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.
Economy Oct 1, 2013
'Tankan' logs strong corporate optimism
by Jun Hongo
In what figured to be the final push for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to go ahead with raising the consumption tax to 8 percent in April, the Bank of Japan's "tankan" report shows a sharp increase in business sentiment among manufacturers.
Economy Sep 24, 2013
More upbeat 'tankan' predicted
Most private think tanks in a recent survey expect the Bank of Japan’s next “tankan” report to show improved business sentiment among large manufacturers for the third straight quarter. Fifteen of the 17 think tanks canvassed predict the headline diffusion index for large manufacturers ...
Japan-related Sep 17, 2013
Japanese might just miss deflation when it's gone
by William Pesek
As BOJ Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda tries to spur Japan's inflation rate, he faces a graying public that has learned not only to live with deflation but also to enjoy it.
Business Sep 11, 2013
BOJ exec says Fed taper might rock emerging economies, Japan recovery
Bank of Japan Policy Board member Koji Ishida voiced concern Wednesday about how emerging economies will be affected if the U.S. Federal Reserve begins tapering its quantitative easing program and said it was time for Japan to return to traditional export-led growth. Tapering bond ...
Economy Sep 10, 2013
Fiscal credibility critical: BOJ board
Many Bank of Japan policymakers stressed the importance of maintaining fiscal management credibility to ensure stable interest rates and called on the government to promote fiscal consolidation, according to the minutes of their policy meeting last month. During the meeting Aug. 7 and 8, ...
Economy Sep 5, 2013
BOJ sees moderate recovery in economy
The Bank of Japan upgrades its opinion of the economy for the first time since July, describing it as "recovering moderately" on solid consumer spending and recovering corporate spending amid improvements in jobs and nonbase pay.
Economy Sep 5, 2013
Failure to raise sales tax 'could hurt bond prices'
Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda has urged the government to stick to its plan to raise the sales tax in April, saying Japanese government bond prices could collapse if it fails to do so, official sources said Wednesday. “I do not intend to ...
Business Aug 29, 2013
BOJ exec calls for trust amid tax hike talks
A Bank of Japan Policy Board member Thursday called for the need to secure market trust in Japan’s fiscal health to fully exert the effects of monetary easing, apparently urging the government to proceed with its planned sales tax hike next year. “As our ...
Business Aug 21, 2013
2% inflation target achievable even with tax hike: BOJ chief
The Bank of Japan will be able to achieve its 2 percent inflation target even if the sales tax is raised as scheduled next April, as the move is unlikely to stall the economy, BOJ Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda said Tuesday. “Basically, a consumption tax ...
Business Aug 18, 2013
Japan's ¥1,000,000,000,000,000 debt no problem for BOJ chief Kuroda
by William Pesek
Haruhiko Kuroda doesn’t wear a wizard’s hat when he arrives at Bank of Japan headquarters each morning. Once inside, I do wonder if he dons a cloak, waves a magic wand and concocts mysterious potions. Kuroda has done something truly supernatural in his five ...
Economy Aug 13, 2013
Overseas weakness worries BOJ
Some Bank of Japan policymakers pointed to weakening in the economies of China and emerging countries as a reason why overseas demand was likely to fall short of projections, the minutes of their meeting last month showed Tuesday. During the July 10-11 Policy Board ...
Economy Aug 12, 2013
Japan's April-June GDP grows, affecting tax hike decision
The economy grew an annualized real 2.6 percent in the three months through June with consumption and exports recuperating, the government said Monday, possibly further swaying Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s fall decision on whether to raise the 5 percent sales tax to 8 percent ...