The BOJ eyes an April rate hike as Iran's oil shock pushes inflation risks higher. With 10-year yields at 27-year highs, strong wage growth, and diverging policies from the Fed and ECB, we break down what this means for the yen, carry trades, and global markets.
Japan's Justice Ministry doubles the residency requirement for naturalization from 5 to 10 years starting April 1, 2026. Tax verification expands from 1 to 5 years. We explain the operational change, legal debates, and how Japan compares to the US, Germany, Canada, and other countries.
Japan's food service industry hit its 50,000-worker cap under the Specified Skilled Worker visa, and new applications have been suspended since April 13, 2026. The skills test itself is halted too. We look at the gap between labor shortages and immigration caps, compare with South Korea and Singapore, and map what's left for foreign workers.
The Bank of Japan overhauled its output gap and potential growth rate estimation on March 26, 2026, while launching labor market indicators and new Core CPI data. Learn how these changes lay the groundwork for further rate hikes.
As the yen approaches 160 to the dollar, the Hormuz Strait blockade has triggered an oil price surge, delivering a devastating double blow to Japan's energy-import-dependent economy. Analysis of record gasoline prices, structural vulnerabilities, and comparisons with South Korea and Germany.
Bio-venture Spiber's financial crisis delivers a fatal blow to Japan's Cool Japan Fund, pushing cumulative losses beyond $2.5 billion. With its third missed target triggering dissolution discussions, we analyze Japan's structural challenges in government-backed startup investment compared to Singapore's Temasek and other sovereign wealth funds.
Japan's gasoline hits a record ¥190.8/L ($1.27/L) as the Hormuz Strait blockade chokes off 90%+ of crude imports. With the last Middle East tanker arriving March 22, government subsidies restarting, and Alaska crude on the table at the US-Japan summit, Japan faces its gravest energy crisis in decades.
The Bank of Japan held its policy rate at 0.75% on March 19, 2026, as the Middle East conflict and surging oil prices cloud the economic outlook. Governor Ueda maintained a rate-hike bias but warned that rising energy costs could push underlying inflation either way. With spring wage negotiations delivering 5%+ raises for a third straight year and the yen hovering near 160, Japan faces a complex policy dilemma.
PM Takaichi declared no further consumption tax increases in parliament. We break down Japan's fiscal strategy, its 10% rate vs Europe's 20%+ VAT, and how markets are responding to the world's highest debt-to-GDP ratio.
Japan's Cabinet Office reports Q4 2024 output gap turned positive at +0.2%, marking approximately $6.7 billion in annual excess demand. This key indicator suggests a historic shift away from decades of deflation and demand shortfall. Analysis covers BOJ rate decisions, wage growth, CPI trends, and comparisons with the US and eurozone.
Japan's FSA will raise penalties for unregistered crypto sales from 3 years to 10 years imprisonment. Triggered by the SANAE Token scandal and FIEA transition, this crackdown gives regulators raid and seizure powers. Comparison with US SEC and EU MiCA included.