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Koichi Hamada
For Koichi Hamada's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
The yen's exchange rate against the dollar on Wednesday. The yen declined from ¥103 against the dollar in 2020 to as little as ¥151 in late 2023.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 11, 2024
Is a weak yen good for Japan’s economy?
The yen's fast depreciation is boosting overseas investment and sectors like tourism, but could also trigger inflation. In response, the BOJ should raise interest rates.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 12, 2023
Japan’s giant of central banking
Critics of former BOJ Gov. Kuroda complain that he never achieved the 2% inflation target. What they fail to acknowledge is his policies led to a dramatic strengthening of the labor market.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 17, 2023
Should Japan have a nuclear-sharing agreement?
While Japan may be softening to the idea of taking a more active role in its own security, persuading the Japanese to accept the idea of hosting nuclear weapons will not be easy.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 8, 2023
Barbarians at democracy’s gates
The conventional wisdom is that the arc of history always bends toward peace, tolerance, justice and democracy. But recent political violence makes it clear there is no room for complacency.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Sep 7, 2022
A man who genuinely cared: Mourning the real Shinzo Abe
Though the slain former Japanese prime minister belonged to the hawkish wing of his party, he was not the unbending nationalist conservative that many foreigners deemed him to be.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 8, 2022
Will Taiwan be the next Ukraine?
It may take a Chinese invasion of Taiwan before the world finds out if the U.S. will defend the island.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 6, 2022
When will this inflation ever end?
To understand the increase in consumer price inflation around the world, one must look not only at supply and demand but also at the wedge that the coronavirus introduced between them.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 16, 2022
The old way is not the best way to make Japan productive again
If Japanese firms opt to resume a traditional work routine u2014 with its long hours, exhausting commutes and minimal vacations u2014 both people and the economy will suffer.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 21, 2022
The power and poison of Modern Monetary Theory
The rigid stances of MMTu2019s devotees and detractors have not led to productive discussions over its viability.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 7, 2021
What will Fumio Kishida do?
The questions now are how Kishida will use this impressive election result and what will his leadership mean for Japan?
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 4, 2021
The right economic advice for the pandemic recovery
The challenge now is to devise a recovery strategy that recognizes the implications of todayu2019s global economic interdependence.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 25, 2021
The U.S. and its immigration calculus
Higher levels of immigration may help to explain why U.S. GDP growth often exceeds that of Japan.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 3, 2021
Biden’s stimulus trade-offs
While Lawrence Summers may be overstating the inflation threat, a careful review of Joe Bidenu2019s stimulus plan along the lines he proposes is probably a good idea.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 28, 2020
Epidemics, economics and externalities
The COVID-19 pandemic and environmental threats will hopefully fuel demands for greater social solidarity.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 6, 2020
A more humane post-pandemic social contract
There's reason to hope that the COVID-19 crisis will catalyze a shift toward more just societies
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 13, 2020
Keeping up with the Fed
Economies like Japan will have little choice but to pursue post-pandemic monetary expansion.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 4, 2020
The financial fight against COVID-19
Fiscal, not monetary measures, should be when disasters and epidemics strike.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 3, 2020
Does inattention explain today's low inflation?
In the 1980s and 1990s, people were acutely aware of inflationary risks, whereas economic actors today may be setting their expectations based on a different set of considerations.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 6, 2019
The right way to finance disaster recovery
It's unwise to burden a battered economy with higher taxes.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 1, 2019
U.S.-China spat is more than just a trade war
US President Donald Trump's trade war with China is driven at least as much by anxiety over China's rise as by economic rationality. That kind of insecurity can have disastrous consequences.

Longform

A statue of "Dragon Ball" character Goku stands outside the offices of Bandai Namco in Tokyo. The figure is now as recognizable as such characters as Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man.
Akira Toriyama's gift to the world