SelfStaking

Japan's Denso has made a takeover bid of 1.3 trillion yen to Rohm, planning to acquire all of its shares through a TOB. This will strengthen its market position in the power semiconductor field, particularly in electric vehicles and data centers, marking a shift of Japanese enterprises from cooperation to M&A and restructuring.

Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz, and Japan responds cautiously. The Chief Cabinet Secretary stated that it has not been recognized as a major impact event or a crisis of existence, a concept originating from the 2015 security law.

After U.S. attacks on Iran, gold prices continue to weaken, primarily due to U.S. dollar appreciation, rising interest rates, and increased market volatility, leading investors to sell off gold. Gold failed to serve as a safe haven during the emergency, with prices not recovering to pre-conflict levels.

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 drop to their lowest in nearly five years.

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 exceeding 10,000 units for the first time, and BYD's sales increasing by 62%.

The Chinese yuan continues to appreciate, with the exchange rate against the US dollar rising to 6.97 on January 5th, reaching a new high in over two years. Influenced by factors such as trade surpluses, Chinese authorities have maintained a restrained stance on the currency's appreciation. In 2025, the yuan briefly broke through the 7 yuan mark and rose again to 6.9770 yuan.

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

The integration of data and artificial intelligence in manufacturing sites is driving a surge in robot development competition. SoftBank's acquisition of ABB's robotics business has prompted collaboration between Yaskawa Electric and Fanuc, helping Japanese companies revive their robotics industry. Masayoshi Son stated that integrating AI with robotics technology will achieve an epoch-making evolution.

Due to the tense situation in the Middle East and rising crude oil prices, the yen has depreciated further, and the market is no longer actively buying yen. The yen against the US dollar once depreciated to a low of 157.90, with investors expressing concerns about future trade deficits.

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.

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-liter V8 engine, while the hybrid "Prius" introduces a large-displacement engine under environmental regulations, aiming to create a top-tier sports car.

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

In the second year of the Trump administration, Japanese companies donated as much as 10 billion yen to the U.S. to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence. Although the rationale was questioned, companies still felt strong pressure and had to compromise.

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

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

Dai Nippon Printing (DNP) has developed a new technology to produce 1.4-nanometer semiconductors with one-tenth of the power consumption, with plans for mass production in 2027. This technology could reduce the manufacturing costs of AI semiconductors and break the market monopoly of Dutch company ASML.

The price of semiconductor memory DRAM increased by 40% between November and December 2025, mainly due to strong demand from data center AI servers, leading to supply shortages in the livelihood sector. The tight supply has caused a rare phenomenon where large-volume transactions cannot establish market prices, with DDR5 and DDR3 products experiencing significant price hikes, indicating a risk of a bubble in the memory market.

The Japanese yen continues to depreciate amid narrowing interest rate differentials, 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 volatile market dynamics.

GAC Group plans to officially enter the Japanese market in summer 2026, launching the pure electric vehicle brand "AION," with a target of 2,000 orders by 2027. Initially, they will sell the compact car AION UT and SUV AION V, targeting corporate clients and enhancing competitiveness in Japan's EV market.

On January 7th, Trump directed the U.S. government to withdraw from 66 international organizations and treaties, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, further indicating America's departure from multilateralism and shifting towards a policy of establishing order through strength.