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On May 19th, the Nikkei Shimbun reported that some condominium Homeowner’s Associations (HOA) in Japan are beginning to move repair reserve (aka body corporate) funds out of bank accounts and into government bonds, seeking modest returns on money traditionally left untouched until repair work is needed. Repair reserve funds are monthly contributions collected from condominium owners to pay for future building repairs, from smaller periodic works to major large-scale renovatio

Rosewood will make its Tokyo debut as the hotel operator for the Roppongi 5-Chome West redevelopment, one of central Tokyo’s largest mixed-use projects. Mori Building and Sumitomo Realty & Development announced on May 15 that Rosewood has been selected to operate the hotel planned for the Roppongi 5-Chome West District Type 1 Urban Redevelopment Project, in which the two companies are participating as project partners. CG rendering courtesy of Sumitomo press release, linked a

Redevelopment projects across Japan are increasingly being delayed, scaled back or cancelled as soaring construction costs undermine project economics. What began as a regional “wait-and-see” trend is now spreading to prime central Tokyo, including redevelopment plans involving the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa and the Imperial Hotel Tokyo. With material costs expected to rise further amid worsening tensions in the Middle East, developers have few signs of relief. Regional

Greater Tokyo’s existing condominium market lost momentum in April, with transaction volume turning negative for the first time in 18 months while sold prices continued to rise. The figures come from the Real Estate Information Network for East Japan, or REINS, pronounced “rains,” which released its April 2026 market report on May 13th. REINS is the industry-only-accessed MLS system used to track brokered resale transactions across the region. REINS data is widely used as a r

In this Bloomberg Asia Trade interview from May 11th, Head of Asia Consumer at CLSA Oliver Matthew, argues that Japan’s consumer economy remains under pressure from a weak yen, imported inflation, rising prices and cautious household spending. The discussion looks at why asset owners, inbound tourism and globally recognized Japanese brands may be benefiting, while many ordinary consumers are still feeling squeezed by higher living costs. Topics Covered Japan’s stock market ma