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November 22, 2024
 

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Teruhiko Mano
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Oct 16, 2006
Global imbalances, economic and political, must be rectified
As countries throughout the globe undergo radical economic changes from the impact of globalization, there exist two major imbalances in the world today.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Sep 18, 2006
China's tight yuan grip signals shortcomings as a global team player
Revaluation of the yuan, along with high oil prices, deceleration of the U.S. economy, and the euro's rise against the, yen was among the major topics discussed at the Group of Seven finance ministers' meeting in Singapore over the weekend.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Jul 31, 2006
BOJ should have based hike on consumer needs, worldwide inflation trend
The Bank of Japan raised the unsecured overnight call rate from virtually zero to 0.25 percent at the end of its July 13-14 Policy Board meeting and hiked the official discount rate from 0.1 percent to 0.4 percent.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Jun 26, 2006
Laws, morals and the delay of the financial products trade law
A mid the public uproar over insider trading prompted by the arrest of investment fund manager Yoshiaki Murakami, the Diet quickly enacted a new law to regulate transactions involving financial products on June 7. The legislation combines the previous Securities and Exchange and other laws in an attempt...
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
May 29, 2006
Getting to the bottom of foreign currency reserves
In recent months, news about sharp rises in foreign currency reserves held by emerging economies has been making headlines in Japanese papers.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
May 1, 2006
Global inflation changing economic fundamentals
Ajoint statement released April 21 by finance minis- ters and central bankers of the Group of Seven major economies in Washington noted that the global trend in economic expansion has entered its fourth year, with inflationary pressures relatively contained despite the surge in crude oil prices.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Apr 3, 2006
Things to watch as BOJ restores interest rates
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Japan's biggest banking group, raised the rates it offers on time deposits with a maturity of one year or over on March 20. The increase varies according to the size of the deposit and the length of maturity. The annual rate for a five-year deposit under 3 million yen,...
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Mar 13, 2006
U.S. current account deficit may trigger shift in global savings
The current account deficit of the United States topped $800 billion in 2005. Ben Bernanke, who recently became chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, told a lecture in the spring of last year that the U.S. deficit level is "passively" determined by income, asset prices, interest rates, currency exchange...
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Feb 20, 2006
Japan's falling savings rate reflects a global competition for funds
The national savings rate dropped to as low as 2.8 percent in 2004, according to a report released by the Cabinet Office last month. This is incredibly low, given the figure had been above 10 percent until as recently as 1999.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Jan 23, 2006
Regional cooperation with Japan belies focus on Yasukuni problem
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, in his first news conference of the year, argued that Yasukuni is not a diplomatic issue, rebutting claims that Japan is being isolated in Asia because of his repeated visits to the war-related Shinto shrine.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Dec 5, 2005
Privatization hurdles: Japan Post should compete with banks on level playing field
The government bills drafted to privatize the state-run postal services were finally enacted into laws in mid-October, but there will be two major challenges ahead as privatization is carried out.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Nov 14, 2005
The pros and cons of an island nation: economic growth vs. national security
Postwar Japan gave up guns for butter in its bid to prioritize economic reconstruction. This position has lingered for 60 years, and Japan today continues to rely heavily on its alliance with the United States for its own national defense.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Oct 24, 2005
Government's policy yardstick should be based on per capita GDP, not GDP
Finance ministers and central bankers from the G20 advanced and emerging economies expressed strong concern Oct. 16 that high oil prices could decelerate growth and destabilize the global economy as they wrapped up their annual meeting on the outskirts of Beijing.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Sep 26, 2005
Currency-controlling China not yet qualified to join ranks of G7
The two biggest events in the postwar history of currency exchange markets are the Nixon shock of August 1971 and the Plaza Accord of September 1985.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Aug 15, 2005
Despite removal of dollar peg, yuan still a currency under control
On July 21, the People's Bank of China announced it had ended the yuan's effective peg to the U.S. dollar and that it would link it to a basket of currencies based on China's main trading partners. The central bank also said that the yuan's exchange rate as of that evening was 8.11 to the dollar.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Jul 18, 2005
In final analysis, postal bills hold key to rationalizing the status quo
Now that he's back from the Group of Eight summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi faces an uphill battle to get his postal privatization bills approved by the House of Councilors.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Jun 20, 2005
European integration a great idea, but need, motivation absent in Asia
The Netherlands followed France in rejecting the EU Constitution in a referendum earlier this month. While France has long been the driving political force behind European integration, the Netherlands has also been a key player in the integration process.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
May 2, 2005
Transition to 'payoff' system went smoothly, but full impact unknown
On April 1, the government's limited deposit guarantee, known as the "payoff" system, took full effect as scheduled. So far, the measure hasn't resulted in any visible disturbances, such as a major shift of funds out of bank accounts. Why?
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Apr 11, 2005
You can lead a market to bonds, but you can't make it drink
The government budget for fiscal 2005 has been enacted, but the amount dependent on government bonds, although slightly lower than in fiscal 2004, is still above 40 percent.
BUSINESS / JAPANESE PERSPECTIVES
Mar 21, 2005
Stock, flow of economy provide key insight into monetary policy
More attention is being focused on Japan's monetary policy, given the changing economic environment at home and overseas.
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Russia launched intercontinental ballistic missile during attack on Ukraine, Kyiv says
A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile is launched during a test from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in Northern Arkhangelsk region of Russia, in this still image captured from video released on Oct. 29.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

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