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December 22, 2024
 

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Sayuri Shirai

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Sayuri Shirai
Despite the challenges, including sluggish consumption and market volatility, the Bank of Japan's recent policy adjustments reflect a strategy aimed at ensuring a stable path toward its inflation goals.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 30, 2024
BOJ’s recent policy changes highlight a shift toward global monetary practices
The BOJ's approach is influenced by global financial regulations and aims to balance market stability with effective monetary policy.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei index is on a roll, having broken its bubble-era record last week.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 27, 2024
What explains the recent surge in Japanese stock prices?
Japan needs for increase domestic capital investment, technological innovation and sound risk-taking to improve long-term competitiveness.
The Bank of Japan's headquarters in Tokyo
COMMENTARY / Japan
Sep 19, 2023
The Bank of Japan faces a monetary policy conundrum
The BOJ may need to interpret the 2% price stability target more flexibly.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 23, 2023
BOJ faces monetary policy challenges amid an inflationary environment
The BOJ with its monetary policies must navigate various structural issues, including population decline, aging and geopolitical tensions to achieve its desired price stability.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 23, 2023
Will the new BOJ chief choose to maintain the status quo?
After 10 years of monetary easing under BOJ Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda, all eyes will be watching the central bank’s next steps under its new chief, Kazuo Ueda.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 24, 2023
Can the BOJ's next governor resist calls to exit the ultraeasy monetary policy?
While Ueda will surely maintain the current policy for the time being, it is not clear whether he will take the risk of normalizing the monetary easing policy during his governorship.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 22, 2022
Why is the Swiss franc still a safe-haven currency?
While other leading safe-haven currencies have taken a hit as of late, the Swiss franc keeps going strong.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 21, 2022
Inflation, oil prices and the yen: What’s behind the BOJ’s tack?
Japan's inflation rate is around 1%, one of the lowest in the world. Why is Japan, which has been battling deflation for two decades, still the exception even as global inflation is rising?
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 13, 2021
Will closer monetary-fiscal policy coordination lead to fiscal dominance?
As yield curves are already so flattened, central banks may need to rely more on reducing their holdings of government bonds to prevent an inversion of the yield curve.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Sep 16, 2021
Will TSE reforms boost Japan's corporate value?
In a bid to attract more long-term investors, Japan plans to reform its primary stock market.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 15, 2021
Time for Tokyo to become a leading hub of green finance
With investor interest in sustainable finance growing globally, Japan is encountering a rare opportunity to turn Tokyo into one of the leading green financial hubs in Asia.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 7, 2021
Bank of Japan policy hurts sustainable finance
An expansion of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) investment and a sustainable finance market is essential for Japan's economy.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 6, 2020
Changes afoot in the world of central banking
Further monetary easing may become inevitable for the U.S. Fed to make inflation targeting effective, and for the ECB to justify greater emphasis on the environment.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 14, 2020
Time for Japan to present a credible energy policy
The nation should not miss the opportunity to restructure its economic and energy-consumption structure for future generations.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 8, 2020
BOJ’s monetary easing lags behind U.S. and European central banks
Monetary easing measures adopted by the Bank of Japan lack boldness.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 3, 2020
Fiscal stimulus can ease the impact of COVID-19 on the global economy
Prompt actions by governments could help prevent the collapse of affected firms and individuals.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 20, 2019
China's digital currency could threaten dollar's dominance
China's central bank digital currency may boost the internationalization of the yuan.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 6, 2019
Trump aims to use trade deal to win election
Japan continues to find ways to please Trump while avoiding a worst case scenario for Japan's economy.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 9, 2019
Can MMT be Japan's savior?
Modern Monetary Theory may not be able to solve the nation's complicated long-standing structural problems.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 26, 2019
Japan's labor shortage and low-wage puzzle
Why does wage growth remain sluggish despite Japan's growing labor shortage?
Nippon Steel alleges undue White House influence on doomed deal review
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the economy at the Brookings Institution in Washington on Dec. 10.
Record 78% of people in Japan feel anxious, government survey finds
The public opinion survey on people's lives, conducted by the Cabinet Office, found that 28.1% of respondents think that their standard of living is at a lower-middle level among the general public — the highest percentage to give that response in 35 years.
Police raided suspect's home to arrest him after fatal Kitakyushu stabbing
Broken window glass is seen at Masanori Hirabaru's house in Kitakyushu's Kokuraminami Ward.
Taiwan lawmakers brawl over bills that would 'damage democracy'
Lawmakers from the Democratic Progressive Party and opposition party Kuomintang brawl in parliament in Taipei on Friday.
Mother hopes for reunion with daughter ensnared by Tokyo host clubs
The Kabukicho district in Tokyo, where the daughter of a woman in her 60s fell deeply into the host club culture.
Casual workouts, cool living, ‘complete’ food: Japan’s health trends of 2024
In 2024, efficiency trumped effort among Japan's fitness-focused aspirants.
The mighty Mekong River's growing plastic problem
A group of elephant keepers in Chiang Saen, Thailand, remove plastic waste from the Ruak River, a tributary of the Mekong River, as a pair of Asian elephants bathe behind them.
Japanese officials inspect Yokota Air Base over PFAS concerns
The Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo in September 2019. An inspection of the base by Japanese government officials on Friday came amid public pressure to investigate suspected links between the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam by the U.S. base and contamination of soil and groundwater in western Tokyo.
Crime numbers rise in Japan for second straight year
A police officer stands in front of the residence of a man alleged to have stabbed two junior high school students in Kitakyushu.
A year of Oscar wins and a quiet push for diversity
Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s “Evil Does Not Exist,” released in Japanese theaters in April, sharply dramatizes the clash between rural and urban values. The film won five awards at the 2023 Venice Film Festival, including the second-place Silver Lion prize.

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