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July 24, 2026
 

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Sumio Ito
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.
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.
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 board will likely discuss lifting its key price projection for this fiscal year after oil prices surged roughly 50% since the outbreak of the U.S.-51³Ô¹ÏÍø.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 15, 2026
BOJ could raise price outlook sharply on oil shock, central bank watchers say
Uncertainty over the Middle East conflict will also likely lead officials to consider lowering the economic growth forecast.
A former Bank of Japan chief economist said the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø is increasing inflation risks, strengthening the case for a possible interest rate hike as early as this month.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 2, 2026
Former BOJ chief economist sees likelihood of April rate hike
Toshitaka Sekine, now an economics professor at Hitotsubashi University, thinks there are more upside risks for inflation.
The Bank of Japan plans to offload its substantial holdings of exchange-traded funds little by little, to avoid roiling markets.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 16, 2025
BOJ may begin decadeslong sale of ?83 trillion ETF hoard from January
The bank will offload the assets little by little to avoid roiling markets, as was decided at a September policy board meeting, people familiar with the matter said.
Hideo Hayakawa, a former executive director of the Bank of Japan, says he expects multiple rate hikes by the central bank by 2027, with the terminal rate probably around 1.5%.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 11, 2025
BOJ likely to conduct multiple hikes ahead, former official says
Hideo Hayakawa, a former executive director of the central bank, says the terminal rate is probably around 1.5%.
Bank of Japan¡¯s headquarters in Tokyo
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 19, 2025
BOJ unlikely to hike before March, says panelist advising Prime Minister Takaichi
Goushi Kataoka, a member of Takaichi¡¯s economic growth strategy panel, estimated that a supplementary budget of around ?20 trillion would be necessary this fiscal year.
Market expectations for a rate hike when the Bank of Japan next sets policy on Oct. 30 have been gaining momentum as inflation has held steady and the economy has showed resilience.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 25, 2025
BOJ may raise rate as soon as October, says former board member
Market expectations for a rate hike when the bank next sets policy have been gaining momentum as inflation has held steady and the economy has showed resilience.
A former Bank of Japan chief economist says growing market speculation about a potential rate hike in October is underestimating the uncertainty caused by U.S President's Donald Trump's tariff campaign.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 5, 2025
BOJ¡¯s October rate stance tough to call, its ex-chief economist says
Speculation over a potential rate hike underestimates the uncertainty wrought by U.S. President Donald Trump¡¯s tariff campaign, Toshitaka Sekine says.
Bank of Japan officials view the trade deal with the U.S. as reducing a key source of uncertainty for Japan¡¯s economy and businesses, allowing the central bank to focus on monitoring the tariffs¡¯ actual impact in incoming economic data, according to people familiar with the matter.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 25, 2025
BOJ is said to see potential rate hike environment this year
Assuming there¡¯s no change to the U.S. tariff deal, the central bank will likely have enough data by the end of the year to be able to consider whether a rate hike is appropriate.
The central bank will probably weigh increasing its key price forecast from 2.2% for this fiscal year after food inflation proved stronger than expected.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 14, 2025
BOJ may raise price outlook as food inflation beats expectations, sources say
The yen briefly strengthened against the dollar following the report, while Japan¡¯s bond futures dipped.
Junko Koeda, one of the latest members of the Bank of Japan's policy board, speaks during an interview at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on Monday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 9, 2025
New board member hints at possible raising of BOJ¡¯s price outlook
Junko Koeda, a former Waseda University economics professor, on Monday gave her first media interview since joining the board in March.
Inflation is surprisingly strong, increasing the possibility that the Bank of Japan will raise its interest rate by the end of the year, according to Tsutomu Watanabe, an emeritus economics professor at the University of Tokyo.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 4, 2025
Japan¡¯s inflation is outpacing BOJ¡¯s view, expert says
The remarks of Tsutomu Watanabe, a former central bank official, are likely to feed market expectations for another interest rate hike this year.
Bank of Japan officials now see inflation slightly outpacing earlier forecasts, potentially paving the way for rate hike talks if global trade tensions subside, sources say.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 13, 2025
BOJ is said to see inflation running stronger than expected
Some officials see the relative strength in inflation reflecting a change in price-setting behavior with sharp increases in the price of rice likely to harden inflationary views.
Since last summer, the Bank of Japan has been reducing its buying of government bonds by ?400 billion every quarter, but that process will come to a halt, according to former board member Makoto Sakurai.
BUSINESS
Jun 3, 2025
BOJ likely to stop cutting bond purchases in next fiscal year, ex-official says
The government¡¯s cost for debt servicing has risen to about a quarter of its budget for this fiscal year, thanks partly to higher interest rates.
The Bank of Japan will likely postpone raising interest rates due to uncertainties stemming from U.S. tariff measures that could deal a blow to Japan¡¯s economy, a former executive director said.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 15, 2025
BOJ will likely put rate hike aside for now, ex-official says
¡°They will be in a wait-and-see mode for a while,¡± said Kenzo Yamamoto, a former executive at the Bank of Japan.
Seiji Adachi, a former member of the Bank of Japan's Policy Board, says there is a chance of a May rate hike.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 3, 2025
Ex-board member who just left BOJ sees chance of May rate hike
Seiji Adachi, whose five-year term ended last week, said he would probably vote for a rate hike in the central bank¡¯s May meeting if one was proposed.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda has indicated he has little problem with the recent rising yield trend.
BUSINESS
Mar 13, 2025
Shift in BOJ stance favors free market functioning over intervention
People familiar with the central bank¡¯s policy approach say the market should decide rates, and that investors need to get used to a world without yield curve control.
Kazuo Momma, a former executive director in charge of monetary policy at the Bank of Japan, says June is the favored option for the central bank's next rate hike.
BUSINESS / Economy
Mar 11, 2025
BOJ¡¯s next rate hike likely in June, former executive says
Kazuo Momma, a former executive director in charge of monetary policy, says the central bank is likely to move roughly every six months to maintain expectations.
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.
Japan weighs regulating Pokemon cards amid trading mania
A Pokemon event is held in Jakarta on July 11
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.
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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