91²Ö¿â

author

 
Menu
Search
 
December 07, 2025
 

Home Delivery
Subscribe for more access

Meta

Toru Fujioka
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks at a meeting with business leaders in Nagoya on Monday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 1, 2025
BOJ¡¯s Ueda sends clear hint at chance of December rate hike
The central bank ¡°will consider the pros and cons of raising the policy interest rate and make decisions as appropriate,¡± he told local business leaders in Nagoya.
Consumer prices excluding fresh food in the Tokyo area advanced 2.8% in November from a year earlier, matching the result for the previous month.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 28, 2025
Tokyo inflation beats forecast, keeping BOJ on rate hike path
Consumer prices excluding fresh food in the capital advanced 2.8% this month from a year earlier, the internal affairs ministry said Friday.
The value of the Bank of Japan¡¯s holdings of exchange-traded funds reached a record high at the end of September thanks to a stock rally.
BUSINESS
Nov 27, 2025
BOJ¡¯s unrealized gains from ETFs surge before offloading begins
The market value of the Bank of Japan¡¯s holdings of exchange-traded funds reached a record high at the end of September, according to a financial statement.
Junko Koeda, a Bank of Japan board member, has hinted that there is a chance of a rate hike when the bank delivers its next policy decision on Dec. 19.
BUSINESS
Nov 20, 2025
BOJ board member suggests chance of December hike after yen drop
In her first speech since joining the board in March, Junko Koeda indicated there¡¯s a chance of a rate hike when the bank delivers its next policy decision on Dec. 19.
Bank of Japan¡¯s headquarters in Tokyo
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 19, 2025
BOJ unlikely to hike before March, says panelist advising Prime Minister Takaichi
Goushi Kataoka, a member of Takaichi¡¯s economic growth strategy panel, estimated that a supplementary budget of around ?20 trillion would be necessary this fiscal year.
The Bank of Japan's September meeting minutes make clear that Japan¡¯s experience with more than a decade of deflation is keeping some members cautious as they await more data.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 5, 2025
BOJ minutes highlight caution rooted in Japan¡¯s deflationary era
The minutes shed light on the discussions surrounding policy at the September meeting, when Gov. Kazuo Ueda faced for the first time two votes against keeping rates on hold.
Food inflation was highlighted as one of three factors to watch in deciding the timing of the central bank¡¯s next rate hike.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 24, 2025
Japan¡¯s faster inflation highlights need for Takaichi response
New Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has made confronting the cost of living crunch a priority.
Most economists in a survey predict that the Bank of Japan will not raise its benchmark rate at its policy meeting this month.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 23, 2025
BOJ watchers push back rate hike call after Takaichi takes helm
Some 10% of 50 economists predict the BOJ will raise its benchmark rate at the end of a two-day policy meeting on Oct. 30, plunging from 36% in the previous survey.
Bank of Japan building in Tokyo
BUSINESS
Oct 20, 2025
BOJ board hawk calls for rate hike as Japan¡¯s price norm shifts
"I believe that now is a prime opportunity to raise the policy interest rate,¡± Takata said in a speech to local business leaders in Hiroshima.
Bank of Japan building in Tokyo
BUSINESS
Oct 16, 2025
BOJ¡¯s most hawkish member calls for rate hike amid price risks
Tamura's latest remarks suggest little shift in his stance even after Japan¡¯s political landscape turned murky in recent weeks.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent delivers remarks on Wednesday on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings in Washington.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 16, 2025
Bessent says yen will settle if BOJ keeps taking right policies
The statement follows the U.S. treasury secretary's remarks in August that Japan¡¯s central bank was behind the curve in addressing inflation.
Nominal wages rose 1.5% in August from a year earlier, decelerating from 3.4% in the previous month, according to a report from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 8, 2025
Japan¡¯s wage growth slows, underscoring challenge for Takaichi
Nominal wages increased 1.5% in August from a year earlier, decelerating from 3.4% in the previous month and falling below economist expectations.
Etsuro Honda, who advises the ruling party's head Sanae Takaichi on economic policies, says a rate hike by the Bank of Japan this month would be difficult.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 7, 2025
Takaichi adviser and Abenomics architect says October too soon for BOJ rate hike
Remarks by Etsuro Honda, who advises the new ruling-party leader on economic policies, suggest the BOJ may wait, despite earlier speculation of an October move.
BOJ Gov. Kazuo Ueda left the door open to policy shifts by reiterating the bank's stance on interest rates, giving no clear signal on a possible rate hike ahead of this month's board meeting.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 3, 2025
BOJ¡¯s Ueda keeps options open by avoiding clear hints for rates
Ueda refrained from telegraphing any policy changes after market speculation over an impending rate hike gained momentum in recent weeks.
