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Toru Fujioka
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 10, 2021
Rebellious Tokyo bars flout virus measure requests
Bars and eateries account for about 17% of Japan's COVID-19-related bankruptcies, the most among any industry group, research shows.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 8, 2021
Japan’s economy grew at faster clip last quarter as government spent more
Gross domestic product grew at an annualized pace of 1.9% in the three months to June.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 3, 2021
BOJ gets hip to social media with tweet on new ¥10,000 note
The bank's unveiling of a new u00a510,000 bill got mixed reactions from the Japanese public.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 1, 2021
Japan stimulus likely to continue whoever wins election, former BOJ exec says
'You would be risking a big market reaction by touching monetary policy,” said Kazuo Momma, former head of monetary policy at the central bank.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 16, 2021
BOJ joins global climate change fight with green loan incentives
The BOJ said it would offer banks interest-free funds for climate-linked loans or investments and exempt more of their reserves from its negative interest rate.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 18, 2021
Bank of Japan flags new step on climate and extends COVID-19 support program
The Bank of Japan surprised investors by joining other central banks with a measure to support climate change mitigation, while standing pat on its main policy levers.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 16, 2021
BOJ sees no need for extra bond-buying tweaks for now, sources say
The BOJ starts its two-day meeting Thursday, with a majority of economists expecting the bank to extend its special COVID-19 funding program to help struggling businesses.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 8, 2021
Japan's GDP shrinks less than feared, easing double-dip worries
The adjusted figure came as yet another round of restrictions to contain the coronavirus threatens to prolong an economic slump.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 28, 2021
Kuroda says BOJ will consider climate in monetary policy discussions
Until now, Kuroda has largely stuck to the view that the BOJ needs to consider climate change from the perspective of how it might present a risk to the financial system.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 21, 2021
Japan's falling prices obscure inflation goal, but weak yen may lift economy
The disconnect as the nation bucks the global trend of rising inflation could split its policy stance away from the trajectory of other major economies.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 27, 2021
Japan to miss key 2% inflation target again as policy coordination loosened
'It's hugely symbolic that even Kuroda can't hit the target after a decade,” said a chief economist and former Bank of Japan official.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 16, 2021
BOJ likely to discuss raising economic outlook, sources say
BOJ officials see a strong recovery in the United States and China as a driving force for Japan's export-reliant economy.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 13, 2021
Ex-BOJ member sees no rate cuts without fresh crisis
Former board member Makoto Sakura's comments indicate the BOJ's bar for lowering rates is as high as ever and that weak inflation alone won't be enough to trigger such a move.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 12, 2021
Japan’s slow vaccine rollout pushes back recovery time frame
The slow rollout means struggling businesses and fearful shoppers will have to hold out for longer as the economy's recovery is delayed by as much as two years compared with global peers.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Mar 19, 2021
BOJ carves out more policy flexibility after three-month review
The bank also said it would offer lending incentives if it lowered its target rates.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Mar 11, 2021
BOJ looking to foster more yield fluctuations in bond market
The range around the 10-year yield target is a key focus for markets as the central bank looks to enhance the sustainability of its monetary stimulus.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Mar 1, 2021
BOJ considers three pressure points to prolong stimulus
But with the Nikkei stock index around three-decade highs, some lawmakers and economists are asking why it's necessary to keep propping up the market.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 26, 2021
Japan’s factory output shows resilience despite emergency
Industrial output rose 4.2% in January from the previous month, with production of memory chips and semiconductor equipment climbing, the trade ministry reported Friday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 18, 2021
Bank of Japan policy review seen as fine-tuning, not game-changing
BOJ Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda has a history of delivering surprises, so investors have been left guessing about what the policy assessment announced last month will deliver, if anything.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 16, 2020
Japan’s ¥73.6 trillion stimulus hinges on spending by older generation
People over the age of 65 make up 29% of the population and account for almost 40% of the consumer spending that is the biggest driver of Japan's economy.

Longform

Traditional folk rituals like Mizudome-no-mai (dance to stop the rain) provide a sense of agency to a population that feels largely powerless in the face of the climate crisis.
As climate extremes intensify, Japan embraces ancient weather rituals