Berkshire Hathaway Chief Executive Greg Abel indicated the conglomerate is prepared to deepen its long-term stakes in Japan’s five largest trading houses when market conditions make sense, comments that pushed the stocks sharply higher in Tokyo. Speaking to reporters in the Japanese capital on his first visit as CEO since taking the role in January, Abel said Berkshire would monitor conditions and maintain the positions for decades, while a separate CNBC interview again framed the holdings as long-term. He met leaders of Mitsubishi Corp., Itochu Corp., Mitsui & Co., Sumitomo Corp. and Marubeni Corp., as well as Tokio Marine Holdings, discussing business strategies and possible cooperation; he said raising stakes did not come up in those meetings. Mitsubishi rose as much as 5.4% intraday to its highest level since May, and the other four advanced more than 3%, extending a rally that has tracked Berkshire’s involvement since 2020. Berkshire already owns more than 10% of each firm after lifting Mitsubishi to 10.23% in August 2025, with the five positions valued at a combined $35.37 billion at end-2025 and paying $862 million in dividends; Abel has also explored joint ventures and related investment ideas, downplayed rising Japanese yields as a fundamental challenge, and reiterated plans to keep issuing yen-denominated debt. Itochu Chairman Masahiro Okafuji welcomed the prospect of further Berkshire investment.