Business Apr 7, 2022
Amid deepening yen weakness, a mixed blessing sours for Japan
What had long been considered a boon for Japan’s economy is increasingly in question as the yen’s recent plunge aggravates the impact of surging commodity prices.
Komaki Ito
For Komaki Ito's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Business / Economy | FOCUS Mar 8, 2022
Pay gap for working women keeps wages down for everyone in Japan
Japan’s gender pay gap is the highest among the Group of Seven nations.
Business Jan 27, 2022
Japan’s ¥10 trillion innovation fund ramps up alternative focus
Set to start by the end of March, the new fund will seek annual returns of 4.38% in order to pay out ¥300 billion each year for high-level research across Japan.
Business / Economy Jan 13, 2022
Japan needs a major carbon tax hike, former vice minister says
Rintaro Tamaki, a former Finance Ministry official, says a "price signal" would help the government change people's mindset on green issues.
Business / Corporate Dec 22, 2021
Fintech startup Finatext has worst Tokyo debut in two decades
The firm is expecting a net loss of ¥1 billion this fiscal year, but co-founder Ryota Hayashi says he’s in no rush to generate profit, though added it could do so quickly if required.
Business / Corporate Jul 16, 2021
Japan’s cult outdoor brand wants you to test its high-end tents
Snow Peak's president acknowledges the company’s price point may deter some shoppers, but says it reflects the goods’ quality and lifetime warranty.
Business / Financial Markets Dec 22, 2020
WealthNavi gives Tokyo Stock Exchange one of its biggest IPOs of year
The wealth management platform has debuted at a time when amateur investment in Japan is heating up.
Business / Corporate Dec 11, 2020
Rags to riches: CEO of ¥100 billion startup comes up from the streets
Taihei Kobayashi's story is among the most remarkable to emerge from a small-cap stock boom that’s minting fortunes.
Business / Financial Markets | FOCUS Aug 22, 2018
Bank of Japan's threat to global bonds fizzles as Japanese insurers stay put
For all the frenzy over the Bank of Japan's first policy tweak in almost two years, little seems to have changed for the nation's insurers. That's because the rise in long-end government bond yields seen after the central bank's July 31 decision has proved to ...
Business / Corporate Jun 11, 2018
Banking veteran slams Japanese banks' fixation on archaic trading methods
Regional banks need to stop their fixation with the old-fashioned buy-and-hold strategy and be more nimble to make the most of their investments, a three-decade industry veteran says. The current low interest-rate environment calls for lenders to adopt a trading mentality and look to lock-in ...