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July 04, 2025
 

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FINANCE MINISTRY

Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki (left) speaks with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a plenary session of the Lower House in Tokyo on Jan. 30.
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 17, 2024
Japan finance chief eyes future rise in interest rates, report says
"The Bank of Japan holds jurisdiction over monetary policy. But there will be a phase when interest rates go up," Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said.
JAPAN
Dec 22, 2023
Japan cuts spending for first time in 12 years in fiscal 2024 budget
The budget for the coming fiscal year that starts in April is estimated at ¥112.07 trillion, down 2% from the current year's initial amount.
Business sentiment among major Japanese companies was positive for the third successive quarter in October to December, led by a continued improvement in automobile-related industries.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 11, 2023
Sentiment of Japan's big firms remains positive in latest quarter
The business sentiment index for companies with capital of ¥1 billion or more stood at plus 4.8, against plus 5.8 in the previous quarter.
BUSINESS / Markets
Nov 17, 2023
Specific yen level not used to decide intervention, official says
"We won't intervene just because the yen is weakening," Deputy Finance Minister Ryosei Akazawa told parliament.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda in a news conference on Tuesday, when the central bank adjusted its cap on bond yields.
BUSINESS / Markets
Nov 2, 2023
Japan's yen and bond priorities at odds as market pressure grows
Unscheduled bond purchases by the Bank of Japan Wednesday worked directly against Finance Ministry efforts to support the yen.
BUSINESS / Markets
Oct 4, 2023
Yen rebounds from ¥150 to dollar as Japan mum on intervention
The yen quickly strengthened to ¥147.30 against the dollar, with its swift recovery sparking chatter that a quiet intervention had occurred.
Japan bought yen in September 2022, its first foray in the market to boost its currency since 1998, after a Bank of Japan decision to maintain an ultraloose monetary policy drove the yen as low as ¥145 per dollar.
BUSINESS / Markets / EXPLAINER
Oct 2, 2023
What intervention by Japan to stem yen weakness could look like
Aside from verbal intervention, the government has several options to stem what it considers excessive yen falls.
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo
BUSINESS
Sep 29, 2023
Biggest selloff in 25 years hits Japan bonds as BOJ loosens grip
The selloff is a reminder that the nation’s debt market relies in part on support from public-sector institutions to outperform global peers.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Sep 15, 2023
Osaka court rules against disclosure of Moritomo Gakuen papers
Accepting the plaintiff's petition "could cause problems such as the destruction of criminal evidence in future investigations," the judge concluded.
The yen remains vulnerable to sharp movements and government intervention even after its rally at the start of this week.
BUSINESS / Markets
Sep 12, 2023
Imminent Fed meet keeps yen intervention on agenda despite rally
U.S. inflation figures set to be released Wednesday are expected to show price growth accelerating for a second month in August versus a year earlier
The yen has depreciated about 3% since the Bank of Japan decided to tolerate higher benchmark bond yields on July 28.
BUSINESS / Markets
Aug 15, 2023
Yen weakens toward level that prompted September intervention
The currency has depreciated about 3% since the Bank of Japan decided to tolerate higher benchmark bond yields on July 28.
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo. Some economists see the central bank’s loosening of restraints on 10-year bond yields as a message to the government that it now will have to do financial management responsibly, because the BOJ won’t control yields as firmly as it used to.
BUSINESS
Aug 4, 2023
Japan’s fiscal plight draws scrutiny after BOJ policy tweak
Tokyo seeking to expand spending on defense and child care, even as the national debt has grown to almost 260% of gross domestic product.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 27, 2023
Official behind last year’s ¥9.33 trillion yen intervention strategy reappointed
Masato Kanda has become just the fourth official in the past three decades to serve a third year as vice finance minister for international affairs, Finance Ministry documents show.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 15, 2023
Japan and South Korea to revive currency swap pact
The two sides will seek to agree on such a pact at a meeting between their finance ministers to be held in Tokyo on June 29, sources have said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 9, 2023
Japan and South Korea may discuss currency swap deal but caution lingers
The currency swap could be on the agenda at a bilateral finance dialogue that is expected to be held in Tokyo later this month.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 15, 2023
Japan steps up measures to prevent illegal resale of duty-free goods
The government has started levying the consumption tax on businesses that purchased the products and illegally resold them, as well as the foreign nationals involved.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 10, 2023
Banking crisis concerns loom over G7 finance ministers meeting
As well as tackling the issue of crypto regulation, the ministers and central bank governors will be looking to strengthen the global financial system.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 13, 2023
G7 finance leaders pledge stability and supply chain diversity
The finance chiefs, meeting on the sidelines of International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings in Washington, said they had discussed recent financial sector developments.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Mar 18, 2023
BOJ and government vow cooperation amid global market turmoil
Officials met for the first time since September to affirm that they will work together to closely watch any impact on the country's financial system from global market turmoil.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 21, 2023
G7 finance chiefs to discuss measures against Russia
Japan will chair the meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from the G7 nations in the Indian city of Bengaluru.
Magnitude 5.5 earthquake jars Tokara Islands amid flurry of seismic activity
A strong quake struck off the Tokara Islands on Thursday afternoon, with the island chain having recorded around 1,000 earthquakes since a burst of seismic activity first began on June 21.
Onosato's yokozuna promotion causes rare quirk in new sumo rankings
Newly promoted yokozuna Onosato holds a copy of the latest banzuke ranking in Anjo, Aichi Prefecture, on Monday.
A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
Over 900 earthquakes strike Tokara islands in space of two weeks
A screenshot shows many quakes occurring in the Tokara islands over the past 30 days, in this image taken from the U.S. Geological Survey website.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai’s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on Japanese culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
As Southeast Asia heats up, a Japanese cooling giant sees a major opportunity
An employee of Daikin Cambodia explains the use of different tools during an air conditioner installation training session in Phnom Penh. Daikin is one of Japan’s oldest air conditioning companies, but as Japan’s population falls, the firm is keying in on overseas growth.

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