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Leika Kihara
Bank of Japan board member Toyoaki Nakamura says it is uncertain whether smaller companies can earn enough profits to keep hiking wages next year and beyond.
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 31, 2023
BOJ policymaker warns against premature monetary tightening
Tightening monetary policy before rising prices are accompanied by higher wages would hurt domestic demand and corporate profits, Toyoaki Nakamura said.
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 25, 2023
Inflation in Tokyo slowed in August but stayed above BOJ target
The Tokyo core consumer price index, which excludes volatile fresh food but includes fuel costs, rose 2.8% in August from a year earlier.
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 22, 2023
BOJ's Ueda meets Kishida but says yen volatility wasn't discussed
The talks took place after the dollar's recent ascent above ¥145, a level that last September triggered Japan's first yen-buying operation since 1998.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks during a news conference, following the central bank's policy meeting, on July 28.
BUSINESS
Aug 7, 2023
BOJ debated chance of sustained inflation at July meeting
The central bank's upbeat view on the inflation outlook suggests they are now more convinced that conditions for phasing out stimulus could fall in place.
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo. BOJ Deputy Gov. Shinichi Uchida has said there is still a long way to go before conditions fall into place for the bank to raise its short-term interest rate target.
BUSINESS
Aug 2, 2023
BOJ tweak not prelude to ultralow rates exit: deputy governor
Shinichi Uchida said there is still a long way to go before the BOJ can raise its short-term interest rate target from the current minus 0.1%.
International Monetary Fund chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 26, 2023
IMF urges BOJ to move away from yield control and prepare for future tightening
The remarks came ahead of the BOJ's meeting on Friday, where the board will release price forecasts and debate whether to adjust policy.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 20, 2023
Japan cuts growth forecast and projects inflation over 2% BOJ target
The estimates come ahead of a Bank of Japan policy meeting next week, set to be closely watched amid market expectations the bank will soon phase out its massive stimulus program.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 12, 2023
Japan households' inflation expectations rise, keeping pressure on BOJ
The ratio of Japanese households expecting prices to rise a year from now stood at 86.3% in June, up from 85.7% in March to hit the highest level since June 2022, the BOJ survey showed.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 10, 2023
BOJ highlights broadening wage and price hikes in report on regional Japan
In a quarterly report, the central bank also said some firms were considering raising the prices of their goods and services to guard against the prospect of rising labor costs.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Jul 4, 2023
Tokyo in constant dialogue with U.S. and others on currencies, finance minister says
The remarks likely signal Tokyo's desire to keep the market on guard about possible currency intervention to prop up the yen, which has been hovering near ¥145 to the dollar.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 3, 2023
Improving Japan business mood signals steady economic recovery
Companies expect to increase capital expenditure and project inflation to stay above the Bank of Japan's 2% target five years ahead, the quarterly tankan showed.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 31, 2023
BOJ's Ueda says era of low global interest rates may be over
Some academics say global inflationary pressure may eventually subside, but others warn the current period of high inflation will change people's view on prices, Ueda added.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 26, 2023
Inflation in Tokyo slows in May, but key gauge hits four-decade high
The data showed firms continued to pass on rising costs to households in a sign inflationary pressure could last longer than the BOJ projects.
BUSINESS
May 15, 2023
Japan's top economic officials debate whether sustained exit from deflation is near
With inflation accelerating globally and wage growth picking up in Japan, discussions also touched on the desirable timing to end the Bank of Japan's ultraloose monetary policy.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
May 9, 2023
Japan says G7 will discuss strengthening global banking system
The recent collapse of First Republic Bank has exacerbated investor worries about the U.S. banking sector, and raised calls for better global oversight.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
May 8, 2023
BOJ debated risk of inflation overshoot in March, minutes show
Some policy board members said they saw some 'positive signs' emerging in Japan that suggested the economy was making progress toward achieving the BOJ's 2% inflation target.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
May 2, 2023
Japan and South Korea hold first finance leaders' meeting in seven years
The two countries agreed to resume regular finance dialogue 'at an appropriate timing,' Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki told reporters after the meeting.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2023
BOJ chief wants 'quite strong' inflation before tweaking yield control policy
Sources have said the BOJ is likely to maintain its ultraeasy monetary policy at the first rate review to be chaired by Kazuo Ueda, who assumed the post in April.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 21, 2023
Japan's broadening inflationary pressures test BOJ's dovish stance
Consumer inflation held steady above the central bank's target in March and an index excluding fuel costs rose at the fastest annual pace in four decades.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy / ANALYSIS
Apr 17, 2023
New BOJ head's message to world: We're staying the course — for now
Since taking the helm a week ago, Ueda has dropped some hints the massive stimulus of his dovish predecessor Haruhiko Kuroda will eventually be phased out.

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