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Toru Fujioka
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 26, 2021
BOJ’s newest board member sees Japan inflation creeping up
Higher energy costs have helped Japan's key gauge of consumer prices edge up over the last two months for the first time in more than a year.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 22, 2021
From bathhouses to fisheries, hidden inflation is creeping across Japan
Gasoline prices soared to a seven-year high this month and the government is expecting the tightest power supply in a decade this winter.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 19, 2021
Japan inflation shows continued pulse as gas prices surge
Soaring commodity prices amid supply chain bottlenecks and a weaker yen are squeezing many Japanese businesses, which are facing the strongest cost pressure in four decades.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 17, 2021
Japan's export growth fails to meet estimates as car shipments plunge
Exports gained at the slowest pace in eight months in October amid global supply constraints, compounding a greater than expected economic contraction last quarter.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 2, 2021
Japan’s stimulus likely to reveal Kishida’s true spending colors
Cash handouts and a relaunch of domestic travel subsidies will be considered for inclusion when the package is put together in mid-November.
BUSINESS
Oct 29, 2021
Plunging output adds to Japan recovery headwinds as election looms
Sharper production has been falling amid global supply shortages weakening a key pillar of Japan's recovery and will likely weigh on third quarter growth.
BUSINESS
Oct 22, 2021
Japan’s prices rise for first time in 18 months on energy costs
While commodity prices are the main driver of surging costs, there is anecdotal evidence that some businesses are carefully asking households to embrace higher price tags.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 20, 2021
Japan’s exports weakened by supply snags hurting global trade
The figures from the world's third-largest economy add to evidence that COVID-19-triggered supply chain bottlenecks are taking a toll on global trade.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 18, 2021
Bank of Japan's extra goals help it play down inflation, ex-official says
The central bank will continue to diversify its goals so it can place less emphasis on achieving its price target, according to a former BOJ executive director.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 1, 2021
Japan could get boost if shoppers spend ¥20 trillion saved during pandemic
In places like the U.S. and the U.K., pent-up consumer demand has helped fuel strong recoveries, but whether the floodgates will open quite as wide in Japan is an open question.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 24, 2021
Japan's consumer prices didn't fall in August, snapping longest downtrend since 2011
While the reading was improved, the nation's weak inflation pulse has trapped the Bank of Japan in a holding pattern while other central banks move toward curbing pandemic stimulus.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 22, 2021
BOJ's Haruhiko Kuroda reaffirms policy mix need ahead of LDP leadership vote
The central bank decided to set short-term interest rates at minus 0.1% while guiding 10-year government bond yields around 0% to keep borrowing costs low for companies and households.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Sep 21, 2021
Haruhiko Kuroda's monetary experiment set to continue beyond BOJ tenure record
Reaching the landmark as longest-running governor will be testament to Kuroda's ability to keep political and market pressure at bay despite having failed to spark inflation.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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