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May 01, 2024
 

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Toru Fujioka
For Toru Fujioka's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 9, 2023
LDP said to be divided if Kishida seeks BOJ pivot
With the nomination of a new governor likely to come next week, several party members said there will be opposition within the party if Kishida chooses Hirohide Yamaguchi.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 25, 2023
New BOJ governor likely to move away from special stimulus, ex-official says
The official said Japan is on track to break away from an entrenched deflationary mindset as it moves away from being an economy of zero inflation.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 20, 2023
Speculation swirls around possible BOJ policy change
A historic accord that ties the Bank of Japan to a 2% inflation goal is approaching its 10th anniversary amid speculation it may be revised to support a change of direction.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 16, 2023
Traders eye chance of further BOJ tweaks with ‘Pandora’s box open’
Another increase in the key 10-year yield's permitted trading ceiling is seen as the most likely course of action, should the BOJ act.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 15, 2023
BOJ surprise can’t be ruled out in first move of 2023
Uncertainty remains due in part to unclear messaging after the doubling of a cap on 10-year bond yields.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 13, 2023
BOJ watchers see earlier policy shift after December’s surprise
While a survey of 43 economists showed all but one predicting the central bank to leave policy unchanged next week, some 38% of respondents now forecast moves either in April or June.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 10, 2023
Tokyo inflation hits 4%, indicating stronger price trend than earlier thought
Consumer prices excluding fresh food climbed 4% in the capital in December as processed food and energy costs continued to mount.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 20, 2022
Kuroda shocks markets by raising BOJ cap on 10-year bond yields, driving up yen
The bank will now allow yields to rise to around 0.5%, up from the previous upper limit of 0.25% on their range of movement, according to a policy statement.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 14, 2022
Bank of Japan policy review likely in 2023, economists say
All 47 economists polled expect no change in the BOJ's negative interest rate and yield curve control program at the end of the two-day gathering on Dec. 20.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 12, 2022
Kishida aide says Masayoshi Amamiya and Hiroshi Nakaso among candidates for BOJ chief
The selection of the next BOJ head is a key decision for Kishida in 2023 and may become one of the most important calls of his tenure.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 2, 2022
BOJ board member calls for policy review at the right time
Naoki Tamura has said it's hard to define the 'right time' mechanically, or decide what would make it necessary because it depends on inflation, wages and the economy.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 18, 2022
Ex-BOJ chief economist says policy review likely in post-Kuroda era
Whoever succeeds Kuroda will face tough challenges, with a global economic slowdown next year likely to take a heavier toll on Japan's economy than the BOJ currently expects.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 27, 2022
BOJ’s Kuroda faces balancing act to avoid tanking yen
With the European Central Bank and the U.S. Federal Reserve expected to deliver more rate hikes, a stand-pat decision will further emphasize the BOJ's outlier status.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 26, 2022
Japan expected to keep last central bank negative interest rate
Explaining the refusal to shift gears is getting harder and such doggedness risks triggering a fresh downward spiral for the embattled yen.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / ANALYSIS
Oct 21, 2022
Violent market swings await day the BOJ’s yield anchor lifts
For now, most economists expect BOJ Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda to stick with yield-curve control, until he steps down in April, even as the yen slides.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 14, 2022
Japan keeps up yen warnings, declines to say if intervened
The currency fell to u00a5147.67 per dollar, the weakest since August 1990, before bouncing back in choppy trading.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 12, 2022
BOJ's Kuroda vows to keep easing to back still-recovering economy
Wages need to increase much more to achieve Japan's price-stability target, Kuroda said at event in Washington on Wednesday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 7, 2022
Failure to hit price goal may trigger BOJ shift, former director says
Ex-BOJ executive thinks there is a considerable chance that in a year or so the BOJ's topic of discussion will shift to when the price target can really be achieved.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Sep 30, 2022
Japan spent ¥2.84 trillion in September intervention to prop up yen
Despite an initial gain of more than 3.5% in the yen against the dollar, the surprise move hasn't reversed the currency's weakening trend.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 30, 2022
Kishida orders stimulus as analysts warn of overspending
The measures will tackle price rises, encourage pay increases and speed up Kishida's drive to transform capitalism in Japan.
'So hot you can't breathe': Extreme heat hits the Philippines
A pedestrian cools himself with a folding hand fan as he waits for a ride along a road in Manila on Wednesday, as extreme heat hit the Philippines.
Yen rebounds strongly after first slide past ¥160 since 1990
The yen dropped to ¥160.245 per dollar on Monday before heading into the other direction to ¥155.01 amid speculation of an intervention by Japanese currency authorities.
Did Japan intervene to prop up the yen? Analysts think it did.
A man walks past an electronic board displaying the exchange rate for the yen against the U.S. dollar (right) in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAL cancels international flight after captain gets drunk at Dallas hotel
A Japan Airlines' flight from Dallas to Tokyo was canceled last week after its captain got drunk at a local hotel.
Golden Week crowds greeted with high temperatures as holiday period kicks off
The departure lobby for domestic flights is crowded with travelers at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on Saturday, the first day of this year's Golden Week holidays.
Climate change, chalky grains and the risks for Japan’s rice farmers
A farmer plants seedlings in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture. Japan’s self sufficiency rate for rice is nearly 100%, compared with 38% for food overall, on a calorie basis.
Japan wants you to spend more with ‘luxury tourism’
Performers play a traditional drum unique to Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the prefectural capital of Kanazawa on March 16 to mark the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture.
Theaster Gates’ ambitious ‘Afro-Mingei’ brings Black Chicago to Tokyo
Theaster Gates' “A Heavenly Chord” lines up church pews before seven speakers and a Hammond B3 organ, a type of electric organ prevalent in Black American churches.
Casa del Cibo: A thriving jewel born from Tohoku’s harsh past
When chef Ryohei Ikemi moved to Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, and opened Casa del Cibo in 2011, it was the first proper Italian restaurant in the city.
Town to block view of Mount Fuji in response to overtourism
The town government of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, decided to set up a 2.5-meter-high screen to prevent tourists from taking pictures of Mount Fuji looming behind a convenience store.

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

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Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree
By Alex K.T. Martin

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