Economy | ANALYSIS
Households to take hit from tax hike
by Tomoko Otake
The consumption tax increase will hit every household in Japan hard, with many people’s financial future hanging on whether their wages rise enough to offset the hike's impact.
Corporate | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE Aug 18, 2013
Japan must open up to foreign investment — especially from China
by Jochen Legewie
Earlier this year, NHK aired the three-part TV program “Made in Japan,” which dramatized an electronics company’s struggle to survive tough economic times. While fictional, the story detailed the harsh reality Japan Inc. faces from Chinese competition. But was the drama in fact a ...
Business | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE Apr 22, 2013
Polished PR, perception strategy fourth arrow in 'Abenomics' quiver
by Jochen Legewie
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is back and so, it appears, is Japan. The yen is down, the Nikkei up, and approval ratings and expectations for the new government are sky high. “Abenomics” is the new buzzword in and outside of Japan as unprecedented optimism ...
Business | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE Feb 25, 2013
Debate over weak yen, currency war misses point: demand is slack
by Jochen Legewie
Since mid-November, the yen has weakened substantially against the dollar, the euro and other currencies. The rapid decline was fueled by aggressive policy announcements by Shinzo Abe, before and after he became the prime minister in December, calling for more fiscal stimulus and for ...
Business | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE Dec 3, 2012
The best-kept secret in Japanese politics is that policies don't matter
by Jochen Legewie
Political parties in Japan are busy preparing for the Dec. 16 Lower House election. Each day, voters face new or newly merged parties, most of them determined to become part of the “third political force” or “third pole” forming to challenge the ruling Democratic ...
Business | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE Oct 1, 2012
Flip-flop on no-nuclear energy policy bodes ill for the future of Japan
by Jochen Legewie
On Sept. 14, the Japanese government presented to the public a new national energy strategy. This long-awaited plan included as its focal point the objective of eliminating nuclear power by the end of the 2030s. Less than a week later, however, Japan’s hopes for ...
Business | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE May 21, 2012
For better or worse, Japan might remain nuclear-free forever
by Jochen Legewie
On May 5, Japan’s last operating nuclear reactor was shut down, turning it into a nuclear energy-free country. The government is working desperately to restart two reactors in the town of Oi in Fukui Prefecture, but the outcome is difficult to predict. In fact, ...
Business | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE Mar 5, 2012
Todai plan to shift school year could be catalyst for wider Japanese reforms
by Jochen Legewie
The University of Tokyo, locally known as Todai, has announced a draft plan to shift the start of its academic year from spring to autumn and called on 11 other major universities to join it. Public discussion of the proposal has been immense since ...
Business | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE Jan 9, 2012
South Korea's opening leaves wishy-washy Japan farther behind
by Jochen Legewie
On July 1, 2011, the European Union-South Korea free-trade agreement took effect, promising to significantly facilitate the exchange of goods and services and give both nations a major economic boost. The conclusion of the deal demonstrated the huge European interest in South Korea’s economy ...
Business | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE Nov 7, 2011
A U.S. of Euro Land may be what's needed but unity is in short supply
by Jochen Legewie
Japan launched major yen-selling intervention on Oct. 31 in response to massive speculative yen-buying — the first such action since August. The ever-rising yen is threatening Japan’s export industry and can easily derail the eagerly awaited economic recovery from the March 11 shock. However, ...
Business | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE Sep 19, 2011
Japan faces crossroads for rebranding itself after Fukushima crisis
by Jochen Legewie
The Fukushima power plant crisis has clearly damaged Japan as a country brand. There has been an outpouring of sympathy for the victims and a widespread admiration for Japan’s perseverance, stoicism and orderly response, but the overwhelming perception overseas is negative: disbelief that such ...
Business | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE Jul 18, 2011
German energy study offers framework for Japanese policy chaos
by Jochen Legewie
Pure chaos is reigning over Japanese energy policy and the future of its nuclear power industry. Just after trade minister Banri Kaieda declared the nation’s nuclear power stations safe to restart late last month, Prime Minister Naoto Kan suddenly ordered that stress tests be ...
Business | THE VIEW FROM EUROPE May 9, 2011
Meaningful future needed to preserve Tokyo Motor Show
by Jochen Legewie
Japanese automakers were hit hard by the March earthquake and the massive supply chain interruptions continue. It’s so bad in fact that normalization of production at most domestic and overseas plants is expected to take until the end of the year. Toyota is likely ...