The Bank of Japan's adoption of negative interest rates two weeks ago hasn't provided a lasting boost to stock investors or weakened the currency, but it has spurred some optimism for the housing market.
With interest rates and bond yields dropping to record lows due to the BOJ's decision, the Japanese people are starting to notice. Shinsei Bank Ltd. saw a fourfold jump in inquiries about home loans after it cut some mortgage rates for a second time this month.
Takeshi Tokusho, a 29-year-old company worker in Tokyo, is among the prospective customers who have converged on Shinsei.