Bank of Japan

30 October 2025
The Bank of Japan has delayed raising rates since its last hike in January, as the U.S. sharply raised tariffs and the Japanese public's frustration over higher prices grew. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
The decision, led by BOJ Gov. Kazuo Ueda, follows a move by the U.S. Federal Reserve on Oct. 29 to cut interest rates for the second time this year as the labor market slows.
Bank of Japan

BOJ 'not behind the curve' says Gov. Ueda after standing pat

Policy rate held at 0.5% amid tariffs, Takaichi impact; inflation outlook steady

30 October 2025
Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, left, greets U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent before their meeting in Tokyo on Oct. 27. (Pool photo)
Bank of Japan

US Treasury seeks 'sound monetary policy' from Japan amid weak yen

Bessent tells Japanese counterpart conditions differ from Abenomics era

28 October 2025
The Japanese national flag waves at the Bank of Japan building in Tokyo on March 18, 2024.
Opinion

The BOJ must define a strategy for its ETF holdings -- not just its sales

Central bank needs to decide what to do with what they hold until everything is sold

28 October 2025
Takaichi vs. Ueda: While concerns over "the Trump tariffs" have somewhat eased, domestic politics are now creating complexities. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Ken Suzuki, Seiko Ota and Akira Kodaka)
Trading Asia

BOJ early rate hike bets recede amid potential Trump, Takaichi impacts

Volatile yen and fragile US economy weigh on Japanese central bank decision

27 October 2025
The Bank of Japan released its twice-yearly Financial System Report on Oct. 23. (Photo by Miki Kamiyama)
Finance

BOJ warns Japan banks on lending risk for buyout firms as real estate prices soar

Stock market showing signs of overheating, central bank says

24 October 2025
Haruhiko Kuroda, the former governor of the Bank of Japan, right, and Martin Wolf, chief economics commentator at the Financial Times, spoke at the Nikkei-FT symposium held in Tokyo on Oct. 22. (Photo by Hazumu Urushiyama)
Economy

Former BOJ chief Kuroda: US 'destroying global economic order'

From Trump tariffs to rising interest rates, Nikkei-FT symposium explores future of world economy

22 October 2025
Michio Saito thinks that interest rates are unlikely to come down for the time being. (Photo by Shintaro Ino)
Bonds

Japan household investment in JGBs needed: former Finance Ministry director

Michio Saito says bond market not worried about Takaichi as prime minister

21 October 2025
Analysts are concerned that a tapering off of BOJ underwriting could lead to a lack of JGB buyers. (Photo by Miki Kamiyama) 
Bonds

As BOJ buys less, JGB yields face upward pressure on oversupply

Bonds bound for the private sector seen growing by $400bn, raising concerns

17 October 2025
Sanae Takaichi reacts as she receives applause from lawmakers after winning the race for the Liberal Democratic Party leadership in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 4. A parliamentary vote expected to confirm her as prime minister is due later this month. (Photo by Shun Kato) 
Policy Asia

Japan's Takaichi faces fiscal policy tightrope in economy revival quest

If confirmed as prime minister, LDP leader also set for hectic debut on diplomatic stage

10 October 2025
Despite some positive economic data, investors have backpedaled on their expectations that the Bank of Japan will raise interest rates soon. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Currencies

Yen dips to 153; analysts expect further fall as Takaichi's time nears

Weak yen boosts stocks to record high but fiscal worries weigh on currency

9 October 2025
The closely watched survey released quarterly by the Bank of Japan is considered a key indicator for the state of Japan's economy and influences the BOJ's monetary policy decisions. (Photo by Toshiki Sasazu)
Bank of Japan

BOJ's Tankan survey shows improved business sentiment, clouds ahead

Quarterly assessment comes after Japan-US tariff deal, falls below market expectation

1 October 2025
The five Liberal Democratic Party leadership candidates pose at a media event in Tokyo on Sept. 24. (Photo by Shintaro Ino) 
Your Week in Asia

LDP presidential election, ADB outlook, BOJ economic survey

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

28 September 2025
Tokyo's unexpectedly stable inflation has led some investors to believe that the Bank of Japan is in no hurry to raise interest rates. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Currencies

Yen dips to 2-month low against dollar as investors bet on longer BOJ pause

Expectations of Fed interest rate cut also fall after GDP and jobs numbers

26 September 2025
The Bank of Japan is estimated to own 8% of the Tokyo Stock Exchange's Prime market through ETFs. (Photo by Nozomi Okubo)
Comment

