thejapantimes, 1 month ago to Japan

Tokyo stands alone in the Group of Seven. Far from shutting down polluting fuel plants, it’s opening them. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2024/05/02/japan/japan-coal-power/ #commentary #japan #coal #energy #pollution #japaneseeconomy #fossilfuels

thejapantimes, 1 month ago to business

Chocolate fans in Japan, one of Asia’s biggest cocoa buyers, are heading for a sticker shock later this year as an unprecedented surge in cocoa prices finally filters through to stores. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2024/04/30/markets/japan-cocoa-price-surge/ #business #markets #japaneseeconomy #inflation #food

thejapantimes, 2 months ago to Japan

In Sweden, 90% of fathers take parental leave, versus 17% in Japan. Japanese families — and the economy — are missing out on the huge benefits of a more gender equal approach. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2024/04/12/japan/sweden-japan-paternity-leave-productivity/ #commentary #japan #sweden #paternityleave #maternityleave #parenthood #children #population #depopulation #japaneseeconomy #jobs

thejapantimes, 3 months ago to business

The stock rally that pushed Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average past a record that stood for more than three decades looks set for further advances as foreigners rush back in. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2024/02/24/markets/nikkei-rise-started-foreign-demand/ #business #markets #nikkei #stocks #japaneseeconomy

thejapantimes, 4 months ago to Japan

Japan is preparing to add four sectors, including the transportation industry, to its foreign blue-collar skilled worker visa. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/01/28/japan/foreign-workers-visas/?utm_content=buffer9bab3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #japan #japaneseeconomy #jobs #visas

thejapantimes, 4 months ago to business

Japan experienced a robust surge in exports in December, driven by a double-digit increase in shipments to the United States and a notable rise in exports to China, marking the first positive trend in 13 months. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2024/01/24/japan-exports-pick-up/?utm_content=buffer8f948&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #business #trade #china #us #economicindicators #japaneseeconomy

thejapantimes, 5 months ago to Japan

This year, Japan changed its sex crime laws but failed to legalize same-sex marriage. What gender reforms, or lack thereof, will we remember from 2023? https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2023/12/29/japan/japan-gender-laws-2023/?utm_content=buffer7015d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #commentary #japan #women039sissues #fumiokishida #japaneseeconomy #depopulation #samesexmarriage #sexcrimes #birthcontrol

thejapantimes, 6 months ago to business

The average price of whole Christmas cakes in Japan this year is up ¥325, or 7.8%, from a year earlier, reflecting surging costs of almost all major ingredients. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2023/12/06/christmas-cake-prices-jump/?utm_content=buffer43db0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #business #christmas #cakes #japaneseeconomy #surveys

thejapantimes, 6 months ago to Japan

A government panel has compiled a final report on a new system to replace Japan's controversial trainee program for foreign nationals, featuring improved rights protection with increased flexibility for workplace changes. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/11/25/japan/technical-intern-final-report/?utm_content=bufferff195&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #japan #immigration #jobs #justiceministry #expats #japaneseeconomy #visas #foreigntrainees #foreignworkers

thejapantimes, 7 months ago to business

Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda is in a tight position on whether to adjust policy settings during the central bank's two-day policy meeting. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2023/10/30/economy/ueda-boj-policy-meeting/?utm_content=buffer04920&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #business #economy #boj #kazuoueda #inflation #negativeinterestrates #japaneseeconomy

thejapantimes, 7 months ago to business

Japan’s nominal GDP will be overtaken by Germany this year as it slips from No. 3 to No. 4 in the world on a U.S. dollar basis, according to new projections by the IMF. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2023/10/24/economy/japan-gdp-biggest-economies-imf/?utm_content=buffer535b1&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #business #economy #japaneseeconomy #inflation #currencies #china #us #germany

thejapantimes, 7 months ago to business

Japan's largest labor organization Rengo is set to demand wage hikes totaling 5% or more, its president, Tomoko Yoshino, said Thursday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2023/10/19/economy/rengo-union-wage-hike/?utm_content=buffer628a0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #business #economy #rengo #wages #japaneseeconomy #inflation

thejapantimes, 7 months ago to business

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to pledge to consider returning a portion of tax revenues to the public to mitigate the impact of price hikes. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2023/10/18/fumio-kishida-policy-speech-tax-return/?utm_content=buffer05ae8&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #business #fumiokishida #diet #taxes #japaneseeconomy

