Finance Minister Hints at Yen Intervention

Jul 23, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Japan's finance minister signaled the government is prepared to intervene in the foreign exchange market after the yen briefly weakened into the 163 range against the dollar, its lowest level in about 40 years.

The dollar strengthened in foreign exchange trading as worsening conditions in the Middle East and other factors fueled demand for the U.S. currency.

Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama sought to restrain speculative trading on the morning of July 22, saying the government's position had not changed.

"Our policy has not changed at all. We will take appropriate and decisive action at any time if necessary," Katayama said, suggesting that authorities could conduct yen-buying intervention.

The government revised its closely watched annual Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform to take market concerns into account, but the changes have so far failed to halt the yen's decline.

Source: TBS

Major Earthquake Could Strike Japan at Any Time

Japan launched a new national disaster management agency on November 2nd to strengthen its response to major emergencies, just days before a powerful earthquake struck Aichi Prefecture, injuring 24 people and renewing concerns over the possibility of a catastrophic Nankai Trough earthquake.

Russia Calls JT Takeover a Countermeasure Against Sanctions

Russia's Foreign Ministry on November 11 defended the government's unilateral decision to place the local subsidiary of Japan Tobacco (JT) under the management of a Russian company, describing the move as a countermeasure against what it called Japan's "blatantly hostile actions."

Touch-Free Ticket Gates Coming to Tokyo's Yamanote Line

East Japan Railway (JR East) announced on November 10th that it will introduce touch-free ticket gates at 40 stations, including every station on Tokyo's Yamanote Line, from spring 2028, allowing passengers using Mobile Suica to pass through without taking their smartphones out of their pockets or bags.

Japan Unveils Guidelines for Children's Internet Use

Japan's Children and Families Agency unveiled its first national guidelines on November 10th for parental involvement in children's internet use, dividing those aged 0 to 18 into six developmental stages as the government considers tighter regulations on social media platforms to protect young people from online bullying, exploitation, and other growing risks.

Typhoon No. 32 Moves Away From Japan Islands

As of 3 a.m. on Wednesday, November 11, Typhoon No. 32 was moving east-northeast over waters east of Chichijima in the Ogasawara Islands, gradually heading away from the Japanese archipelago after passing near the island between late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Nikkei Falls 429 Points as Nvidia Turmoil Rattles Tokyo Stocks

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell about 429 points, or 0.7%, to close near 60,819 on Thursday, November 12, ending a three-day winning streak as reports concerning Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang triggered heavy selling in semiconductor-related shares, while the broader TOPIX index edged 0.2% higher to around 3,937.

SoftBank Taps Individual Investors for Record Bond Issue

SoftBank Group raised a record 1 trillion yen through bonds aimed at individual investors in September, offering an annual interest rate of 4.75% on seven-year securities as the Japanese technology investment giant seeks to finance massive investments in artificial intelligence and strengthen its cash reserves.

Japan's Wholesale Inflation Tops 7%

Japan's corporate goods price index rose 7.1% in October from a year earlier, returning to the 7% range for the first time in two months and highlighting persistent inflationary pressures on businesses, according to data released by the Bank of Japan on November 12th.

Japanese Workers Prefer 10 Hours Less Overtime

A survey of more than 20,000 full-time employees in Japan has revealed a significant gap between actual and preferred overtime hours, with workers averaging 23.8 hours of overtime a month compared with an ideal of 14.1 hours, a difference of 9.7 hours.

Japan Stocks Rise for Third Day as Nikkei Closes Above 61,000

Tokyo stocks extended their recovery on Wednesday, November 11th, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 61,248.59 points as of 3:30 p.m., up 789.01 points, or 1.31%, from Tuesday, marking a third consecutive session of gains as investors bought semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related shares despite renewed concerns over US inflation and interest rates.

SoftBank Sees Red Over AI Data Centers

SoftBank Group reported a net loss of 768 billion yen for the six months from April to September, largely due to losses associated with a review of its artificial intelligence data center plans in the United States, but the Japanese technology investment giant said it would continue pursuing its long-term AI strategy despite the financial setback.

Nikkei Surges 1,684 Points to Reclaim 60,000 on Tuesday

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average surged 1,684.08 points, or 2.87%, to close at 60,459.58 on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. Japan time, recovering the psychologically important 60,000 level for the first time in three trading sessions as investors bought back artificial intelligence and semiconductor shares following a sharp rebound on Wall Street.

Japan's Tofu Tradition Under Threat as Producers Struggle to Survive

Japan's tofu industry is facing mounting financial pressure, with 39 producers going bankrupt, suspending or closing operations, or dissolving their businesses between January and October 2026, as rising soybean prices and sluggish sales leave nearly 40% of manufacturers operating at a loss.

< 2 3 4 5 >