Welcome to Your Week in Asia.
Less than a year after lawmakers of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party cast their votes in a party presidential election, the campaign to pick the next leader will kick off again, after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation. Amid increasing ideological divides in the party, candidates are trying to broaden their appeal as much as possible.
For the Japanese games industry, it has been a big year, highlighted by the launch of Nintendo's Switch 2 in June. At the Tokyo Games Show, the sector will be showing off what it hopes will also be successes.
Get the best of our coverage of Asia and much more by following us on X, where our handle is @NikkeiAsia. We are also now on Bluesky, with the handle @asia.nikkei.com.
MONDAY
LDP presidential election
The LDP will begin a two-week leadership contest, with the vote to be held on Oct. 4. Though the LDP does not have a majority in the Diet, Japan's parliament, it is by far the largest party, so the new leader is most likely to become the next prime minister. Whoever emerges as the next leader will be tasked with stewarding the nation through inflation, the impact of U.S. tariffs, rising anti-immigration sentiment and a demographic crisis.
ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting
Malaysia will host the 57th ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting and related sessions this year in Kuala Lumpur as the bloc's chair, with the summit running through Friday alongside the RCEP Ministers' Meeting. Officials will also hold consultations with dialogue partners, including U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and the European Union trade chief, to review market access, regional supply chains and the rules-based trading system.
Start of India's new consumption tax system
Reforms to India's complex consumption taxes will kick in as Prime Minister Narendra Modi tries to spur domestic consumption in a slowing economy. Under the reforms, most goods and services will be taxed in two tiers of 5% and 18%, with the government abolishing the 12% and 28% brackets. The reforms come just ahead of the crucial festive season between October and December, when Indians engage in the bulk of their yearly shopping.
TUESDAY
U.N. General Debate
Eighty years since the founding of the United Nations, world leaders will gather at the organization's General Assembly Hall for the weeklong General Debate to deliver speeches amid a strained geopolitical situation. Against the backdrop of the war in the Gaza Strip, several countries are expected to announce their recognition of Palestinian statehood, while artificial intelligence and climate change are also set to be significant issues.
Indonesia to sign EU trade agreement
Jakarta and Brussels will sign the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in Bali. The pact is expected to boost Indonesia's exports by over twofold, from a current trade value of around $30 billion. The deal comes after negotiations that spanned a decade, which concluded successfully in July.
Shanghai startup conference
Thousands of entrepreneurs and investors converge in Shanghai for S-Tron, a two-day startup event where founders can pitch business plans they hope will become the next big thing. Organizers promise "edge-of-your-seat panels" and plenty of networking opportunities with venture capital firms ready to dole out money.
IPO: JS Solar
Data: Malaysia consumer price index, Singapore CPI, India flash purchasing managers index
WEDNESDAY
IPO: Express Powerr Solutions
THURSDAY
Tokyo Game Show
The Tokyo Game Show will be held for four days through Sept. 28 at the Makuhari Messe convention center east of Tokyo. First held in 1996, it is one of the world's leading game events. This year, under the theme "Unlimited, Neverending Playground," over 1,100 exhibitors -- the largest number ever -- from Japan and abroad will showcase new game titles from a wide range of genres and formats.
Toyota Woven City opening
Toyota Motor officially launches Woven City, an experimental planned community showcasing futuristic technology such as autonomous driving, in Shizuoka prefecture. Around 360 Toyota staff and others will begin to live there.
IPO: Chery
FRIDAY
Earnings: HK New World Development
Data: Singapore manufacturing index
