After the horrific tsunami that left thousands dead, Japan’s flagship car maker Toyota is bouncing back and looks to take back the title of world’s biggest auto-maker from its American rival, GM.
Toyota shares on Tuesday jumped to their highest level this year, largely boosted by news reports that the company was poised to lead the car manufacturer’s pack this year.

According to AFP, the company’s shares were up 1.93 percent at 3,690 yen by the morning break in Tokyo, passing a previous year high of 3,660 yen.

Japan has been the focus of world’s attention in the past few weeks, after Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Party, won a landslide in the Japanese parliamentary election. The financial markets reacted to Abe’s victory with contradictory tones: the yen weakened to 20-month low while the Nikkei index rose.

Abe said he will take action to enhance the world’s third largest economy, which has been struggling with years of poor growth.

If the direction of Toyota is any indication, Japan’s economy seems to be sailing towards better times. While financial markets are largely unpredictable, the purest form of unpredictability is still Mother Nature which will ultimately make or break the seemingly tranquil island’s economy.