Learning from note Money: Rintaro Takechi's Market Maxims

The motto I often mention on note, 'Books are not meant to be read, but to be written,' seems to be quietly known among readers with a high intellectual level, even if the number of readers is modest. Yes, it's what you might call a connoisseur's choice.

Now, regarding the Kindle book I released the other day, I am grateful to have reached number one in the somewhat understated category of 'Economic Thought and Economic Theory.' ...Though, I suppose it might just be that there were few rivals.

However, it actually made it to 9th place in the 'Finance' category. In that fierce battleground. Honestly, even I thought, 'Huh, not bad, right?' ...Well, I'm sure I'm not the only one who grinned when looking at the ranking numbers (though maybe I am).

Here is another favorite line of mine that I keep saying with a smug look to my subordinates and business partners every day.

'Newspapers and news are not media for learning new things, but for confirming that what you predicted has come true.'

Since just repeating this is unoriginal, I have arranged it in the style of great figures this time.

Five Arrangements in the Style of Great Figures

1. 'For the wise, news is a time signal announcing that the future has arrived as scheduled.' (Napoleon style)

2. 'News is not a fountain of knowledge, but a verification device for insight.' (Einstein style)

3. 'A newspaper is a seal that only those who have thought ahead can call the truth.' (Confucius style)

4. 'The ignorant are surprised by the news, while the insightful nod at it.' (Socrates style)

5. 'Those who truly learn foresee the future and quietly confirm its correctness through the newspaper.' (Jobs style)

However, these maxims are, after all, things that 'someone might have said,' and while I wouldn't call them mediocre, my originality gets overshadowed. So, this is where the real deal begins.

Three Original Maxims by Rintaro Takechi

1. 'Every morning, the newspaper quietly proves that the world is moving by tracing my thoughts. As if the future had been whispering only to me.' (Narcissist style)
*Please read this while imagining yourself plucking a single rose and smiling at the mirror.

2. 'Just as a prophet deciphers the twinkling of stars, I read the subtleties of the world. News is merely a slightly delayed reply, proving that my silence was correct.' (Poetic style)
*Words are now poetry. Poetry is a weapon. Silence is the scream of intelligence.

3. 'Hmph... Every time you guys run around in a panic over the news, I think this... Don't be surprised now by something that's already over!!' Dodododo... (JoJo style)

Today's Market Observation by Rintaro Takechi (Dododododo...)

Now, in my article from March 30, 2025, I raised an objection to the fact that SBG (SoftBank Group) had received a legendary level of overvaluation, an 'A' rating, from the Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR).

And what do you know? Just two days later, on April 1st, JCR announced a rather modest fine-tuning, lowering the credit rating outlook from 'Stable' to 'Negative'.

However, what was even more surprising was that the credit rating itself remained at 'A'. Internationally, it is 'BB+', which is junk bond status. Domestically, it is still 'A'. To use an analogy, it is like being diagnosed with 'terminal cancer' in a medical report, while being told it is 'just a mild cold' in the school infirmary.

I cannot see any rationality in maintaining an 'A' rating. On the contrary, I believe a rating of 'B' or lower is appropriate. Is JCR failing to see that risk, or are they choosing to ignore it even though they see it? In any case, as an institution meant to protect market credibility, this response is as close to a failing grade as it gets.

And—this is where we recap the 'predetermined course'.

Accomplice to the Gamble: The Sin of Mizuho Bank

On April 1, 2025, news was reported that SBG is considering an additional investment of up to $40 billion in OpenAI.

This decision, made while financial instability is already being pointed out, is exactly like a gambler smiling and stacking more chips while saying, 'Double down...!' And it has become clear that Mizuho Bank is behind it once again.

In other words, it was Mizuho Bank that was supporting SBG's reckless behavior; this is no longer a loan, but a complicit relationship. If SBG collapses, the sparks will cascade onto Mizuho FG, and the aftermath will hit the Japanese economy directly—that tragic correlation diagram is nearing completion.

Moreover, with Nissan, the usual 'purveyor of wandering,' getting involved, this is no longer just an economic love triangle, but a situation that should be called a 'demonic triangle of landmines'.

Summary: Where is the train heading when no one hits the brakes?

The Japanese economy has now entered a new stage, not of 'Too big to fail,' but of 'Too tangled to survive'.

The catastrophe has already begun, yet too many people are pretending not to notice. And what supports that 'pretense' is the lenient credit ratings and the complicit bank support.

I will say it again and again:'News is something to confirm that the future was exactly as I predicted.'

What proves that is the corner of the newspaper and your note! And if there is a 'sentence that struck a chord' in this article, please try quoting it in your note. That single quote might be the trigger that shakes someone out of their 'thought paralysis'.

I certainly understand the feeling of wanting to believe that 'it's still okay.' But now is the time for you, the one who is 'already aware,' to pass that awareness on to someone else.

*This article is for informational purposes only and does not solicit or recommend investment in any specific financial products. Please make final investment decisions at your own risk.

Rintaro Takechi