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April 01, 2025
 

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Toru Fujioka
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 14, 2023
China left out of Sri Lanka debt talks amid angst over delays
Finance chiefs from India, Japan and the Paris Club of sovereign creditors held a joint briefing in Washington with the International Monetary Fund to mark the start of the restructuring.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Apr 6, 2023
BOJ’s Kuroda hands $11.7 trillion ‘shock and awe’ experiment to his successor
In 10 years, the BOJ forked out ¥1.55 quadrillion ($11.7 trillion) on bonds, stock funds and corporate debt. The staggering cost has economists asking: 'Was it all worth it?”
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 31, 2023
IMF says BOJ should avoid hasty exit and provide rate guidance
Any indication of a shift in the 'yield curve control' program could trigger a massive bond selloff, leaving some economists predicting that an end to YCC could come very abruptly.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Mar 9, 2023
Japan’s economy narrowly avoids recession in fragile recovery
The ongoing weakness in the economy supports the central bank’s view that Japan still needs help from easy monetary policy.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 3, 2023
BOJ watchers see higher chance of June shift after Kazuo Ueda hearings
Some 41% of BOJ watchers expect a tightening step to take place in June according to a recent survey.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 3, 2023
Tokyo inflation slows sharply as subsidies mask ongoing strength
Consumer prices excluding fresh food rose 3.3% in the capital in February, slowing for the first time since January last year.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Mar 2, 2023
Peaking inflation risks are throwing Japanese investors a curveball
Early inflation figures for Tokyo, due Friday, are expected to show core consumer price growth slowing a full percentage point to 3.3% in February, from January’s four-decade high.
BUSINESS
Feb 22, 2023
BOJ likely to raise interest rates gradually, former board member says
Makoto Sakurai, who has known Bank of Japan governor nominee Kazuo Ueda for decades, sees little chance of a big policy shift at Ueda’s first policy meeting.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 20, 2023
BOJ watchers flag risk of March surprise by Kuroda to ease Ueda transition
As soon as he takes the helm nominated successor Kazuo Ueda will likely face intense market pressure for change, even if he may prefer to take time to carefully assess the stimulus measures.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 16, 2023
Japan’s trade deficit smashes record, topping ¥3 trillion
Export growth slowed sharply to 3.5%, with chip-making equipment among the largest drags, in a sign of weakening global tech-sector demand.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 9, 2023
LDP said to be divided if Kishida seeks BOJ pivot
With the nomination of a new governor likely to come next week, several party members said there will be opposition within the party if Kishida chooses Hirohide Yamaguchi.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 25, 2023
New BOJ governor likely to move away from special stimulus, ex-official says
The official said Japan is on track to break away from an entrenched deflationary mindset as it moves away from being an economy of zero inflation.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 20, 2023
Speculation swirls around possible BOJ policy change
A historic accord that ties the Bank of Japan to a 2% inflation goal is approaching its 10th anniversary amid speculation it may be revised to support a change of direction.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 16, 2023
Traders eye chance of further BOJ tweaks with ‘Pandora’s box open’
Another increase in the key 10-year yield's permitted trading ceiling is seen as the most likely course of action, should the BOJ act.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 15, 2023
BOJ surprise can’t be ruled out in first move of 2023
Uncertainty remains due in part to unclear messaging after the doubling of a cap on 10-year bond yields.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 13, 2023
BOJ watchers see earlier policy shift after December’s surprise
While a survey of 43 economists showed all but one predicting the central bank to leave policy unchanged next week, some 38% of respondents now forecast moves either in April or June.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 10, 2023
Tokyo inflation hits 4%, indicating stronger price trend than earlier thought
Consumer prices excluding fresh food climbed 4% in the capital in December as processed food and energy costs continued to mount.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 20, 2022
Kuroda shocks markets by raising BOJ cap on 10-year bond yields, driving up yen
The bank will now allow yields to rise to around 0.5%, up from the previous upper limit of 0.25% on their range of movement, according to a policy statement.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 14, 2022
Bank of Japan policy review likely in 2023, economists say
All 47 economists polled expect no change in the BOJ's negative interest rate and yield curve control program at the end of the two-day gathering on Dec. 20.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 12, 2022
Kishida aide says Masayoshi Amamiya and Hiroshi Nakaso among candidates for BOJ chief
The selection of the next BOJ head is a key decision for Kishida in 2023 and may become one of the most important calls of his tenure.
Japan's biggest beef bowl chain Sukiya to shut nearly 2,000 stores after rat and bug contamination
Zensho Holdings, operator of fast-food chain Sukiya, said it will close all of its stores in Japan, except for a small number in shopping centers, between Monday and Friday following recent contamination incidents.
Alert raised for volcano in southwestern Japan
Shinmoedake, a volcano located between Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures, in November 2019
Japan considers all possible options as Trump threatens new auto tariffs
Subaru cars awaiting export at a port in Yokohama on Thursday.
Nankai Trough earthquake could kill 298,000 people, government says
Residents participate in an evacuation drill held with West Japan Railway in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, in January 2024 to prepare for a Nankai Trough earthquake and a possible tsunami following the quake.
Japan, South Korea and China vow to strengthen trade ties amid looming U.S. tariffs
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto (left), South Korean Trade Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun (center) and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao during a trilateral meeting in Seoul on Sunday
A Canadian made a weekend trip to Costco a Japanese pastime
Under the watchful eye of Ken Theriault, Costco representative director and Japan country manager, the American membership-model wholesaler has flourished in Japan.
Tokyo tech failures lean into misfortune, mistakes and missteps
Tsuyoshi Domoto in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward on March 28. As an entrepreneur, Domoto experienced plenty of setbacks but maintains a positive attitude and continues to pursue his dreams.
Who among the opposition would join the ruling coalition?
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba enters his office in Tokyo on Friday.
Traveling the Three-Star Road, the tourist route made from thin air
Scenes like this snow-covered bridge leading to the village of Shirakawa-go are what make the Three-Star Road worth traveling — its name notwithstanding.
Recent spate of wildfires in Japan and South Korea linked to climate change
Smoke and flames rise from a wildfire in Andong, South Korea, on Tuesday.

Podcast

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

Longform

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan
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