Full coverage: Japan

A trip to Japan with an old friend who first taught me why Warren Buffett matters becomes a journey through temples, history and boardrooms – and a search for signs that corporate Japan may finally be changing.

In a long and distinguished diplomatic career, Declan O’Donovan served as Ireland’s ambassador to Japan from 1995 to 2001. The film Saipan raised a question in his mind which he is still searching to answer. He tells Dion Fanning what it was.

Fiscal policies and inflation have changed the way investors consider long-term government debt. Who wins?

It all comes down to data centres for the Japanese giant. It acquired Crystal Air for its expertise in building ventilation systems for the industry, which is growing at pace in mainland Europe.

The multinational has been making components for cars at its Cork plant since 1988 but now the firm is shifting around the functions of its European facilities.

In the final part of our series on EU trade deals, Irish firms expanding in Asia could find a welcome environment in Japan. It may be the last trade deal of its kind for some time.

The main Japanese stock indices have continued to rise and have made fresh all-time highs. What has been happening and what is the immediate policy outlook in Japan?

Shareholder value is a big, broad, society-altering idea. It changes how companies organise themselves, how they invest, how they buy and sell, how they employ people and whom they employ. In the West, it bled into politics too. Finally, it's coming to Japan.

I think that the Japanese equity market has decent upside risk over the coming years. This is a big shift in my thinking, but I think it is warranted.

The Japanese conglomerate Sega Sammy has acquired Gan for $86.7 million. Gan's US expedition is drawing to an end.