51³Ô¹ÏÍø

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IMF

The end of Japan-bashing should not be mistaken for a vote of confidence. It may simply indicate that the world has shifted its attention to other sources of imbalance.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 10, 2026
The weak yen is not Japan¡¯s new strength. It is a warning.
The absence of Japan-bashing should not be mistaken for international approval. It may simply mean the world no longer sees Japan as the central imbalance problem.
Vehicles line up for fuel at a gas station in Katembe, Maputo, Mozambique, in April amid the energy shock triggered by the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 17, 2026
The 51³Ô¹ÏÍø and the global debt shock it fueled
Once again, a global crisis is disproportionately burdening countries that did not cause it.
Despite higher oil production and U.S. oversight of Venezuela's oil revenues, the country's currency is weakening, inflation is accelerating and economic conditions are deteriorating.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 15, 2026
The mystery of Venezuela¡¯s missing petrodollars
Venezuela¡¯s oil production is rising, yet its currency is depreciating, inflation is accelerating and foreign exchange remains scarce.
Group of 20 leaders hold a working lunch at the group¡¯s summit in Osaka in June 2019. Japan is facing growing economic and geopolitical challenges as globalization gives way to a more fragmented world.?
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 20, 2026
Japan¡¯s challenge in a world moving beyond old alliances
The emerging world order is likely to be more fragmented, more competitive and more uncertain.
A Finance Ministry official cited an International Monetary Fund rule on Monday noting that three days of intervention count as a single market operation.
BUSINESS / Markets
May 5, 2026
Japan can intervene twice more before November under IMF rules, official notes
The comments came after the yen surged last Thursday following reported intervention by the authorities, and also saw a number of intraday rallies during days that followed.
An oil refinery under construction on the outskirts of Lagos, Nigeria. Africa already has the capital needed for development, but without better institutions, investment platforms and regulations, most domestic savings remain trapped in government debt.
COMMENTARY / World
May 4, 2026
Putting Africa¡¯s savings to work for its people
The task now is to build the architecture that channels Africa¡¯s savings into productive investments.
Rahul Anand during an interview at the International Monetary Fund's headquarters in Washington on Wednesday
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 16, 2026
BOJ urged to keep clear message on policy as war clouds outlook
Anand¡¯s remarks come ahead of the BOJ¡¯s closely watched April 27-28 meeting, with markets still seeing a slim chance of a rate hike.
Tobias Adrian, director of the IMF's Monetary and Capital Markets Department, speaks during an interview in Washington on Monday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 15, 2026
Japan¡¯s rising interest rates sign of ¡®healthy economy,¡¯ says IMF official
Tobias Adrian said the rising rates result from the country¡¯s exit from long-standing deflation and that Japan¡¯s policy normalization is ¡°on track.¡±
International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring meetings signage outside the IMF headquarters in Washington on April 9.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 12, 2026
World finance chiefs head to IMF with a sense of deja vu
Ahead of the meetings IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva warned that the international community is becoming less able to respond to shocks.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva at the 56th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 23
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 7, 2026
Middle East war means ¡®all roads¡¯ lead to higher prices and slower growth, IMF chief says
Even if the conflict is swiftly resolved, the International Monetary Fund is set ?to reduce its growth forecast and bump up its outlook for inflation.
The International Monetary Fund has urged the Bank of Japan to keep raising rates even as the war in Iran poses new risks.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 4, 2026
IMF urges BOJ to keep raising rates even as 51³Ô¹ÏÍø poses new risks
The proposal comes amid market expectations the BOJ ?will raise ?interest rates as soon as April in the face of mounting inflationary ?pressure.
A wholesale mall in Shenzhen, China. The International Monetary Fund called for a reorientation by Beijing to embrace an economic model based on domestic consumer spending.
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 19, 2026
IMF warns China¡¯s economic policies are causing damage to others
The fund called for a reorientation by Beijing to embrace a model based on domestic consumer spending.
The International Monetary Fund has issued a warning that a reduction of Japan's consumption tax would erode its fiscal space and add to fiscal risks.
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 18, 2026
IMF urges Japan to avoid cutting sales tax amid higher expected borrowing costs
The fund described such a move as ¡°an untargeted measure that would erode fiscal space and add to fiscal risks.¡±
Historians¡¯ rankings of America¡¯s best and worst foreign-policy decisions show the U.S. succeeded when it led cooperatively through multilateral institutions and failed when it turned inward or went rogue.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 2, 2026
The 10 best and worst U.S. foreign policy decisions
America was at its best whenever it was open to the world and engaged with it, and at its worst when it became closed.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi meets with his Swiss counterpart, Martin Pfister, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday. Japan should revitalize the OECD as a hub for middle powers, moving beyond the Group of Seven and Bretton Woods.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 23, 2026
After Davos, middle powers matter more than ever
Japan is well placed to act as a custodian of cooperation among countries that still depend on functioning markets but can no longer rely on a single guarantor.
International Monetary Fund spokesperson Julie Kozack
BUSINESS
Dec 5, 2025
IMF spokesperson welcomes Japan¡¯s draft extra budget
Backed by strong economic growth, the ratio of Japan¡¯s debt to its gross domestic product ¡°will be on a declining path next year,¡± the spokesperson said.
Nada Choueiri, deputy director of the International Monetary Fund's Asia and Pacific Department, speaks during an interview on Oct. 17 in Washington.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 24, 2025
Japan has time to restore fiscal health, IMF exec says
A consumption tax cut should be avoided, and fiscal measures should be highly targeted, the deputy director of the IMF¡¯s Asia and Pacific Department said.
Vitor Gaspar, director of the International Monetary Fund's Fiscal Affairs Department, is interviewed in Washington last week.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 16, 2025
IMF executive recommends longer-term fiscal planning for Japan
The current debt trends and risks are ¡°fundamentally different¡± from those of the pre-pandemic period, when ultralow interest rates were the norm, the executive said.
Former International Monetary Fund Chief Economist Maurice Obstfeld has expressed concern that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has taken policy measures, including high tariffs and tax laws, that expand the federal debt and unpredictability, thereby undermining confidence in the dollar.
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 12, 2025
Former IMF economist advises Japan to strengthen non-U.S. ties
Maurice Obstfeld expressed concern that policies, including high tariffs and tax laws, that expand the federal debt and unpredictability, may undermine confidence in the dollar.
International Monetary Fund spokesperson Julie Kozack said any fiscal stimulus measures Japan takes to address economic shocks should be temporary and targeted at vulnerable households and companies, during a news conference on Thursday in Washington.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 25, 2025
IMF advises Japan to avoid broad tax cuts and handouts
Tackling inflation was a major campaign issue in the Upper House race, with opposition parties having called for reducing or abolishing the consumption tax.

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

SUSTAINABLE 51³Ô¹ÏÍø