Japan’s imports rose 5.3% year-on-year in December 2025, reaching an 11-month high of JPY 10,305.8 billion. The increase outpaced market expectations of 3.6% and accelerated from November’s modest 1.3% gain. It marked the fastest growth since January, underscoring robust year-end domestic demand fueled by Tokyo’s sweeping stimulus package, the largest since the pandemic and the first unveiled under the Takaichi administration.