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Emi Urabe
For Emi Urabe's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Pedestrians walk past an electronic board displaying various companies' share prices, in a business district in Tokyo on Oct. 31.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 20, 2023
Japan’s fiscal advisory board warns of impact of higher rates
Even small changes could have a large impact given rates are so low and Japan has the largest public debt load among developed economies.
The total value of unpaid household tasks was ¥111 trillion for women and ¥32 trillion for men in 2021, according to a recent Cabinet Office report, indicating the amount of men's work around the home is less than a third of what women do.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 4, 2023
Japanese women are missing out on ¥111 trillion in unpaid wages
A recent report has highlighted both the wage gap between men and women, as well as the sheer amount of uncompensated work that gets done in Japan.
The Bank of Japan's inflation outlook doesn’t reflect reality, according to one of the country’s leading experts on prices.
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 29, 2023
BOJ’s outlook doesn’t reflect reality, key price expert says
While the bank sharply raised its price outlook last month, it was still kept too low, said University of Tokyo economics professor Tsutomu Watanabe.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 27, 2023
Official behind last year’s ¥9.33 trillion yen intervention strategy reappointed
Masato Kanda has become just the fourth official in the past three decades to serve a third year as vice finance minister for international affairs, Finance Ministry documents show.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Jun 5, 2023
Rapid return of tourists to Japan helping fuel inflation for BOJ
Almost 2 million visitors arrived from overseas in April, compared with less than 140,000 a year earlier, according to Japan’s National Tourism Organization.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 21, 2023
Credit Suisse AT1 bond writeoff hands $1 billion loss to Japan investors
It’s "regrettable” that the fallout from Credit Suisse’s woes affected investors in Japan, Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 4, 2023
BOJ should review yield curve control under Ueda, ex-finance official says
Takehiko Nakao, a former vice minister for international affairs, stressed the need for a policy tweak — even if that results in short-term shocks.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 28, 2023
Fears of societal collapse prompt new push for babies in Japan
Ideas like compulsory paternity leave, canceling student debt for people who have a baby, and ¥10 million ($76,445) payouts for a third child have been thrown around in recent weeks.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 22, 2023
Japan to spend $15 billion on inflation aid ahead of local polls
The measures include handouts for low-income households and their children, and support for households that use liquefied petroleum gas, according to documents from the Cabinet Office.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 17, 2023
Japan’s largest trade union head says 2023 is pivotal for wages
Trade union leader has stressed the importance of moving toward continued wage growth in the face of rapid inflation and economic stagnation.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / FOCUS
Nov 2, 2022
Kishida adviser sees perpetual bond solution for Bank of Japan's ETF stash
The idea would enable the BOJ to reduce its exposure to risk assets by moving them off its balance sheet in a way that doesnu2019t trigger market turmoil.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 17, 2022
Traders watch for response from Japan as yen approaches ¥150 against dollar
Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki reiterated to reporters on Monday that the country will take bold action if there are speculative foreign exchange moves.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 5, 2022
Ruling LDP looks to continue aid to struggling Japan firms as pandemic loans end
The party will draw up new support proposals for firms at risk of default, aiming to reflect them in the governmentu2019s economic package that will be put together by the end of the month.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 12, 2022
Japan’s economic rebound unlikely to derail BOJ governor's easing plan
The nation's GDP is predicted to have returned to its pre-pandemic level, but weak wages and a darkening global outlook will likely see Haruhiko Kuroda stick to his stance.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Jul 12, 2022
Now is not the time to intervene over yen, Japan's former forex chief says
The recent moves in the yen donu2019t reach the level of excessive and disorderly moves that are warned against in existing G7 currency agreements, Mitsuhiro Furusawa said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 23, 2022
Yen strengthens after ex-forex czar’s intervention remark
"Unilateral intervention shouldnu2019t be eliminated as a possibility,u201d said Takehiko Nakao, while flagging that the hurdle for gaining support from abroad was high.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 21, 2022
Tax reform key for Japan’s ¥10 trillion startup push, says head of ruling party group
The government is set to put together a five-year plan by the end of 2022 that will seek to increase money going to startups tenfold.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 29, 2021
Government may start process to sell ¥950 billion stake in Japan Post this week
The sale was expected in 2019 but became difficult after the value of Japan Post shares fell sharply following a scandal over improper sales practice at its insurance unit.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 29, 2021
Japan's GPIF, world’s top pension fund, won’t invest in China’s sovereign debt
As Chinese debt is being added to the FTSE Russell global bond index, the Japanese fund will instead use a version of the World Government Bond Index that excludes Chinese government bonds.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 20, 2021
GPIF copycat fund bucks the trend to invest in Chinese debt
The move involves the Promotion and Mutual Aid Corporation for Private Schools of Japan, or PMAC, which provides pension services to private school workers.

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