Why 80% of Japan’s Airbnb listings have disappeared

More stringent laws governing minpaku or private lodging services have apparently led to a drastic wipeout of Japan listings on the popular short-term rental site Airbnb. The archipelagic nation is now home to just 13,800 Airbnb properties for rental ... ( read original story ...)

Days are numbered for ATMs in Japan’s banking system

On May 2, Shinsei Bank announced that starting from October it will impose fees for automatic teller machine (ATM) transactions. Shinsei’s main sales point has always been its lack of ATM fees, but the bank will start charging ¥108 per ATM withdrawal ... ( read original story ...)

Japan Banks Fixated on Archaic Trading, 35-Year Veteran Says

“You buy when you think it is timely and sell to lock-in capital gains.” The Bank of Japan’s negative interest-rate policy is pressuring domestic lenders to take too much risk, Takahide Kiuchi, a former BOJ board member, said in an interview last mont ( read original story ...)

JGBs hug tight ranges ahead of central bank, G7 meetings

Most market players expect the Bank of Japan to stay with its ultra-loose monetary policy stance in the near future even as the world’s other major central banks gradually shift towards tightening. Still, many investors are looking to whether that ... ( read original story ...)

Japanese Market Modestly Lower

In the banking sector, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial is down 0.2 percent and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial is lower by almost 1 percent. Among oil stocks, Inpex is rising 0.7 percent and Japan Petroleum Exploration is down 0.3 percent despite crude oil prices ... ( read original story ...)

Japan Overall Bank Lending Rises 2.0% In May

TOKYO (Alliance News) - Overall bank lending in Japan was up 2.0% on year in May, the Bank of Japan said on Friday - coming in at 523.137 trillion yen. That was shy of estimates for 2.1%, which would have been unchanged from the April reading. Excluding ... ( read original story ...)

USD/JPY – Japanese Yen Steady Despite Soft Consumer Report

On Thursday, the U.S releases unemployment claims and Japan publishes current account and Final GDP. The Bank of Japan has steadfastly held that it will not exit its massive stimulus until inflation reaches the bank’s target of around 2 percent. ( read original story ...)

Japan Q1 GDP Unrevised, -0.2% On Quarter

The Bank of Japan said that overall bank lending in Japan was up 2.0 percent on year in May, coming in at 523.137 trillion yen. That was shy of estimates for 2.1 percent, which would have been unchanged from the April reading. Excluding trusts, bank ... ( read original story ...)

Anime Is Dominating Japan’s Entertainment Exports

The medium has become a popular one around the globe, and it looks like Japan is making serious bank off that popularity. Thanks to a new report, fans learned the majority of Japanese TV exports circle back to anime. As reported by Anime News Network ... ( read original story ...)

Asian shares fall ahead of G7 summit, central bank meetings

TOKYO — Asian shares were moderately lower Friday, as investors awaited the Group of Seven leaders’ meeting, continuing into the weekend, and for European Central Bank and Federal Reserve meetings next week. KEEPING SCORE: Japan’s benchmark Nikkei ... ( read original story ...)

Japan’s economy shrank in first quarter on weak spending

TOKYO — Japan’s economy declined in the first quarter on weak consumer spending, revised data showed Friday. The Cabinet Office said the gross domestic product or GDP — the total value of a nation’s goods and services — shrank at an annualized ... ( read original story ...)