Japanese Investment in Australia Surges to Record Ahead of PM Takaichi’s Visit

A record 77 mergers and acquisitions and 53 partnerships took place in 2025, contributing to $159.5 billion in FDI from Japanese entities.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a news conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Dec. 17, 2025. Kiyoshi Ota/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Japanese investment in Australia surged to record levels last year, a new report has found ahead of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s expected visit to Australia in late April.

A joint report (pdf) published by global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer and the Australian National University (ANU) found a record 77 mergers and acquisitions and 53 partnerships in 2025, contributing to $159.5 billion (US$113.7 billion) in foreign direct investment (FDI) from Japanese entities.