Latest news in Japan? September 3rd, 2026

The major news headlines and developments in Japan for September 3, 2026:

• Markets & Economy: The Japanese yen staged a sharp rally, strengthening below 157 per US dollar. The move followed comments from Bank of Japan board member Hajime Takata favoring nimble rate increases, along with supportive statements from US and Japanese finance officials. Concurrently, Japanese 10-year government bond yields dropped back below 3%. The Japan Times
• Business & Labor: Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) reiterated its push for continuous, structural wage hikes to take root across small and medium-sized enterprises to keep pace with sustained inflation. nippon.com
• Imperial Household: The Imperial Household Agency announced plans under consideration to significantly scale down future funeral rites for Emperor Emeritus Akihito, aligning with his long-held wishes to minimize disruption to the public and reduce taxpayer costs. newsonjapan.com
• Diplomacy & Trade: Junior members of a nonpartisan parliamentary group announced plans to visit China later this month to help thaw bilateral tensions. Meanwhile, Japan’s agriculture ministry is advancing preliminary procedures toward reviewing the long-standing import restrictions on fresh US potatoes. japantoday.com+ 1
• Public Safety: The National Police Agency revealed plans to toughen mandatory cognitive and driving skills assessments for drivers aged 75 and older who have a history of serious traffic violations. japantoday.com