author

 
 

Meta

Koichi Hamada
For Koichi Hamada's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 31, 2015
China's political interventions
Recent events should compell China's leaders to reconsider the extent to which they control the country's economy.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 30, 2015
Myth of currency manipulation
Japan's monetary policymakers do not seek to predict, much less control, exchange-rate movements.
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 4, 2015
An Asian community can wait
Japan should not join the AIIB until the criteria for monitoring its investments are clear.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 25, 2015
Monetary policy is underrated
The belief that monetary policy does not matter is exceedingly hazardous to any economy. Europe faces enough serious risks already; it should not needlessly add to them.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 13, 2015
Delivering on the promise of 'Abenomics'
If politicians themselves participate in the taxpayer identification system, bureaucrats forgo some of the power that excessive regulation affords them and businesses give up some of their special tax benefits, the Abe government may yet fulfill its promise and build a thriving economy.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 4, 2014
Optimize the troubled eurozone
Europe's leaders must recognize that the eurozone, as currently constituted, is larger than Europe's optimal currency area. Some member countries — certainly Greece, and probably Italy and Spain — need an independent monetary policy.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Sep 7, 2014
Last round for Abenomics
It is time for Japan's leaders to shift from the demand-focused first and second arrows of 'Abenomics' to the supply-oriented third arrow: a new growth strategy.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 1, 2014
Abe's economic bull's-eye
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has unveiled the so-called third arrow of what has come to be known as Abenomics. It involves the removal of obstacles to growth for business, particularly the easing of regulatory barriers. Expect some officials to resist this initiative.
COMMENTARY / World
May 2, 2014
Ending Asia's zero-sum games
Perhaps if Asia's leaders viewed East Asia's rapid economic transformation, geopolitical dynamics and historical animosities like a recenlty arrived space alien, they would see what they need to do to halt the dangerous trends.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 9, 2014
Flexible exchange rates offset tapering effects
Since most major economies operate under a flexible exchange-rate regime, financial market concerns about capital flight from developing countries as the U.S. Fed exits its quantitative easing policy are largely unwarranted.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 17, 2013
So far, so good for 'Abenomics'
Give the first year of 'Abenomics' an 'E' for effort, as the 'third arrow' of the plan — long-term growth strategy — cannot yet be fairly assessed. Hopefully bureaucratic resistance to deregulation will soften in the coming year.

Longform

When trying to trace your lineage in Japan, the "koseki" is the most important form of document you'll encounter.
Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree