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July 24, 2026
 

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Toru Fujioka
The Bank of Japan's headquarters in Tokyo
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 23, 2026
Half of economists still see BOJ waiting until December to hike
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi¡¯s government is seen as a key obstacle to further action, according to a survey.
Japan's central bank is likely to consider raising its economic growth forecast at its July meeting while leaving the policy rate unchanged after last month hiking it to the highest level since 1995, according to people familiar with the matter.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 18, 2026
BOJ likely to raise growth forecast and stand pat, sources say
The officials will make final decisions on policy and the economic outlook after assessing all available data and information up to the last minute, the sources said.
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 15, 2026
BOJ¡¯s 2016 negative rate shock shows split board hitting limit
The surprise decision upended stocks and sent the yen higher against the dollar ¡ª an unusual market reaction to additional monetary stimulus.
The parliament building in Tokyo. Close attention to policy wording shows how sensitive the issue of possible government influence on Japan's central bank has become.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 8, 2026
Government tweaks phrasing on BOJ in draft policy plan
The draft of Japan¡¯s economic and fiscal agenda adds a reference to inflation, calling for appropriate monetary policy that contributes to stable price increases.
Bank loans in Japan rose 6.3% in June from a year earlier, the strongest growth since August 2020, according to a Bank of Japan report released Wednesday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 8, 2026
Japan¡¯s bank lending rises fastest since COVID-19, backing BOJ¡¯s path
The figures reinforce the central bank¡¯s assessment that financial conditions remain accommodative even after Gov. Kazuo Ueda¡¯s board raised its benchmark interest rate last month.
Until recently, economists generally saw the Bank of Japan hiking rates about every six months, but now markets are pricing in a solid chance that another increase could come by October.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 2, 2026
Sinking yen and robust economy support BOJ case for earlier rate hike
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has indicated her preference for monetary easing, helping push the yen to its weakest level against the dollar since 1986.
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo. Confidence among large manufacturers rose to the highest level since 2018, supporting the BOJ¡¯s stance to keep raising interest rates.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 1, 2026
Japan¡¯s manufacturer mood improves to highest level since 2018
Inflation expectations climbed, supporting the Bank of Japan¡¯s stance to keep raising interest rates.
Ayano Sato in Tokyo on Tuesday
BUSINESS
Jun 30, 2026
Takaichi¡¯s new BOJ board pick signals tame view on inflation
Ayano Sato begins her five-year term just two weeks after the BOJ raised its benchmark interest rate to the highest level in 31 years.
The consumer price index excluding fresh food for the Tokyo area, considered a leading indicator for nationwide price trends, rose 1.6% in June from a year earlier.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 26, 2026
Tokyo inflation picks up, keeping BOJ on track for further hike
The consumer price index excluding fresh food rose 1.6% in June from a year earlier in Japan¡¯s capital.
Bank of Japan board member Naoki Tamura is a widely known hawk on the board who frequently calls for interest rates to be raised to a more normal setting.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 25, 2026
Rate hikes needed every few months, hawkish BOJ board member says
While the remarks suggest another rate hike may come earlier than BOJ watchers expect, they also show there is some caution around raising rates again in July.
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 24, 2026
BOJ summary affirms rate hike stance as inflation risks mount
The summary came out as the yen remained close to the weakest level since 1986 against the dollar amid growing bets on the Federal Reserve raising rates this year.
Toichiro Asada disagreed with his peers on the biggest risks facing the economy as he voted against the Bank of Japan¡¯s most recent interest rate hike.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 22, 2026
Dissent by Takaichi¡¯s BOJ pick hints at case for faster hikes
Toichiro Asada, the first policy board member appointed by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, left little doubt about his commitment to monetary stimulus.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda was hospitalized on June 9 for treatment of a liver cyst infection and didn¡¯t attend a policy meeting earlier this week.
BUSINESS
Jun 19, 2026
Gov. Ueda has been discharged from hospital, BOJ says
Ueda, 74, was hospitalized on June 9 for treatment of a liver cyst infection and didn¡¯t attend a policy meeting earlier this week.
Bank of Japan Deputy Gov. Ryozo Himino warns that the central bank could be forced to conduct more rapid interest rate hikes later on if it is late with necessary adjustments.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 19, 2026
BOJ¡¯s Himino sees risk of price trend rising above 2% target
The central bank deputy governor warned that it could be forced to conduct more rapid interest rate hikes later on if it is late with necessary adjustments.
Bank of Japan Deputy Gov. Shinichi Uchida holds a news conference after a BOJ policy meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 18, 2026
BOJ will hike rates again by December, 90% of economists say
A key question is whether or not the BOJ needs to act a little faster than its widely seen pace of moving once every six months.
Former Bank of Japan Gov. Hideo Hayakawa
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 9, 2026
BOJ may raise rate in June and October, former official says
The BOJ is widely expected to raise its benchmark interest rate a quarter percentage point, in what would be the first adjustment since December.
Vice Finance Minister for International Affairs Atsushi Mimura speaks to reporters in Tokyo on May 1 following reports of Japan's possible intervention in the currency market.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jun 5, 2026
Japan likely sold Treasurys to fund yen intervention
Treasury sales may not go down well in Washington where officials have become increasingly focused on the stability of the U.S. government bond market.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda¡¯s remarks Wednesday at a forum in Tokyo indicate there is a good chance of a rate hike this month.
BUSINESS
Jun 3, 2026
Ueda says BOJ needs to keep raising rates to contain inflation
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda¡¯s remarks Wednesday at a forum in Tokyo indicate there¡¯s a good chance of a rate hike this month.
The Bank of Japan will probably increase its benchmark rate next month, according to Makoto Sakurai, who served on the central bank's board from 2016 to 2021.
BUSINESS / Economy
May 29, 2026
BOJ will probably raise rates in June, former board member says
The central bank¡¯s policy will fall into a state of being behind otherwise, says Makoto Sakurai, who served on its board from 2016 to 2021.
The Bank of Japan's headquarters in Tokyo. Tokyo inflation cooled to its slowest pace in nearly two years in May, but BOJ policymakers are wary of prices picking up due to the war in Iran.
BUSINESS / Economy
May 29, 2026
Tokyo inflation slowdown unlikely to derail BOJ rate hike
The consumer price index excluding fresh food rose 1.3% in May from a year earlier in the capital.
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer¡¯s disease
A team of researchers said they found a ¡°seed¡± that accelerates the amyloid beta accumulation process in the brain, naming it ¡°Peak 1 amyloid beta,¡± as seen in a mouse's brain.
Indian brothers make manga debut in Japan
Two Indian brothers made their manga debut in Japan with "Kung Fu Kung Fool" ¡ª an action-comedy series that follows the adventures of a notorious thief and a young boy.
Low-income families in Japan cut food and air conditioning during summer break
Yumiko Watanabe, the chairperson of nonprofit Kidsdoor, explains the results of a survey in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on July 1.
Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role
Iranian drones are displayed in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Jan. 13, 2025.U.S. officials have acknowledged that Russia has ?provided targeting ?and other support for Iran in its drone strikes on U.S. targets in the Persian Gulf region.
Intervention is the word after yen moves beyond ?163 and sits there
The government could prop up the yen at any moment, though its signaling is hard to read.
Can Japanese comedy get laughs in English? Yoshimoto Kogyo lets the jokes rip
Wes-P has millions of followers and his viral clips made him recognizable out of Japan.
The 180-day locals: Life on Japan¡¯s digital nomad visa
Christopher Flinn works remotely from Tokyo earlier this month. Japan issued 646 digital nomad visas in 2025, but tourism officials are hoping to increase that figure in the coming years, with Japan's relatively cheap cost of living and the weak yen seen as potential draws for young professionals.
Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
The Self-Defense Forces' Type 16 mobile combat vehicle fires during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture, on June 28.
Summer has arrived in Japan and so have hot sleepless nights
Amid the heat and humidity in Japan, a good night¡¯s sleep is growing increasingly elusive without the heavy use of air conditioning.
Maya Ongaku¡¯s DIY dream is getting bigger
The members of Maya Ongaku ¡ª (from left) Tsutomu Sonoda, Shoei Ikeda and Ryota Takano ¡ª grew up on the Shonan Coast south of Tokyo and have been friends since their school days.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

For many people, utility poles and power lines have become such a familiar part of Japan¡¯s landscape that they often go unnoticed.
Why Japan¡¯s utility poles won¡¯t be disappearing anytime soon
By Alex K.T. Martin

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