SelfStaking

The second year of Trump's administration in the United States has begun. The world is quickly being dominated by the "law of the jungle" where the strong prey on the weak. The submission of the weak will lead to the strengthening of the strong, and the exercise of American power has already begun to cross boundaries.
Japanese companies make huge "donations" to the U.S.
It is reported that a large Japanese bank, at the request of the U.S. government, provided 400 million yen to the U.S. Embassy in Japan. The reason given was to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. This is a special "donation" higher than the 50 million yen given during the Noto Peninsula earthquake.
Japanese major trading companies and large automakers are also entering the donation list, and the total Japanese contributions may exceed 10 billion yen. The U.S. explained to Japan that the funds would be used to host parties. Japanese companies question the reasonableness of this, but at the same time believe that "in the face of Trump's administration 2.0 era in today’s America, no one can resist."
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_Nikkei Asian Review and Financial Times_

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.

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.

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%.

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.

Due to the tense situation in the Middle East and rising crude oil prices, the yen depreciation has intensified, 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.

China is gradually increasing its power generation capacity in the field of artificial intelligence research and development. By 2025, the new power generation capacity is expected to reach 470 gigawatts, seven times that of the United States, further widening the gap with the U.S. Low-cost electricity will become an important advantage for China in the US-China AI competition.

Semiconductor memory DRAM prices increased by 40% in November to December 2025, mainly due to strong demand from data center AI servers, leading to supply shortages in the civilian sector. The tight supply has caused a rare phenomenon where large-volume transactions cannot be formed, with DDR5 and DDR3 product prices soaring significantly, indicating a risk of a bubble in the memory market.

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 4.0L V8 engine, while the hybrid "Prius" introduces a large-displacement engine under environmental regulations, aiming to create a top-tier sports car.

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.

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.

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

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.

In areas outside Tokyo, Japan, the prices of newly built residential buildings have risen significantly, with average housing prices exceeding 10 times the local annual income, making it difficult for ordinary salaried families to buy homes. The national price-to-income ratio is 10.38 times, indicating that single-income families find it hard to afford new homes. Experts point out that a more realistic range for house prices is 5 to 7 times annual income.

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

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.

The integration of data and artificial intelligence in manufacturing sites is driving a competitive surge in robot development. 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 a revolutionary evolution.

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.

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.