Tokyo inflation is holding steady in September as subsidies offset price pressures, supporting Bank of Japan's cautious policy path.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 26, 2025
Tokyo consumer inflation unexpectedly holds steady, backing BOJ¡¯s caution
The sudden steadying of the main gauge shows anew the volatility of data as government measures meant to help consumers cope with soaring costs of living swing the results.
Market expectations for a rate hike when the Bank of Japan next sets policy on Oct. 30 have been gaining momentum as inflation has held steady and the economy has showed resilience.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 25, 2025
BOJ may raise rate as soon as October, says former board member
Market expectations for a rate hike when the bank next sets policy have been gaining momentum as inflation has held steady and the economy has showed resilience.
Takatoshi Ito, professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University, speaks during an interview in Tokyo in July 2017.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 24, 2025
Takatoshi Ito, Japanese inflation target advocate, dies at 74
Ito died on Sept. 20 from an unspecified illness, according to a statement on his personal website.
A former Bank of Japan chief economist says growing market speculation about a potential rate hike in October is underestimating the uncertainty caused by U.S President's Donald Trump's tariff campaign.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 5, 2025
BOJ¡¯s October rate stance tough to call, its ex-chief economist says
Speculation over a potential rate hike underestimates the uncertainty wrought by U.S. President Donald Trump¡¯s tariff campaign, Toshitaka Sekine says.
Consumer prices excluding fresh food rose 2.5% in Tokyo in August from a year earlier, versus a 2.9% clip in the previous month, according to the internal affairs ministry.
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 29, 2025
Tokyo inflation slows on subsidies as BOJ stays on hike path
Consumer prices excluding fresh food rose 2.5% year on year in the capital in August, versus a 2.9% clip in July.
Bank of Japan rate hikes may continue though trade uncertainties remain, board member Junko Nakagawa says.
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 28, 2025
BOJ board member reaffirms stance on raising interest rates
Junko Nakagawa's remarks indicate there¡¯s at most a low chance of a move coming at the board's next meeting, which concludes on Sept. 19, as of now.
Trump security strategy demands more from Japan while unveiling ¡®burden-sharing network¡¯
U.S. President Donald Trump makes a speech aboard the USS George Washington aircraft carrier during his visit to the U.S. Navy's Yokosuka base in Kanagawa Prefecture on Oct. 28.
Spotlight shines on humanoid robots at Tokyo show
A representative from Noitom Robotics demonstraties remote robot operation at the iREX International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo on Friday.
Japan¡¯s bear-related casualties hit record on escalating attacks
Bear bells are displayed for sale at a souvenir shop at Shirakawa-go, a popular tourist spot and one of Japan's UNESCO World Heritage sites, in the village of Shirakawa, Gifu Prefecture, on Nov. 15.
Suspected ³Ù´Ç°ì³Ü°ù²â¨± masterminds in Tokyo-area robberies arrested
Takuya Saito, 26, is one of four men arrested by Japanese police on Friday on suspicion of masterminding a series of robberies in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Average price of rice in Japan hits new record high
In the week ended last Sunday, the average price of rice sold at about 1,000 supermarkets across Japan rose by ?23 from the previous week to ?4,335 per 5 kilograms.
Trump security strategy demands more from Japan while unveiling ¡®burden-sharing network¡¯
U.S. President Donald Trump makes a speech aboard the USS George Washington aircraft carrier during his visit to the U.S. Navy's Yokosuka base in Kanagawa Prefecture on Oct. 28.
Will Takaichi bank on her high approval ratings to call a snap election?
While media polls show a high support rate for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi¡¯s Cabinet, the support for the LDP is not as great, meaning there¡¯s no guarantee of a coattail effect if a snap poll is called.
¡®Black Box Diaries¡¯ is Shiori Ito¡¯s unflinching case for the truth
¡°Black Box Diaries¡± documents Shiori Ito¡¯s legal case, while also showing her thoughts and feelings through journal style videos she recorded herself.
Kashima or Kashiwa: J. League title chase goes down to the wire
Kashima's Yuma Suzuki (center) takes a shot during a game against Kashiwa in March.
2025 was the year Japan¡¯s box office returned
In 2025, ¡°Demon Slayer¡± and ¡°Kokuho¡± broke box-office records, while films such as ¡°Renoir,¡± A Pale View of the Hills¡± and ¡°Two Strangers, Two Seasons¡± garnered acclaim on the international film festival circuit. The year¡¯s biggest loss was the death of Tatsuya Nakadai, an highly regarded actor who had worked with nearly all of the top directors of Japanese cinema¡¯s postwar golden age.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

Yumi Matsutoya began her decades-long career under her maiden name, Yumi Arai, but Japanese fans might know her better as ¡°Yuming.¡±
Yumi Matsutoya¡¯s human touch in an AI age
By Patrick St. Michel

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS note

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER