Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda
BUSINESS / Economy
May 28, 2025
Ueda to monitor risk of high long-term bond yields affecting shorter-term rates
The comments come at a time of heightened concern about volatility at the long end of the bond market.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivers a speech during the ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Forum's official dinner in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.
BUSINESS / Economy
May 28, 2025
China aims to capitalize on U.S. tariff turmoil with new ASEAN-GCC forum
The summit with Southeast Asian and Arab Gulf states is the latest sign of more countries looking to join hands to fend off U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff push.
The Japanese government will spend ¥288 billion to lower the cost of electricity and city gas by ¥3,000 for an average household from July to September.
BUSINESS / Economy
May 27, 2025
Japan to subsidize home energy bills through summer amid U.S. tariff impact
The government will spend ¥388 billion from budget reserves for the measures in its first fiscal spending in response to the Trump tariffs.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks at the government’s advisory Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy meeting on Monday at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo.
BUSINESS / Economy
May 27, 2025
Japan private sector backs 1% real wage growth per year over next five years
The plan was first mentioned by the government’s "new capitalism" panel earlier this month.
Japan lost its position as the world’s largest creditor nation for the first time in 34 years despite posting a record amount of overseas assets, with Germany overtaking the country.
BUSINESS / Economy
May 27, 2025
Japan loses top creditor status for first time in 34 years
Despite Japan’s net external assets rising to a record high, it lost the top position to Germany.
Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina (left) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi before their meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on May 14
BUSINESS / Economy
May 27, 2025
Developing nations face 'tidal wave' of China debt, report finds
The poorest 75 countries are set to make "record high debt repayments" to China in 2025 of a combined $22 billion.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks during a conference hosted by the bank's Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies in Tokyo on Tuesday. Ueda gave the yen a boost by clearly indicating his intention to continue raising the benchmark interest rate if the economy improves as expected.
BUSINESS / Economy
May 27, 2025
Yen rises as Ueda indicates BOJ is still eyeing more rate hikes
The yen rose as high as 142.12 against the dollar immediately after Ueda's remarks.

Longform

Construction equipment sits idle in a park near Shiba Toshogu shrine in Tokyo's Minato Ward. While Japan has a history of treating its trees with reverence, green coverage is said to be lacking in most of the major cities.
Do Japan's trees no longer occupy the sacred space they used to?