November 16, 2025

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BUSINESS

Economy

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Friday that Japanese businesses are focusing too much on shareholders, expressing frustration that companies are not using more capital to raise wages.

BUSINESS / Economy

Nov 14, 2025

Takaichi pushes back against companies' focus on shareholders

By Sakura Murakami — Alice French

The Prime Minister's comments flicked at her frustration with firms for not using more capital to raise wages.

Producer prices in Japan rose 2.7% in October from a year earlier, driven by higher food and copper costs, the Bank of Japan has said.

BUSINESS / Economy

Nov 13, 2025

Producer prices rose 2.7% on year in October, with agricultural goods up 31.4%

The producer price index, which measures the cost of goods traded between businesses, rose for the 56th consecutive month, Bank of Japan data shows.

The yen has fallen about 4.5% against the dollar so far this quarter, the most among its Group of 10 peers.

BUSINESS / Economy

Nov 13, 2025

Japan’s slumping currency intensifies debate over intervention

By Mia Glass - John Cheng

As the yen slumps toward levels that previously drew authorities into the market, traders are increasingly skeptical that direct intervention will work this time.

The travel services trade surplus rose to ¥3.31 trillion thanks to an increase in visitors to Japan.

BUSINESS / Economy

Nov 11, 2025

Japan's April-September current account surplus hits record high

The current account balance expanded mainly because the trade balance swung to a surplus following lower imports.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and other members of a government panel on economic growth strategy gather for their first meeting at the Prime Minister's Office on Monday.

BUSINESS / Economy

Nov 11, 2025

Takaichi eyes stimulus package to jump-start growth plan

By Yoshiaki Nohara — Sakura Murakami — Takashi Umekawa

Takaichi has signaled a shift toward more expansionary fiscal policy and said that Japan remains only halfway toward achieving stable inflation supported by wage growth.

Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks after the October rate-setting meeting, where the policy rate was kept at 0.5%.

BUSINESS / Economy

Nov 10, 2025

Bank of Japan signals it's inclined to increase rates, with the usual caveats

By Kazuaki Nagata

The central bank will make the move as long as wages keep moving up at a healthy pace, and there are no big surprises.

Tokyo has a gross domestic product of $2.55 trillion, just ahead of New York’s $2.49 trillion and Greater Los Angeles’ $1.62 trillion, according to CEOWorld’s global wealth index.

BUSINESS / Economy

Nov 10, 2025

Tokyo ranked world’s richest city by GDP, with Osaka-Kobe also rated highly

By Elizabeth Beattie

The Japanese capital excelled thanks to its "operational excellence, technological sophistication, and disciplined economic governance,” according to a recent report.

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

An illustration features the Japanese signs for "ganbare" (good luck) and the Deaflympics, which will be held between Nov. 15 and 26.

A century of Deaf sport finds its moment in Tokyo

By Kathryn Wortley

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Maruhachi never sleeps in quest for better futons

Maruhachi never sleeps in quest for better futons

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