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January 25, 2025
 

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Toru Fujioka
Many of the economists noted the interest rate hike is likely unless Donald Trump jolts global financial markets, after he returns to the White House four days before the Bank of Japan’s policy decision.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 17, 2025
More than 70% of BOJ watchers expect a rate hike next week
BOJ Gov. Kazuo Ueda reinforced his deputy’s message this week that his board will consider a rate hike at the meeting, boosting the yen and expectations for action.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 15, 2025
BOJ’s Ueda joins deputy chief in flagging chance of January hike
Following Ueda’s remarks, the yen strengthened as much as 0.4% to ¥157.34 against the dollar.
Bank of Japan Deputy Gov. Ryozo Himino has said that the central bank will raise rates if its outlook continues to be realized.
BUSINESS
Jan 14, 2025
BOJ deputy chief signals chance of rate hike next week
Most BOJ watchers see an interest rate hike coming in either January or March.
Former Bank of Japan board member Makoto Sakurai sees the likelihood of a hike in March as high as 70%, as the central bank may be better off waiting out at least the first couple of months of the new administration of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 9, 2025
Former BOJ board member sees rising chance of March rate hike
Makoto Sakurai says the central bank may wait out at least the first couple of months of the new administration of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda appears to want to keep his options open by noting the need to keep rates low to support the economy while flagging the risk of maintaining them at low levels for too long.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 25, 2024
Ueda avoids giving clear hint on chances of January rate hike
The Bank of Japan governor is sticking to his view that the central bank needs to keep monitoring risks for the economy.
Consumer prices excluding fresh food rose 2.7% in November from a year earlier driven by higher energy costs.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 20, 2024
Japan’s inflation accelerates on energy as BOJ seeks more data
Consumer prices excluding fresh food rose 2.7% in November from a year earlier driven by higher energy costs.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda said in a Nikkei interview last month that hikes are "nearing.”
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 12, 2024
BOJ said to see little cost to waiting for next rate hike
At the same time, some officials are not against a rate hike at this meeting if it is proposed, sources have said.
Ryozo Himino, deputy governor of the Bank of Japan, is scheduled to give a speech on Jan. 14, a rare step for the bank before its policy meeting later in the same month.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 10, 2024
BOJ plans a rare January speech that may lift rate hike views
By scheduling the speech before the January meeting, the BOJ will have a solid opportunity to telegraph its thinking on monetary policy.
Bank of Japan board member Toyoaki Nakamura's cautious stance on raising interest rates indicates that the idea of a December hike may not have unanimous support.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 5, 2024
BOJ’s leading dove calls for careful approach to tweaking easing
The board member's remarks indicate that the idea of hiking interest rates this month may not have unanimous support.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda reiterated in an interview published Saturday that authorities will raise rates if the economy performs in line with projections.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 3, 2024
BOJ weighs case for first triple hike since Japan’s bubble burst
The last time the BOJ conducted three hikes in a single year was in 1989, with the third increase that year coming on Christmas Day.
The yen briefly breached the key ¥150 mark against the dollar on Friday, as traders' expectations for a rate hike by the Bank of Japan in December grow.
BUSINESS / Markets
Nov 29, 2024
Yen breaches key ¥150 level as Tokyo inflation fuels BOJ bets
The swaps market is now factoring in a 63% chance of a BOJ rate hike in December, twice the odds at the start of the month.
Commercial buildings in the Shibuya area of Tokyo
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 29, 2024
Consumer inflation speeds up amid BOJ rate hike speculation
Overall inflation sped up to 2.6%, as food prices also pushed up the gauge, also outpacing economist expectations.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda said the timing of the central bank’s next policy adjustment will depend on the economy and prices during a speech in Nagoya on Monday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 18, 2024
Yen weakens after Ueda’s caution on BOJ rate hike hints
The yen weakened as much as 0.5% to ¥155.14 against the dollar as Ueda’s comments proved less hawkish than some market participants had expected.
Japanese household spending fell in September for the second straight month as higher prices choked consumers' appetite.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 8, 2024
Japan’s households cut spending once again as prices rise
Consumer spending in Japan has consistently failed to show clear signs of strength as shoppers have been forced to cope with prices increasing.
