Japanese exports in September snapped four months of declines, climbing 4.2% year on year, as shipments to Asia saw robust growth.

Sanae Takaichi has become Japan's first female prime minister, a significant milestone in the country's male-dominated political landscape.

Sanae Takaichi took office on Tuesday as Japan's first female prime minister, but her surprisingly male-dominated cabinet and socially conservative track record have left some women ambivalent in a country that lags on gender equality.

Sanae Takaichi, a fan of Iron Maiden, had an improbable rise to power. Like her mentor, Shinzo Abe, she is expected to lead Japan to the right.

Japan's financial regulator is mulling allowing members of banking groups to launch cryptocurrency trading services, in a move to expand market access and foster competition, the Nikkei reported on Wednesday.