Economics
At its Monetary Policy Meeting concluded on October 30, 2026, the Policy Board of the Bank of Japan (BOJ) voted 8-1 to maintain its primary monetary policy setting, encouraging the uncollateralized overnight call rate to remain at approximately 1.25%. Concurrently, in an unanimous decision, the central bank authorized
Economics
On September 30, 2026, Bruce Aronson (Head of the Japan Center at the US-Asia Law Institute, NYU Law) hosted Dr. Paul Sheard (prominent macroeconomist, former senior executive at S&P Global and Nomura Securities, and author of The Power of Money) to discuss Japan's most profound
Economics
For over two decades, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) existed in a state of perpetual emergency. Since the late 1990s, the institution was defined by its "reflationary" mission—a singular, often desperate struggle to extricate the Japanese economy from a debilitating deflationary trap. This era was characterized by
Economics
As expectations grow for the Bank of Japan to accelerate its monetary tightening cycle—with policy rates anticipated to reach 1.25% in September 2026 and rise above 2.0% by fiscal 2028—the macroeconomic balance sheet for Japanese households appears positive on the surface, but hides significant structural pressures
Economics
Japanese long-term government bond yields have pushed near the 3% level, with 10-year yields touching roughly 2.9% in mid-August. The move reflects rapid market repricing of Bank of Japan (BoJ) rate hikes following the July policy meeting and joint currency intervention. Overnight index swap (OIS) curves
banking
Wakkanai Shinkin Bank will issue ¥20 billion ($130M+) in preferred subscription certificates to strengthen its financial foundation. The entire capital injection will be underwritten by Shinkin Central Bank through an industry management enhancement program. The move follows recent media reports regarding the regional bank's balance sheet, which has
Economics
The release of Deutsche Bank’s "Mapping the World’s Prices - 2026" report confirms a full inversion in the global macroeconomic landscape: the definitive redrawing of the cost-of-living map. Since this index began in 2012, Tokyo has transitioned from a symbol of prohibitive expense to the
Podcast
For the latest episode of the Japan FinTech Observer podcast, we explore the positive outlook for Japanese banking institutions as they transition into new midterm strategic plans. Analysts highlight that major and regional banks are significantly raising their profitability targets, with a specific focus on achieving higher Return on Equity
Economics
Japan’s benchmark 10-year government bond yield continues to hover at a elevated level of around 2.7%. Despite recent volatility triggered by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, shifts in the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) policy stance, and the fiscal direction of the Takaichi administration, yields have
Economics
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has published "The 5th Interim Report of the Subcommittee on New Economic and Industrial Policy, Council for the Industrial Structure", outlining a comprehensive Japanese economic strategy for 2026, focusing on industrial restructuring and sustainable growth. METI aims to address domestic
banking
In last week's Japan FinTech Observer, we detailed the planned reorganization of Rakuten's FinTech business, highlighting that the punchline, a post-reorganization EPS of JPY 296, compared to a pre-reorganization forecast of JPY 418.76, was conveniently tucked away on page 31 of the supplementary
Economics
Japan’s economy expanded at an annualized rate of 2.1% in the first quarter of 2026, marking its second consecutive quarter of growth. This expansion was driven by resilient domestic consumption, capital investment, and a rebound in exports to the United States following a slowdown induced by earlier tariffs.