Most economists expect the Bank of Japan to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged during their policy meeting next week.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 24, 2024
BOJ watchers believe rate hike unlikely now as half brace for year-end shift
Analysts will be closely watching for policy hints from a two-day meeting that ends on Oct. 31, a few days after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s first general election.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks during the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington on Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Oct 24, 2024
Ueda says right-sizing BOJ normalization ‘keeps me awake 24/7’
Ueda and his fellow board members are widely expected to keep their benchmark rate unchanged at the next policy meeting, ending Oct. 31.
Eiji Maeda, former executive of the Bank of Japan
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 9, 2024
BOJ’s next hike likely to come in January, former official says
The central bank will be watching the U.S. presidential election, the trend in service prices this autumn and momentum ahead of next year’s annual wage talks.
The Bank of Japan raised it economic assessments for the Hokuriku and Tokai regions in its quarterly regional report Monday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 8, 2024
BOJ signals it remains on rate hike path with regional report
The Bank of Japan indicated it remains on track to consider more interest rate hikes by upgrading its assessments for two regional economies.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba meets with Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda at the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Oct 3, 2024
Further BOJ rate hike this year in doubt after Ishiba's surprise warning
A survey last month showed 53% of economists forecast the BOJ would push up interest rates in December, but that outlook is now in question.
The Bank of Japan's September board meeting summary suggests the BOJ will endeavor to send clearer hints before raising its benchmark rate again.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 1, 2024
BOJ keen to avoid surprises after rate hike tanked Nikkei, meeting notes show
The bank's July 31 rate hike shocked markets and prompted the 225-issue Nikkei average's biggest tumble on record.
BOJ takes rates to 0.5% amid calm markets after Trump inauguration
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda had sounded dovish after the central bank's December policy meeting, which led some analysts to say that rate hikes might only emerge in March.
Japanese researchers develop peptide preventing COVID-19 infections
Institute of Science Tokyo Distinguished Professor Yoshinori Fujiyoshi (left) and Assistant Professor Shun Nakamura, who developed a peptide that can bind to the spike proteins of the novel coronavirus to prevent COVID-19 infections, at the Institute of Science Tokyo's Ookayama campus in Tokyo on Monday
Japan supermarket sales up for fifth year in 2024
Vegetables for sale at a local supermarket in Kyoto.
Japan contemplates global free-trade leadership as U.S. goes protectionist
Shipping containers at an industrial port in the Keihin Industrial Zone in Kawasaki. Japanese businesses see a larger role for Japan if global trade breaks down and multilateral trade institutions become less effective without U.S. participation.
Search for suspect underway after fatal stabbing at Nagano Station
The crime scene where three people were attacked near JR Nagano Station on Wednesday
The cartoon chaos of ‘Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi’ was ahead of its time
Animated series “Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi” premiered on Cartoon Network on Nov. 29, 2004, and ran for three seasons. The show is based on real-life J-pop band Puffy.
How 'Twin Peaks' turned David Lynch into Japan's favorite weirdo
“The Elephant Man” and “Twin Peaks” director David Lynch became a favorite among Japanese moviegoers who flocked to new arthouse cinemas (known as “mini theaters”) popping up around the country in the 1980s and ’90s.
As parliament opens, ruling coalition enters uncharted territory
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivers a policy speech at the Lower House of the parliament in Tokyo last November.
Dodgers introduce Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki
Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki speaks during his introductory news conference with the team in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Japan-made games part of a rising tide of indie greatness
One of the brighest spots of Japan's indie gaming landscape in 2024 was Sonokuni, and with more incubators and other avenues of support springing up, there may be more games like it in the future.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Atsuyoshi Koike, the president and CEO of Rapidus, says there is a “sense of urgency” when it comes to Japan’s efforts in manufacturing semiconductors. “We have to make sure we are successful,” he says.
Atsuyoshi Koike’s big game: Fourth down and 2 nanometers to go
By Kazuaki Nagata and Richard Meyer

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