JAPAN: Japan is debating whether eliminating the consumption tax on food would meaningfully support its struggling economy. Some policymakers believe removing the tax could ease the burden on households facing rising living costs. However, many economists argue that the policy may bring only limited economic benefit while reducing important government revenue. Critics say the move [...]

JAPAN: The International Monetary Fund has urged Japan to continue its gradual interest rate hikes as it navigates rising inflation and long-term fiscal pressures. Officials believe steady policy tightening is necessary to stabilize prices after decades of ultra-low inflation. The IMF also cautioned against cutting consumption taxes too soon, warning it could worsen public debt [...]

JAPAN: The Japanese yen briefly weakened to the upper 154 range against the U.S. dollar following stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs data. Solid employment figures reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates higher for longer. The widening gap between U.S. and Japanese monetary policy continues to pressure the yen. Currency traders reacted quickly, pushing [...]

JAPAN: The Japanese yen weakened for a fourth consecutive day as markets grew cautious ahead of the country’s upcoming elections. Investors appear uncertain about future fiscal and monetary policy direction, adding pressure to the currency. Expectations of continued loose monetary policy have also weighed on the yen’s performance. Currency movements reflect broader concerns about economic [...]

JAPAN: Japan has posted its fifth consecutive annual trade deficit, highlighting ongoing pressure on the world’s third-largest economy. Rising import costs especially for energy and raw materials have continued to outweigh export growth. A weaker yen has made imports more expensive, squeezing businesses and households alike. While exports to some markets improved, they were not [...]

JAPAN: According to data from the National Police Agency, more than half of the reported cases of explicit deepfakes targeting individuals under 18 in Japan involved students from the same schools as the victims. This marks the first time the NPA has shared information about minors who have fallen victim to inappropriate fake images created [...]

JAPAN: The coast guards of China and Japan have reported different versions of an encounter that took place near a group of islands in the East China Sea, which are important for both countries. On Tuesday, China's Coast Guard stated that a Japanese fishing boat had entered the waters around the Diaoyu Islands, known as [...]

JAPAN: Representatives and members of organizations that support foreign nationals in Japan held a rally inside a Tokyo parliament building to protest against xenophobia and the efforts to impose stricter rules on foreigners. The participants, which included the Solidarity Network with Migrants Japan, a nonprofit organization, released a statement demanding the creation of a basic [...]