Triple Decline Deepens in Japanese Markets

May 18, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Japan’s financial markets continued to suffer a so-called “triple decline” on May 18th, with stocks, the yen and government bonds all falling sharply amid growing concerns over worsening fiscal conditions and rising geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran.

The yield on Japan’s benchmark 10-year government bond, a key indicator of long-term interest rates, temporarily climbed to 2.8%, marking its highest level in roughly 29 and a half years. The yield had only surpassed 2.7% on May 15th, but the pace of the increase has accelerated rapidly.

Market concerns have intensified due to rising crude oil prices linked to the situation in Iran, fueling fears of renewed inflationary pressure. Investors are also growing wary over reports that the government is considering compiling a supplementary budget, raising concerns about further fiscal deterioration.

The yen also weakened sharply, briefly approaching the 159-yen range against the U.S. dollar, its weakest level since the currency intervention carried out on April 30th.

Meanwhile, stock prices plunged, with the Nikkei index at one point falling more than 1,000 yen, highlighting the broad-based selloff across Japan’s financial markets.

Source: TBS

Japan Challenges World Map Showing Disputed Islands in Russia's Color

Japan has asked for changes to an Equal Earth world map that depicts the Russian-controlled Northern Territories in the same color as Russia, prompting the map's creator to say the Japanese-language version will be revised while the English version will remain unchanged.

Carp Wash Up in Roadside Drains After Nagoya Floods

Nagoya was assessing the damage after record-breaking rainfall exceeding 100 millimeters in one hour struck the city on September 8, causing a river to temporarily overflow into a residential area and leaving carp and catfish stranded in roadside drains.

Footage Shows Tokyo Flood Control Tunnel After Heavy Rain

Large volumes of floodwater poured into the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel in Kasukabe, Saitama Prefecture, following heavy rain on September 7, prompting the massive underground flood-control facility known as the "Underground Temple" to go into operation.

Osaka Metro to Abolish Magnetic Tickets and Shift to QR Code Tickets

Osaka Metro plans to abolish magnetic tickets and replace them with QR code-based tickets around fiscal 2031, as declining use and the cost of maintaining conventional ticket gates accelerate the shift toward digital fare systems.

Tickets for Asian Games Selling Fast

Ticket sales for the Asian Games are gathering pace with less than two weeks until the competition begins, with more than 60% of tickets sold for the opening ceremony and 31 sports as of September 7, although organizers say seats remain readily available for events including soccer and baseball.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Nikkei Slips as Oil Above $100 and BOJ Rate Fears Cap Gains

Tokyo stocks edged lower on September 10, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 65,143, down 0.19%, as gains in selected semiconductor and electronic-component shares faded under pressure from oil above $100, rising global bond yields and expectations that the Bank of Japan may raise rates next week.

Temples in Mount Koya Fail to Declare Lodging Income

More than half of the religious corporations investigated for operating temple lodgings and religious training programs at World Heritage-listed Mount Koya in Wakayama Prefecture were found to have failed to declare income totaling more than 100 million yen, according to findings by the Osaka Regional Taxation Bureau.

Rice Farmers Exit Business at Record Pace as Prices Fall

Closures and bankruptcies among Japanese rice farmers are running at a record pace in 2026, with 32 cases recorded from January through August as an aging workforce, rising costs and falling rice prices make it increasingly difficult for producers to remain in business.

Tokyo Stocks Lose Ground as Exporters Face Stronger Yen

Tokyo stocks edged lower on September 9, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 65,143, down 126.55 points, as a stronger yen and crude oil’s move toward $100 outweighed support from selected artificial intelligence and semiconductor-related shares.

Samsung Opens Semiconductor Research Center in Yokohama

South Korean semiconductor giant Samsung Electronics has begun full-scale operations at a new semiconductor research center in Yokohama, seeking to accelerate development and strengthen cooperation with Japanese suppliers as demand for chips used in artificial intelligence continues to grow.

Nikkei Drops 1,130 Points as Yen Surge Hits Exporters

Tokyo stocks fell sharply on September 8, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 65,269, down 1,130.51 points, or 1.70%, as a sudden surge in the yen hit exporters and forced investors to reassess the impact of faster Bank of Japan tightening on corporate earnings, equity valuations and the broader economy.

Yen Climbs to Six-Month High Near 152 Against Dollar

The yen strengthened to around 152 against the dollar on September 8, reaching its strongest level in about six months after gaining nearly 7 yen in roughly a week as investors focused on prospects for a narrowing interest-rate gap between Japan and the United States.

Japan's Real Wages Rise 2.4% in July for Seventh Straight Gain

Japan's inflation-adjusted real wages rose 2.4% in July from a year earlier, marking a seventh consecutive monthly increase as higher base salaries and easing price pressures improved workers' purchasing power.

< 2 3 4 5 >