Netherlands. The “lithography process,” which draws circuits on wafers (substrates), accounts for 30% to 50% of the total semiconductor manufacturing cost. The finer the circuits, the more lithography steps are required, and the electricity consumption correspondingly increases. A single EUV lithography machine costs about 30 billion yen, placing a heavy investment burden on semiconductor manufacturers.
Meanwhile, Canon’s “Nanoimprint” manufacturing process

By 2025, three Chinese companies will enter the top 20 global semiconductor manufacturing equipment firms, with the domestic localization rate expected to increase to 20%~30%. Despite U.S. export restrictions, China is still building an independent supply chain, which may pose a threat to Japan and the U.S. in the future. North Huachuang Technology Group expects a 21% increase in sales.

President Trump’s demand for Greenland has sparked tensions with eight European countries, potentially leading to the disintegration of NATO. Expert Ian Bremmer believes that Trump’s actions stem from personal vanity and lack of domestic support. If pressure continues, Europe may turn to cooperate with China.