thejapantimes, 8 months ago to business

As Kazuo Ueda marks six months at the helm of the BOJ, many ponder when the central bank will begin normalizing Japan's monetary policy. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2023/10/09/bank-of-japan-kazuo-ueda-monetary-policy/?utm_content=buffer22b5e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #business #boj #kazuoueda #japaneseeconomy #inflation #wages

thejapantimes, 8 months ago to Japan

Japan is finally fixing a tax system that has incentivized brewers to make cheaper, lower-quality beer as the country looks to cast off three decades of putting cost cuts first. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2023/10/06/japan/japan-cheap-beer/?utm_content=buffer01512&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #commentary #japan #japanesebeer #beer #liquor #taxes #japaneseeconomy

thejapantimes, 8 months ago to Japan

The Japanese welfare ministry plans to allow part-time workers to remain as dependents of spouses for up to two consecutive years even if their annual income temporarily exceeds ¥1.3 million. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/09/24/japan/relief-measures-japan-part-timers/?utm_content=buffer77788&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #japan #jobs #japaneseeconomy #socialsecurity #welfare #parttimeworkers

thejapantimes, 8 months ago to business

Japan’s government-backed Rapidus is lobbying chipmakers, their suppliers and research institutions to set up shop in Hokkaido in a bid to make the remote region a center of semiconductor innovation within a decade. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2023/09/12/companies/rapidus-hokkaido-chipmaking/?utm_content=buffer6fcee&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #business #companies #rapidus #chipmakers #hokkaido #tsmc #manufacturing #japaneseeconomy #investments

thejapantimes, 8 months ago to random

Tourists may be flocking back to Japan but the success of kitsch activities shows the country lacks enough things for them to do. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2023/09/06/japan-tourism/?utm_content=buffer1484f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #commentary #tourism #japaneseeconomy

thejapantimes, 9 months ago to business

One of the Bank of Japan’s leading advocates for unwinding monetary stimulus has indicated the central bank might attain its long sought-after goal of reaching 2% inflation on a stable basis by early next year. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2023/08/30/boj-hawk-policy-shift-hint/?utm_content=bufferf2746&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #business #boj #inflation #japaneseeconomy

thejapantimes, 9 months ago to business

Amid recent strong wage growth and broadening price hikes, Japan stands a better chance of finally breaking with the deflation that has "shackled" the nation for a quarter of a century, the government said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2023/08/29/economy/japan-economy-deflation-end/?utm_content=buffer1e1af&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #business #economy #japaneseeconomy #inflation #boj

thejapantimes, 9 months ago to business

Financial expert Izuru Kato has warned against the Bank of Japan's cautious stance toward monetary policy normalization, saying that a delay could make it necessary to raise interest rates steeply. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2023/08/25/boj-delay-warning/?utm_content=buffer8d7d6&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #business #boj #inflation #japaneseeconomy #yen #wages #jobs

thejapantimes, 9 months ago to business

China’s recent decision to lift its ban on Japan-bound group tours is set to add extra fuel to an ongoing rebound in tourist spending. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2023/08/15/economy/return-of-chinese-group-tours-to-japan-to-bring-economic-boost/?utm_content=buffer2608a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #business #economy #china #tourism #consumerspending #chinajapanrelations #japaneseeconomy

thejapantimes, 10 months ago to business

Japan's National Personnel Authority recommended Monday that the monthly salaries of civil servants in general positions be raised by an average 0.96%, or ¥3,869 ($27), the highest increase in 26 years. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2023/08/07/civil-servants-pay-rise-26-years/?utm_content=buffer4b995&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #business #wages #inflation #bureaucracy #japaneseeconomy

thejapantimes, 10 months ago to news

Japan expects a smaller-than-projected primary balance deficit of ¥1.3 trillion in fiscal 2025 due to increased tax revenue, though returning to a surplus will likely not come until a year later than targeted. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/07/25/business/economy-business/smaller-deficit-fiscal-2025/?utm_content=buffer7e6db&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #news #economy #fumiokishida #inflation #gdp #japaneseeconomy #economicindicators #consumerspending

thejapantimes, 10 months ago to news

Japan’s balance of trade for June unexpectedly swung to its first surplus since July 2021, an outcome that should help ease pressure on the economy’s recovery — though risks remain. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/07/20/business/economy-business/japans-surprise-trade-surplus-comes-caveats-growth/?utm_content=bufferfd8bd&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #news #economy #trade #japaneseeconomy #economicindicators