Sumio Ito - The Japan Times

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Sumio Ito

For Sumio Ito's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo. The central bank will probably discuss revising up its projection for growth in consumer prices for the current fiscal year, sources said.

BUSINESS / Economy

Apr 10, 2024

BOJ said to mull raising inflation view on strong pay deals

Rising oil prices and the weak yen are spurring inflationary pressure that could fuel speculation of earlier moves by the BOJ.

The Bank of Japan's steady policy normalization process will probably start next year, with potentially a 25-basis-point rate increase every six months, a former policy board member says.

BUSINESS / Economy

Apr 4, 2024

BOJ will wait until October before hiking rates again, says ex-board member

Makoto Sakurai believes a steady policy normalization process may start next year, with potentially a 25-basis-point rate increase every six months.

The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo. While some BOJ watchers flag the risk the BOJ could move quickly to raise interest rates again, Tsutomu Watanabe, who was a potential governor candidate last year, says he doesn't think the move will come so soon.

BUSINESS / Economy

Apr 1, 2024

BOJ’s next hike likely in October at earliest, ex-official says

The views of Tsutomu Watanabe contrast with those of some BOJ watchers who flag the risk the BOJ could move quickly as the yen slumps near a 34-year low.

The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo. A survey by Bloomberg indicates a majority of analysts surveyed doesn’t expect another rate hike as a base case, but plenty of others are warning that the BOJ may not be finished.

BUSINESS / Economy

Mar 20, 2024

Investors and economists split on whether BOJ will raise rates again

By moving in March instead of the consensus view of April, Gov. Kazuo Ueda secured space to raise borrowing costs again if data supports the case.

Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks at a forum in Tokyo on Tuesday. Tackling a bloated balance sheet is set to be a challenging hurdle for the central bank.

BUSINESS / Markets

Mar 6, 2024

Normalizing Bank of Japan's balance sheet will take nine years, says ex-official

Failing to issue guidance on the planned normalization could lead to high market volatility in yields, former Executive Director Kenzo Yamamoto warns.

The Bank of Japan is facing hardly any signs of opposition to scrapping its negative interest rate as the strongest price growth in decades weighs on households and businesses.

BUSINESS / Economy

Feb 28, 2024

BOJ should make straightforward policy shift, top finance professor says

Exiting policy should be like business as usual, said Hiroshi Yoshikawa, professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo and a friend of BOJ Gov. Kazuo Ueda.

Stronger annual wage negotiation results are likely to pave the way for the Bank of Japan to end its negative interest rate by this spring, a former BOJ official says.

BUSINESS / Economy

Jan 16, 2024

Wage gains of 4% would pave way for BOJ rate hike, ex-official says

Market participants are monitoring annual wage talks closely as they may be a decisive factor in prompting Japan's central bank to end the world’s last negative rate.

The Bank of Japan is fully prepared to put an end to the world’s last negative interest rate, an ex-official has said.

BUSINESS / Economy

Jan 11, 2024

BOJ fully prepared to end negative rate, likely in April: ex-official

"They are just waiting for one last push from one or two economic data,” said former board member Makoto Sakurai.

The Bank of Japan is likely to keep its monetary stimulus settings unchanged at a two-day policy meeting ending Dec. 19, despite recent market speculation that the negative rate may be scrapped as soon as the December meeting.

BUSINESS / Markets

Dec 11, 2023

BOJ sees little need to end negative rate in December: sources

Bank officials are yet to see enough evidence of wage growth that would support sustainable inflation.

The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo. The central bank has yet to step into the real estate investment trusts market this year, after purchases every year since 2010 to help lower risks in the property market.

BUSINESS

Nov 22, 2023

BOJ pulls back from risk asset buying in sign of normalization

The lack of buying comes amid simmering speculation that the Bank of Japan will scrap its negative interest rate and control of government bond yields.

The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo. BOJ officials responded in July to upside risks to inflation by essentially raising the upper limit for 10-year bond yields, in the first surprise move under Gov. Kazuo Ueda.

BUSINESS

Oct 6, 2023

BOJ may review easing and guidance this month, ex-official says

The central bank faces a recent rise in yields, the yen’s slide and inflation consistently coming in stronger than expected.

Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda has repeatedly pushed back against the idea that a major pivot on policy is looming by emphasizing his doubts about the sustainability of price rises.

BUSINESS / Economy

Jul 25, 2023

BOJ set to stick with easing as markets see clock ticking on yield control

Since taking the helm in April, Gov. Kazuo Ueda has repeatedly pushed back against the idea that a major pivot on policy is looming.

Japan Times

BUSINESS

Jul 14, 2023

BOJ to tweak yield control this month, ex-official says

Hideo Hayakawa, who is also a former BOJ chief economist, said that the central bank must raise its inflation outlook for this fiscal year to match reality.

Japan Times

BUSINESS

Jun 11, 2023

BOJ is said to see little need to tweak yield controls for now

The officials say inflation is running stronger than expected, a factor that raises the chance of the BOJ upgrading its inflation forecast in a quarterly economic outlook report in July.

Japan Times

BUSINESS

May 31, 2023

BOJ to hold policy amid election chatter, ex-board member says

The BOJ will refrain from changing its 'yield curve control' program while speculation continues to swirl that the prime minister will call a snap election, according to an ex-board member.

Japan Times

BUSINESS

May 26, 2023

BOJ’s Ueda says wages aren’t the goal as he keeps speculators in dark

The remarks leave room for the bank to be nimble about how and when it will be convinced about the prospect of price gains.

Japan Times

BUSINESS

Apr 26, 2023

Japan regulator asks banks to examine social media risks after SVB case

The FSA asked lenders to prepare crisis management manuals and examine their liquidity and risk management systems, sources have said.

Japan Times

BUSINESS

Feb 22, 2023

BOJ likely to raise interest rates gradually, former board member says

Makoto Sakurai, who has known Bank of Japan governor nominee Kazuo Ueda for decades, sees little chance of a big policy shift at Ueda’s first policy meeting.

Japan Times

JAPAN

Feb 9, 2023

LDP said to be divided if Kishida seeks BOJ pivot

With the nomination of a new governor likely to come next week, several party members said there will be opposition within the party if Kishida chooses Hirohide Yamaguchi.

Japan Times

BUSINESS

Jan 25, 2023

New BOJ governor likely to move away from special stimulus, ex-official says

The official said Japan is on track to break away from an entrenched deflationary mindset as it moves away from being an economy of zero inflation.

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.

[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Historically, kabuki was considered the entertainment of the merchant and peasant classes, a far cry from how it is regarded today.

For Japan's oldest kabuki theater, the show must go on

By Lance Henderstein

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

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