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July 04, 2026
 

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Sumio Ito
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Aug 4, 2022
Mr. JGB says markets need to prepare for BOJ buying fewer bonds
The Ministry of Finance has started looking into ensuring there’s sufficient liquidity in the market, said Michio Saito, who heads the department that oversees debt issuance.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 19, 2022
Bank of Japan chief determined to maintain stimulus as world tightens
Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda is in no mood to give up on stimulus and his ultraloose monetary policy, according to people familiar with the matter.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 7, 2022
BOJ likely to consider revising inflation and growth forecasts, sources suggest
The new economic projections will be released together with the bank’s policy decision at the end of the meeting.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 9, 2022
BOJ’s rock-bottom rates are crucial for Kishida’s spending plans
The prime minister has signed off on changes to an annual fiscal policy plan that loosen rather than tighten the corset constraining the nation’s spending plans.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 28, 2022
Yen slides past ¥130 to the dollar after BOJ doubles down on bond buying
The Bank of Japan’s decision had been widely expected among economists, despite ongoing speculation the bank might take action in light of a recent slide in the yen rate to a two-decade low.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 19, 2022
Japan to model digital yen tests on Sweden’s approach, not China’s
The Bank of Japan will explore the design issues of a central bank digital currency in measured steps like Sweden rather than pressing ahead with large-scale pilot tests like China.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 15, 2022
Bank of Japan poised to predict strongest inflation in 30 years
With global central banks accelerating interest rate hikes to tackle inflation, Haruhiko Kuroda will have the task of explaining why he is insisting on staying wedded to stimulus.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 8, 2022
BOJ is likely to adjust policy as soon as July, ex-official says
The view sharply contrasts with the stated position of Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda, who has repeatedly said he will stick with stimulus.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 18, 2022
BOJ maintains easing stance, highlighting policy divergence
The bank left its interest rates and asset purchases unchanged, according to a statement Friday, as predicted by all economists in a survey.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 16, 2022
Weaker yen likely to prompt BOJ message shift, ex-official says
‘The yen has already moved a lot compared with last year, so a further weakening means volatility has generally been high,’ says Kazuo Momma.
BUSINESS / Economy
Mar 15, 2022
Bank of Japan chief risks hitting inflation goal in a way he doesn’t want
Economists are predicting core consumer prices will rise at a pace of 2% or more this year as surging energy prices, a weakening yen and stabilizing phone charges feed inflation.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 9, 2022
Japan’s economy needs more spending aid, Abenomics advocate says
The call for more stimulus by Etsuro Honda comes barely three months after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida unveiled a bigger-than-expected u00a556 trillion package to support the economy.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 31, 2022
Ex-official warns BOJ against using digital yen to juice policy
Hiromi Yamaoka said that while it’s clear Japan’s payment systems need to change, he is totally against the idea of the central bank using a digital yen to gain extra policy leverage.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 6, 2022
Bank of Japan plans to discuss changing long-held view on price risks, sources say
The central bank meets on Jan. 17 and 18, with its quarterly report on prices and growth likely to be the focus of interest.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 8, 2021
BOJ likely to scale down COVID-19 aid, former executive says
The BOJ could extend some parts of the program beyond March, while scaling back other areas such as its corporate debt buying, says the former leader of the bank’s pandemic crisis response.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 26, 2021
BOJ’s newest board member sees Japan inflation creeping up
Higher energy costs have helped Japan’s key gauge of consumer prices edge up over the last two months for the first time in more than a year.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 18, 2021
Bank of Japan’s extra goals help it play down inflation, ex-official says
The central bank will continue to diversify its goals so it can place less emphasis on achieving its price target, according to a former BOJ executive director.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 22, 2021
BOJ’s Haruhiko Kuroda reaffirms policy mix need ahead of LDP leadership vote
The central bank decided to set short-term interest rates at minus 0.1% while guiding 10-year government bond yields around 0% to keep borrowing costs low for companies and households.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Sep 21, 2021
Haruhiko Kuroda’s monetary experiment set to continue beyond BOJ tenure record
Reaching the landmark as longest-running governor will be testament to Kuroda’s ability to keep political and market pressure at bay despite having failed to spark inflation.
BUSINESS
Sep 1, 2021
Japan stimulus likely to continue whoever wins election, former BOJ exec says
‘You would be risking a big market reaction by touching monetary policy,” said Kazuo Momma, former head of monetary policy at the central bank.
‘My dream is broken’: Japan visa rules push out foreign residents
A man orders from a kebab shop in the Okubo district in Tokyo.
Japan triples departure tax in push to combat overtourism
Tourists in Yanaka Ginza, Tokyo, on Wednesday. Japan tripled its International Tourist Tax (departure tax) to ¥3,000 from ¥1,000 on Wednesday for all travelers leaving Japan, regardless of nationality.
Japanese-language education is at a turning point
The country is gradually transforming Japanese-language education from a volunteer-driven system into a professional, government-supported network to better serve its growing foreign population. 
Japan’s princesses face life-altering legal revisions
Princess Aiko, the daughter of Emperor Naruhito, said in a 2022 news conference upon coming of age that she hopes to “spend a long time together” with her parents.
Japan plans to sharply raise fees for residence permits from October
Foreign tourists walk on the path leading to the Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in May.
Iran war exposed, but hasn’t changed, Japan’s reliance on imported oil
Wind turbines generate energy from strong easterly winds on the Shonai Plain in Yamagata Prefecture. Despite the oil crisis caused by conflict near the Strait of Hormuz, and concerns instability in the region could continue to impact supply and the price of imports, the administration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi does not seem to be drawing on the war as a pretext to hasten progress toward Japan's renewable goals.
Six of the best: rikishi of note in each sumo division
Kazuma (right) faces off against future <i>yokozuna</i> Onosato during the All Japan Amateur Sumo Championships at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo in December 2020.
Some startups see opportunity in an aging Japan
Yasmin Baba, CTO of Amilis, wins the Grand Prize at the Pitch2Tokyo Grand Final on Feb. 19.
Japan’s fertility system offers few safe paths for same-sex couples
A Tokyo Pride parade participant holds a sign that says "we want to be a married couple, not a couple."
Life inside Japan’s largest prison for women
Western-style rooms spanning the size of four tatami mats with hardwood floors, a toilet and soft mattresses on bed frames are designated for foreign nationals and those with health conditions at Tochigi Prison.

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