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Toru Fujioka
Christine Lagarde (left), president of the European Central Bank, Kazuo Ueda, governor of the Bank of Japan (center) and Jerome Powell, chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, at the Jackson Hole economic symposium in Moran, Wyoming, on Friday
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 27, 2023
BOJ chief says strategy backed by below-target inflation
Gov. Kazuo Ueda said price growth remains slower than the central bank’s goal, explaining why officials are continuing with their current strategy.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters at the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Aug 23, 2023
Kishida under pressure to spend even as debt costs rise
The prime minister pivoted away from his previous stance Tuesday by scrapping September-end plans to stop subsidies that cap gasoline prices.
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo. Some economists see the central bank’s loosening of restraints on 10-year bond yields as a message to the government that it now will have to do financial management responsibly, because the BOJ won’t control yields as firmly as it used to.
BUSINESS
Aug 4, 2023
Japan’s fiscal plight draws scrutiny after BOJ policy tweak
Tokyo seeking to expand spending on defense and child care, even as the national debt has grown to almost 260% of gross domestic product.
The headquarters of Bank of Japan in Tokyo. The central bank has sharply raised its inflation forecast for this fiscal year and sees risks on the upside for this year and next.
BUSINESS
Aug 1, 2023
No further BOJ policy shifts expected in 2023 after surprise tweak
A survey last week found 26% of 41 economists see next April as the most likely time for further adjustments.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda has repeatedly pushed back against the idea that a major pivot on policy is looming by emphasizing his doubts about the sustainability of price rises.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 25, 2023
BOJ set to stick with easing as markets see clock ticking on yield control
Since taking the helm in April, Gov. Kazuo Ueda has repeatedly pushed back against the idea that a major pivot on policy is looming.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 19, 2023
Tokyo traders await June inflation data ahead of BOJ policy meeting
Consumer prices excluding fresh food and energy costs have seen price gains hovering close to a high of more than four decades.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 14, 2023
BOJ to tweak yield control this month, ex-official says
Hideo Hayakawa, who is also a former BOJ chief economist, said that the central bank must raise its inflation outlook for this fiscal year to match reality.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 13, 2023
Market reflects rising speculation over BOJ policy tweak ahead of July meeting
At least some market players think the BOJ may choose to reshape its policy of holding down 10-year yields, to help boost an economy already showing signs of improved price and wage trends.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 30, 2023
Tokyo inflation speeds up again as Japan production sputters
Consumer prices excluding fresh food increased 3.2% in the capital from a year earlier, rising at a slightly faster pace than last month’s revised figures.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 29, 2023
BOJ chief says confidence in 2024 price gains could bring a policy shift
Ueda has repeatedly stressed the high cost of premature tightening as green shoots finally emerge to generate sustainable inflation.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 28, 2023
Weak yen now the key to stronger currency and BOJ pivot later
An extended period of weakness could counterintuitively lay the ground for long-run strength should it help the BOJ boost growth and finally pivot from supereasy monetary policy.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 27, 2023
Official behind last year’s ¥9.33 trillion yen intervention strategy reappointed
Masato Kanda has become just the fourth official in the past three decades to serve a third year as vice finance minister for international affairs, Finance Ministry documents show.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 14, 2023
Goldman bumps up Japan price forecasts to widen gap with BOJ
Goldman cited a weaker yen and oil prices as major reasons for its revision.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 12, 2023
BOJ’s Ueda likely to hold with bond market on his side for now
Gov. Kazuo Ueda has repeatedly signaled his intention to take time before making any major changes to the central bank’s stimulus.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 11, 2023
BOJ is said to see little need to tweak yield controls for now
The officials say inflation is running stronger than expected, a factor that raises the chance of the BOJ upgrading its inflation forecast in a quarterly economic outlook report in July.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Jun 5, 2023
Rapid return of tourists to Japan helping fuel inflation for BOJ
Almost 2 million visitors arrived from overseas in April, compared with less than 140,000 a year earlier, according to Japan’s National Tourism Organization.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 31, 2023
BOJ to hold policy amid election chatter, ex-board member says
The BOJ will refrain from changing its 'yield curve control' program while speculation continues to swirl that the prime minister will call a snap election, according to an ex-board member.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 26, 2023
BOJ’s Ueda says wages aren’t the goal as he keeps speculators in dark
The remarks leave room for the bank to be nimble about how and when it will be convinced about the prospect of price gains.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 19, 2023
Bank of Japan chief warns against premature policy change even after price jump
Ueda’s reassurance that the central bank will continue with easing contrasts with lingering speculation over policy adjustment among BOJ watchers.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 19, 2023
Japan’s inflation quickens again, putting pressure on BOJ view
Economists see resilient consumption sustaining the country’s recovery for the foreseeable future.

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Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?