May 22, 2013

Recovery only benefiting a few

The Cabinet Office on May 16 announced that Japan’s real gross domestic product (GDP) in the January-March period increased 0.9 percent, or an annualized 3.5 percent, from the previous quarter. But ordinary households have yet to feel tangible benefits from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ...

May 22, 2013

Why Abenomics hurts women

by Shihoko Goto

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s acknowledgement of the unleashed potential of women should herald a new beginning for female empowerment in Japan. Yet his proposals to encourage more women to remain in the workforce actually may do more to hurt their prospects by merely reinforcing ...

Apr 6, 2013

Economy remains shaky

The Bank of Japan's latest survey of business sentiment shows that confidence among major manufacturers improved in the first quarter of 2013.

Mar 4, 2013

Kuroda should keep his wits on Abe's doorstep

by William Pesek

As president of the Manila-based Asian Development Bank, Haruhiko Kuroda spent the past seven years confronting the challenges posed by 48 diverse, dynamic and complex Asia-Pacific economies. If he thought that was hard work, consider what awaits him in Tokyo as he prepares to ...

Feb 18, 2013

Third branch of Abenomics

Fiscal and monetary policies will do little to stimulate economic growth in Japan. So, it is time for a strategy to encourage private-sector investments.

Feb 7, 2013

'Abenomic' hopes and fears

by Shinji Fukukawa

“Abenomics” is now a buzzword at home and abroad. Even before taking office, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had strongly demanded that the Bank of Japan take action to end deflation and set an inflation target that would drive the yen lower. He had gone ...