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April 19, 2024
 

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Ayai Tomisawa
For Ayai Tomisawa's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Berkshire Hathaway's latest yen debt deal is the biggest since its debut sale in the currency in 2019, raising bets it may boost holdings of Japanese stocks.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 18, 2024
Berkshire sells ¥263.3 billion of bonds in its biggest yen debt deal since 2019
The seven-tranche deal priced at tighter premiums than Berkshire’s deals over the past two years.
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway would be the first major non-financial overseas debt issuer to sell yen bonds after the Bank of Japan last month scrapped the world’s last negative interest rate.
BUSINESS / Markets
Apr 9, 2024
Berkshire plans to sell first yen bonds since BOJ move
The U.S. company last turned to the yen bond markets in November, with a ¥122 billion ($803 million) five-tranche deal.
Nissan’s name has been removed from a list of around 44,000 companies eligible for the tax incentive on the economy ministry’s website.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 6, 2024
Nissan ineligible for tax break after underpaying firms: report
Nissan’s name has been removed from a list of companies eligible for the tax incentive on the economy ministry’s website, the Yomiuri Shimbum said.
A record number of Japanese investors have put their money into domestic private credit deals in search of higher returns this year.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 12, 2023
Private credit is attracting record numbers of Japanese investors
An unprecedented 236 limited partners have provided money to private capital managers this year through September, more than triple the level of 2017.
There is a sense of caution in the credit market that the Bank of Japan will finally tighten its ultraeasy policy.
BUSINESS / Markets
Dec 4, 2023
Turmoil from BOJ policy bets shakes up Japan credit market
Companies rush to raise money to take advantage of low rates while they still can but investor demand for corporate bonds is weakening.
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway sold yen bonds at lower costs in its second Japan deal of the year as speculation mounts that the billionaire investor may put more money into the nation’s share market.
BUSINESS / Markets
Nov 17, 2023
Berkshire sells yen debt amid talk it’s eyeing more Japan stocks
Berkshire is one of the largest overseas issuers of yen debt, and 32 out of its past 40 bond deals have been in the Japanese currency.
Many of the wealthy in Japan are becoming more keen to park their cash in private assets like equity, credit and real estate that aren't traded in public markets.
BUSINESS
Sep 20, 2023
Brokers tap demand for private assets among Japan's wealthy
Private assets are booming globally after decades-high inflation and rapid interest-rate hikes weighed on both shares and bonds.
Nippon Life Insurance headquarters in Osaka. Japanese insurers are seeking more investments in private credit, attracted to their floating interest rates as global borrowing costs jump.
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 18, 2023
Private credit boom attracts Japan insurers with $2.6 trillion
Dai-ichi Life Insurance and Nippon Life Insurance are among companies that are seeking more investments in private credit.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 7, 2023
Rakuten’s ¥1.8 trillion debt fuels concern despite funding
The e-commerce giant has racked up four years of losses as its mobile-phone business drains cash.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 29, 2023
MUFG raises ¥570 billion in biggest bond deal this year with bumper coupon
The lender's coupon of 2.127% on the perpetual noncallable 10-year and one-month Additional Tier 1 bonds is the highest on such notes for the bank since 2015.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Mar 16, 2023
Japanese firms turn to loans for longer-term funding amid BOJ risks
Anecdotal evidence suggests Japanese loan rates are now more favorable than the cost of selling long-tenor bonds for capital investment and refinancing needs.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 22, 2022
E-commerce giant Rakuten cut further into junk territory by S&P
The group's long-term rating was lowered to BB from BB+ because of 'slow improvement in its mobile business,' the ratings firm said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Dec 20, 2022
Overseas credit attracts Japanese investors weary of low yields
The renewed interest comes after crippling losses on fixed income globally coupled with a surge in the cost of currency protection had Japanese investors offloading overseas debt in 2022.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 16, 2022
Rakuten seeks $500 million in rare Japanese junk bond deal
The bond offering is gaining attention given the fledgling junk debt market in Japan, where weaker firms aren't compelled to sell speculative-grade notes due to easy access to bank loans.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 3, 2022
SMBC Nikko’s issues let small firms grab credit market share
Tokai Tokyo Securities and Shinkin Securities moved up in the league tables in the first half of the financial year that started April, surpassing SMBC Nikko, data shows.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 30, 2022
Maruha Nichiro plans to issue Japan’s first blue bond to help ocean
The firm tapped Mizuho Securities and Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities to manage the u00a55 billion ($35 million) offering of five-year notes.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 4, 2022
Traders face showdown with Kuroda as BOJ policy rips every asset
Selling the yen remains one of the hottest macro trades after BOJ Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda rammed home the message at the last policy meeting in June that it's too early to cut back on stimulus.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 15, 2022
Japanese firm to tackle dearth of female managers with novel bond
Mitsubishi Estate Co., a developer of office buildings and luxury condos, aims to raise the proportion of its female managers to 40% in fiscal 2050, up from just 5.8% in fiscal 2020.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 15, 2022
Rocky days for Japan's credit market spur calls to speed up deals
Some bankers, who have long advocated for shorter marketing periods, are stepping up calls for a change.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 3, 2022
Earthquake response to be focus of social bond planned by Tokyo
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is proposing to issue u00a530 billion of five-year social bonds later this month.
No link to Nankai Trough quake seen after temblor in Shikoku
Satoshi Harada from the Meteorological Agency explains about the magnitude 6.6 earthquake during a news conference early Thursday.
Thousands evacuated as Indonesia volcano erupts
Indonesia's Mount Ruang spews hot lava and smoke as seen from Sitaro, North Sulawesi, on Wednesday.
Why hasn't Japan moved to prop up the weak yen?
Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Snake on a train: Discovery of serpent delays Tokyo-Nagoya shinkansen
A Tokaido shinkansen. It is unclear whether the snake was venomous or how it ended up on the train, and there was no injury or panic among passengers.
Sex differences could be key to the successful treatment of long COVID
A new study has found that women with long COVID had significantly lower levels of testosterone compared to those who had recovered from their infection.
'House of the Owl' brings Hollywood values to Japanese TV
In the new Disney+ series “House of the Owl,” Min Tanaka (left) plays a powerful political fixer, or “kuromaku,” who has a troubled relationship with his adult children, particularly his idealistic son, played by Mackenyu.
Benefits and risks: AUKUS looks to take gamble on Japan
U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British leader Rishi Sunak deliver remarks on the AUKUS partnership, after a trilateral meeting, at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego in March last year.
Kyoto’s demon night parade lives to haunt another day
In a Kyoto long past, the "hyakki yagyō" (100 demon night parade) haunted a sleepy corner of Kyoto. Now, one enterprising monster enthusiast has won a small batttle to keep the march alive.
U.S. deploys midrange missile system in Indo-Pacific for first time
A U.S. Army Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Launcher arrives as part of the capability’s first deployment into theater on Northern Luzon, Philippines, April 8.
Unpacking the chaotic by-election in a scandal-hit Tokyo district
People listen to a campaign speech in Tokyo's Koto Ward on Tuesday.

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