has been modest, supported by a steady export base and a gradual recovery in tourism, yet household spending continues to sag under the weight of higher import costs. The policy backdrop is tense: the Japan is currently experiencing an M&A renaissance. A flurry of megadeals in Q2 helped to push year-to-date value to Us$169.3bn- year decline in volume (794 deals announced, down 3.3%) and a more pronounced dip in aggregate value (Us$32.5bn, a 14.7% drop).