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Yuko Takeo
For Yuko Takeo's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Signage for Japan's top banks, MUFG Bank, Mizuho Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking in Tokyo.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 12, 2023
Japan’s top banks pay women about half of what men earn
The country has a relatively high labor participation rate for women, but many of the positions they occupy have little prospect of better pay.
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 / Markets
Dec 1, 2022
Japan government stayed out of currency markets in November
For now, stepping back from intervention removes a potential source of conflict between Washington and Tokyo.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 18, 2022
Japan’s inflation getting harder for BOJ's Kuroda to explain away
A continued acceleration of price growth over the coming months will make the governor's stance on stimulus increasingly difficult to defend.
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
Aug 4, 2022
Mr. JGB says markets need to prepare for BOJ buying fewer bonds
The Ministry of Finance has started looking into ensuring thereu2019s sufficient liquidity in the market, said Michio Saito, who heads the department that oversees debt issuance.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 22, 2022
Pressure mounts on BOJ as key inflation gauge rises above 2% target
Details of the June inflation data offer some support for the BOJu2019s argument that the current inflation is largely based on cost-push pressure.
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 / 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
Jun 1, 2022
Kishida touts 'grand design' for capitalism reform at policy launch
Kishida said the country needs to focus on new areas of growth as a panel laid out proposals for his "new form of capitalismu201d aimed at reducing social disparities and driving the economy.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 1, 2022
Japan tweaks budget goal wording to gain more fiscal flexibility
Japanu2019s target of balancing its budget excluding debt payments by 2025 had long seemed unlikely, even by the governmentu2019s own growth projections.
Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
Apr 20, 2022
Why has the yen fallen to a 20-year low?
Since the beginning of March, the value of the yen has plummeted against the dollar, the euro and the British pound. Bloomberg economy reporter Yuko Takeo joins Deep Dive to explain why.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 7, 2022
Amid deepening yen weakness, a mixed blessing sours for Japan
What had long been considered a boon for Japanu2019s economy is increasingly in question as the yenu2019s recent plunge aggravates the impact of surging commodity prices.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 1, 2022
Japan, in need of more babies, is helping pay for costly IVF
As part of a new policy, public health insurance will reimburse 70% of the costs of advanced fertility treatments.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 30, 2022
Drop in Japan’s retail sales adds to fears of stalled recovery
Japanu2019s retail sales fell for a third straight month in February.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Mar 8, 2022
Pay gap for working women keeps wages down for everyone in Japan
Japanu2019s gender pay gap is the highest among the Group of Seven nations.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 7, 2022
Ex-Goldman vice chair Kathy Matsui fears ESG in Japan still a 'box-ticking exercise'
Many firms and people in Japan still consider ESG a "box-ticking exercise,” resulting in cases of greenwashing, according to former Goldman Sachs Japan vice chair Kathy Matsui.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 4, 2022
Japan’s unemployment edges up amid record COVID-19 wave
The jobless rate rose to 2.8% in January as the number of people working fell by a seasonally adjusted 190,000 from December, the internal affairs ministry reported.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 10, 2022
Japan's ‘new capitalism’ advocate calls for more public spending
The next step after initial efforts to better distribute wealth should be government spending, says businessman and activist George Hara.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 28, 2022
Fewest bankruptcies since 1966 raise fears of Japan 'zombie' firms
Japan has a long history of easy credit thatu2019s been blamed for keeping "zombieu201d firms alive, which "bring down the potential growth rate and can even sap the impact of monetary easing.u201d

Longform

A statue of "Dragon Ball" character Goku stands outside the offices of Bandai Namco in Tokyo. The figure is now as recognizable as such characters as Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man.
Akira Toriyama's gift to the world