Bank of Japan's ETF sales are starting gun for new wave of corporate reform

Japan Inc. should embrace the whys of reform instead of simple indicators

23 September 2025
Bank of Japan's decision follows the U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday lowering interest rates in a stalling job market.
Bank of Japan

BOJ chief strikes cautious tone despite some board members urging rate hike

Gov. Ueda says tariff impacts need monitoring; selling off ETFs over course of 100-plus years

19 September 2025
The Bank of Japan's decision to unload ETFs shook the stock market, as investors became wary of possible excessive stock supplies.  (Photo by Hazumu Urushiyama)
Markets

Japan stocks close down, yen rises after BOJ's policy announcement

Benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond yield rises to 1.640%

19 September 2025
An employee checks shelves of rice at a supermarket in western Tokyo. (Photo by Nanami Sato)
Economy

Japan's core inflation slows in August, stays above BOJ target

Core CPI, which excludes volatile fresh food, rises 2.7% year on year, lowest pace in 9 months

19 September 2025
Top contenders in the LDP leadership race are, from left, former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Tomoki Mera, Uichiro Kasai, Satoko Kawasaki, Akira Kodaka and Akitoshi Sugiura)
Japan leadership race

Japan's fiscal health in the spotlight as LDP leadership race heats up

Bond yields rise as tax-cut talk coincides with higher spending demands

18 September 2025
Following a trade deal between Japan and the U.S., the Bank of Japan is looking closely at how big companies adjust their earnings outlooks. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)
Bank of Japan

BOJ to keep rates steady at 2-day meeting starting Thursday

Central bank calibrates US tariffs' impact on wages, investments, economy

17 September 2025
Semiconductor-related stocks led a rise in the Nikkei Stock Average on Sept. 16. (Photo by Hazumu Urushiyama)
Markets

Japan's Nikkei average tops 45,000 ahead of Fed, BOJ meetings

Stocks mirror US tech rally as investors anticipate more liquidity

16 September 2025
While Washington's erratic trade policy had prompted the BOJ to pause rate hikes, the uncertainty has gradually receded. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Getty Images and Satoko Kawasaki)
Trading Asia

Japan's government bond yields continue to face upward pressure

Expectations for BOJ rate hike and political uncertainty are pushing yields higher

8 September 2025
Chinese soldiers ride on tanks as they participate in a parade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, at Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 2019.
Your Week in Asia

China military parade, Vietnam independence day, BOJ deputy's speech

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

31 August 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speak during a tour of the Federal Reserve Board building in Washington on July 24. 
Opinion

Trump's war on the Fed exposes cracks in central bank independence

What was once a pillar of monetary policy is now vulnerable to political attack

26 August 2025
BOJ Gov. Kazuo Ueda attends the U.S. Federal Reserve's annual conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on Aug. 23.
Bank of Japan

BOJ's Ueda expects tightening job market to push up wages

Central bank chief's remarks signal another interest rate hike is coming

24 August 2025
Customers shop at a Tokyo supermarket: Food price inflation is significantly affecting consumer prices and the broader economy in Japan.  (Photo by Tokuyuki Matsubuchi)
Economy

Japan Q2 GDP expands annualized 1.0%, beating forecasts

Economy grows for fifth consecutive quarter, following data revisions

15 August 2025
Japan's top three banks expect rising interest rates to boost their profits by 640 billion yen for the year ending March 2026, up 120% from the previous year. (Photo by Nanami Sato)
Finance

Japan's big banks post record April-June profit on rising yield spreads

Corporate appetite for funds drives new high in quarter for 3rd straight year

5 August 2025
The Bank of Japan has held interest rates steady for the last four policy meetings as it assesses the impact of higher U.S. trade tariffs on Japan's economy. (Photo by Arisa Moriyama)
Currencies

Yen weakens past 150 per dollar as BOJ strikes cautious tone

Market experts split over yen's direction of travel

31 July 2025
At the Bank of Japan's latest board meeting on July 31, Gov. Kazuo Ueda said that the trade agreement between Tokyo and Washington was a "big step forward" but that tariff impacts remain uncertain.
Bank of Japan

BOJ will monitor impact of tariffs on wages, says Gov. Ueda

Japan central bank holds rates steady, raises inflation outlook

31 July 2025
MUFG and other big banks also are increasing income from fee-based transactions overseas. (Photo by Yuki Nakao)
Finance

Big Japan banks' overseas loans top $680bn on larger US projects

Domestic loans also increasingly profitable thanks to rising interest margins

30 July 2025