Business Jul 28, 2017
Japan's emergency tariffs on frozen beef imports likely to irk U.S.
Japan announces it will impose emergency 50 percent tariffs on frozen beef from the United States and elsewhere in August amid soaring shipments.
Business / Economy Jul 21, 2017
Cabinet guidelines set limits on social security spending for fiscal 2018
The government has adopted guidelines capping total ministry and agency requests for funds for social security measures in fiscal 2018, setting the new level at ¥630 billion higher than the amount earmarked under the fiscal 2017 budget. The guidelines were decided at Thursday's Cabinet meeting, ...
Business Jul 19, 2017
Japan and U.S. start planning next round of high-level economic talks
Officials from Japan and the United States have started making plans for high-level economic dialogue in October in Washington, with a target of arranging U.S. President Donald Trump's first visit to Tokyo this fall, a diplomatic source said. At the second round of the bilateral ...
National / Politics Jul 4, 2017
Aso expands his base after LDP's defeat in Tokyo election
Finance Minister Taro Aso announced a merger of party factions that will give him control of the second-largest group within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Aso, who also serves as deputy prime minister, pledged his continued support for Abe, ...
National / Politics Jul 3, 2017
Aso's office admits deputy prime minister broke guidelines on golf club memberships
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso violated the ministers' guidelines recommending against the purchase or sale of golf club memberships while in office, a parliamentary report showed Monday. An official at Aso's office said the deputy prime minister "should have refrained from" buying ...
National / Politics Jun 25, 2017
Deputy Prime Minister Aso criticizes sex of LDP lawmaker accused of assaulting secretary
Gaffe-prone Finance Minister Taro Aso has disparaged the sex of a junior lawmaker in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party who might quit over allegations that she assaulted one of her secretaries. "If you only look at her academic background, it's impeccable, but she is a ...
Reference | FYI May 22, 2017
The art, and fallout, of the Japanese political gaffe
by Tomohiro Osaki
If there is one way you can count on Japanese politicians, it is their ability to make headlines by putting their foot in their mouth. Time and again, high-profile politicians and Cabinet ministers have placed their careers in jeopardy over slips of the tongue, misstatements ...
Business May 14, 2017
Group of Seven vows to fight inequality but is silent on protectionism amid divisions over U.S. stance
Group of Seven finance chiefs on Saturday pledged to combat the issue of inequality as part of an effort to ensure inclusive growth but made no reference to "protectionism" in an apparent division over U.S. President Donald Trump's stance on trade. In a communique issued ...
Business / Economy May 13, 2017
Aso, G-7 peers prod U.S. by linking free trade to fight against inequality
At a meeting in Italy to address inequality, Finance Minister Taro Aso and some of his G-7 peers try to engage the U.S. in a debate on free trade.
Business May 6, 2017
Japanese, Chinese finance chiefs meet for first time since in nearly two years
by Kazuaki Nagata
The finance chiefs of Japan and China resumed their bilateral dialogue for the first time in two years Saturday, agreeing to deepen economic and financial ties. "Both sides emphasized the need to further deepen bilateral pragmatic cooperation in finance, (and to) scale up financial cooperation ...
Business May 6, 2017
Japan pledges $40 million to ADB fund for infrastructure development
Japan offers funds to help introduce advanced technology for growing needs of Asia’s developing nations.
Business / Economy May 5, 2017
Aso warns regional finance chiefs to protect against capital outflows from Fed interest rate hikes
Finance Minister Taro Aso on Friday voiced concern about the adverse effects of interest rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve, including a potential outflow of capital from emerging economies. "Money moves to a country where interest rates are high from a country where interest ...