Society

BOJ to link system with foreign central bank

Aug 05 (the-japan-news.com) - The Bank of Japan and the Hong Kong central bank plan to link their settlement systems, informed sources said Thursday.

If realized, it will be the first time for the BOJ to link its financial network system, called BOJ-Net, with another central bank, the sources said, adding the Japanese and Hong Kong monetary authorities are working to establish the connection in 2019.

The planned link will allow smooth settlements of commercial bank transactions in which Japanese government bonds are provided as collateral for procuring Hong Kong dollars.

Currently, the BOJ-Net takes charge of JGB delivery and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority system the cash transfer. Settling the JGB-Hong Kong dollar deals is time-consuming due to no link between the two systems.

Osaka Police End 14-Hour Siege

Police in Osaka arrested a 48-year-old man on October 22nd after a tense 14-hour standoff in which he allegedly held a woman at knifepoint inside an apartment. A special tactical unit forced entry into the residence late at night, ending the standoff without injuries.

Imperial Family Pays Tribute to War Victims

The Emperor, Empress, and their daughter Princess Aiko visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall in Sumida Ward on Thursday afternoon, marking their first visit to the site as Japan observes the 80th year since the end of World War II. They were greeted upon arrival by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and other officials.

First Snow Caps Mount Fuji, 15 Days Earlier Than Last Year

The Kofu Local Meteorological Observatory announced on October 23rd that the season’s first snow had been observed on Mount Fuji, which stands 3,776 meters tall. Around 6 a.m., an official visually confirmed that snow had clearly accumulated near the summit.

Tokyo’s Aging Expressway Reborn After Major Overhaul

After nearly a decade of construction, the newly rebuilt Haneda Line of the Metropolitan Expressway, one of Tokyo’s key arteries linking the city center with Haneda Airport, has been unveiled to the media ahead of its official switch to a new road on October 29th.

New Cabinet Takes On 'Takaichi Color'

The newly launched Takaichi Cabinet moved into full operation on October 22nd, with early personnel decisions revealing a clear conservative tone. Satsuki Katayama was appointed as finance minister and Kimi Onoda as minister in charge of foreign resident policy, underscoring what observers are calling the emergence of a distinct “Takaichi color.”

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Mako Komuro Appears in Six-Page Town & Country Feature

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