The sales tax needs to be raised for fiscal consolidation But if the economy is not strong the hike can not proceed Will put together a new primary balance goal next summer Aso knows that the latest indications on the economy are quite positive, so he'll ... ( read original story ...)
Japan finance minister Aso is bullish on wages
Japanese authorities have been wanting wages to rise for years now - the thinking is that this will spur spending and (for the Bank of Japan goal) also inflation. So Aso may be seeing what he wants to see. Or maybe not. If he is right it will be read as ... ( read original ...
Japan’s first nationwide survey of middle-aged hikikomori in the pipeline
The government has allocated ¥20 million from the fiscal 2018 budget to finance research for Japan’s first nationwide survey on middle-aged hikikomori — people who have shut themselves in their homes. The survey, to take place in fiscal 2018 starting ... ( read original story ...)
Japan pledges $1.26B in grants, soft loans for infra projects
As the Philippines under President Duterte strengthened ties with its neighbors, it secured $1.26 billion in commitments from Japan last year mainly to finance infrastructure projects, the Department of Finance said Thursday. The grants and soft loans ... ( read original story ...)
Japan FinMin Aso is bullish on wages
Reuters reports comments from the Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso, as he expresses his take on the wage growth outlook. The economy has changed. Labour environment has shifted. Wage environment has changed. Information on these pages contains forward ... ( read original story ...)
Japan seen posting 41st straight current account surplus in Nov
The finance ministry will release the data at 8:50 a.m. Japan time on Jan. 12, Friday (2350 GMT Thursday). Japan's exports accelerated sharply in November led by a stellar sales to China and other parts of Asia, pointing to growing momentum in the world's ... ( read original story ...)
Japanese budgeting hack to get your finances on track
The Japanese Art of Saving Money." The book is currently only available in English in the U.K., but the publisher told ABC News it’s releasing the book in the U.S. this fall. The general concept starts with mindfulness about your goals -- Why are you saving? ( read original story ...)
Japan’s Nikkei index hits 26-year high
The Nikkei index of 225 leading Japanese shares reached its highest level for 26 years at the end of trading on Tuesday. It added 0.6% to its value to end at 23,849.99 when the markets reopened following a public holiday on Monday - its highest level since ... ( read original story ...)
Japan, US, South Korea face test on unity over North Korea
"Our position on applying maximum pressure will not change," a top Japanese official said. But North Korea can take advantage of any rifts among Japan, the U.S. and South Korea. Nikkei staff writer Sotaro Suzuki in Seoul contributed to this story. ( read original story ...)
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike pledges better child care as capital eyes population peak
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike on Tuesday pledged greater support in child and nursing care to address growing social needs as the nation seeks to deal with its shrinking and graying population. Koike, in an interview with The Japan Times, also said she will do ... ( read original story ...)
Japan rejects South Korean call for extra steps over ‘comfort women’
SEOUL (Reuters) - Japan said on Tuesday it can "by no means" accept South Korea's call for more steps to help "comfort women", a euphemism for girls and women forced to work in Japan's wartime brothels, a divisive issue that Japan says was resolved with a ... ( read original story ...)
Japan kayak racer banned 8 years for spiking drink of rival
The Japan Anti-Doping Agency said Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018 that Suzuki was banned for putting an anabolic steroid into the drink bottle of his rival at a national championship in September. (Kyodo News via AP) The incident is Japan's first case of an athlete ... ( read original story ...)
Okinawa tension: US apologises to Japan over repeat accidents
Japan says the US has apologised for a series of recent accidents on its territory involving American military equipment. The incidents on the southern island of Okinawa included the emergency landings of two US military helicopters. Okinawa Governor ... ( read original story ...)
Nikkei hits 26-year high; Fast Retailing top contributor
The broader Topix ended 0.5 per cent higher at 1,889.29, its highest closing level since June 1991. TOKYO: Japan's Nikkei share average hit a 26-year high on Tuesday, helped by gains on Wall Street during a Japanese holiday, while index heavyweight Fast ... ( read original story ...)
Tokyo, Yokohama warm up as Japan’s north faces blizzards, snowstorms
TOKYO - While people in Japan's north are bundled up in thick clothing as the mercury plummets, triggering weather warnings on Tuesday (Jan 9), those in Tokyo and Yokohama are feeling spring-like temperatures of 18 deg Celsius. In the capital, many among ... ( read original story ...)
Asian shares edge up, yen jumps as Bank of Japan trims bond buying
Asian shares edged higher on Tuesday, approaching record highs, while the yen stole the currency spotlight and jumped after the Bank of Japan's slight reduction to its bond purchases reminded investors that it will eventually normalize policy. MSCI's ... ( read original story ...)