The share of respondents to a Bank of Japan quarterly survey in June who said they have become worse off came to 61.0%, up 5.1 percentage points from the previous survey.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 16, 2025
Living conditions index hits lowest level in 15 years in Japan
The percentage of respondents who said their living conditions improved from a year before minus those who said the opposite was the worst since the September 2009 survey.
The IPC Container Terminal at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta in April last year
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 16, 2025
Trump says Indonesia goods to face 19% tariff under new pact
Indonesia also agreed to purchase $15 billion in U.S. energy, $4.5 billion worth of agricultural products and 50 Boeing jets, many of them 777’s.
Workers on the production line of a toy factory in Shenzhen, China
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 15, 2025
China’s economy expands 5.2% as exports propel growth
The world’s second-largest economy has powered ahead despite a 24% slump in shipments to the U.S. in the second quarter.
The central bank will probably weigh increasing its key price forecast from 2.2% for this fiscal year after food inflation proved stronger than expected.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 14, 2025
BOJ may raise price outlook as food inflation beats expectations, sources say
The yen briefly strengthened against the dollar following the report, while Japan’s bond futures dipped.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 14, 2025
G20 agenda eclipsed as Bessent skips South Africa meeting again
Scott Bessent will skip the Group of 20 again this week, continuing a boycott of South Africa by top U.S. officials begun by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Orders from the automobile and auto parts industries decreased 7.1% in May after a 20.3% drop the previous month.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 14, 2025
Japan core machinery orders down 0.6% in May
The government kept its basic assessment unchanged, saying that machinery orders are showing signs of picking up.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with the press upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Sunday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 14, 2025
Trump says Japan 'changing' its way in tariff talks
U.S. President Donald Trump did not elaborate on his claim, but it appeared to hint that Japan may have made concessions in ongoing negotiations.

Longform

After pandemic-era border regulations eased, Indian migrants began returning to Japan. Their population now stands at more than 50,000 across the country.
How remote work is rewriting the migrant experience in Japan