By Leika Kihara TOKYO, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will likely seek to convince markets her "proactive" fiscal policies aren't as expansionary as they seem, as legislative deliberations on her flagship spending and tax cut plans kick off next week.

The drop was driven largely by a 61% fall in arrivals from China, which has been urging its citizens to avoid travel to Japan to protest comments by the prime minister about Taiwan.

In 2040, just a decade and a half from now, the list of 10 most populous countries in the world is likely to include Nigeria, Pakistan and Indonesia. Missing will be one country that has been a mainstay of the list: Japan.

By Kiyoshi Takenaka TOKYO, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Two-thirds of Japanese firms are concerned about the government's fiscal discipline, a Reuters survey showed on Thursday, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans a temporary suspension of sales tax on food and steps up investment to spur growth.

From recalling pandas to cancelling tourist flights, China continues to retaliate after Takaichi's comments on Taiwan.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced three projects to be built in the states of Texas, Ohio, and Georgia as part of a $550 billion U.S. investment pledge by Japan.

The deals, totaling $36 billion, were the first step in a $550 billion investment pledge aimed at securing tariff relief and sustaining U.S. relations.

On Tuesday night, 17-year-old Ami Nakai - the youngest competitor in the women's event - stormed to the top after the short program.

Japan's economy grew 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to the previous three months, avoiding a technical recesssion