Japan Inflation Stays Below 2% For Fourth Straight Month

Jun 19, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Japan's nationwide consumer price index rose 1.4% in May from a year earlier, staying below 2% for the fourth straight month as lower rice, gasoline, utility and school tuition costs helped curb the overall increase.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said the core index, which excludes fresh food because of its sharp price swings, marked its 57th consecutive month of year-on-year growth, reflecting continued price increases for food and other items.

Among major food categories, coffee beans rose 37.9%, chocolate climbed 25.8%, and pork increased 4.8%. Rice, however, turned negative for the first time in three years and six months, falling 4.9%.

In other categories, mobile phone communication fees rose 11.0%, while hotel charges increased 4.8% as inbound tourism demand remained strong.

Private high school tuition fell 68.8% due to national subsidies for high school tuition that began in April.

Gasoline prices declined 7.0%, city gas charges fell 4.1%, and electricity bills dropped 2.4%, reflecting the abolition of the provisional tax rate and government subsidies, helping to restrain the overall rise in consumer prices.

Source: TBS

Typhoon No. 9 Batters Okinawa as Extreme Heat Grips Japan

Typhoon No. 9 (Bavi) battered Okinawa on July 11 with destructive winds, torrential rain, widespread power outages and extensive transport disruptions, while much of the rest of Japan experienced dangerous heat, including the highest temperature recorded nationwide this year.

Typhoon No. 9 Disruptions to Continue on Some Okinawa Routes Sunday

Transport disruptions caused by Typhoon No. 9 (Bavi) are expected to continue on July 12, with airlines warning that some flights serving Okinawa’s outlying islands may still be delayed or canceled even after the storm has moved away from the prefecture.

JAXA Successfully Lands Reusable Rocket Test Vehicle

JAXA successfully landed a small experimental vehicle for a reusable rocket on July 11, marking a step toward technology that could increase the frequency of space launches while helping reduce costs.

Bear Sightings Surge With 50 Cases in Iwate in One Week

A wave of bear sightings across Japan has forced the cancellation of traditional summer events, while one animal entered a home and came within inches of a sleeping resident's face.

Brutal Heat to Grip Japan as Heatstroke Risk Climbs

Japan is expected to remain under intense summer heat through next week as the Pacific high-pressure system continues to dominate the country, bringing widespread temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius and increasing the risk of heatstroke.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Small Supermarkets Surge as Shoppers Seek Lower Prices

Small supermarkets offering lower prices than convenience stores and closer access than full-size supermarkets are expanding rapidly across the Tokyo metropolitan area, as retailers race to meet demand from older consumers, single-person households and shoppers under pressure from rising prices.

One of Japan’s Largest Stag Beetles Goes on Sale in Kyoto

A welfare facility in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto Prefecture, has begun preparations to sell about 220 giant stag beetles, one of Japan’s largest species, from July 13.

Docomo Bank to Begin Services in August, Aiming for 1,500 Branches

NTT Docomo will begin offering banking services under the new "Docomo Bank" brand in August, with plans to build a network of more than 1,500 locations by fiscal 2030, far exceeding the branch networks of Japan's major banks.

Nikkei Extends Rally With 813-Point Gain as AI Stocks Lead Market Higher

Japanese stocks rose for a second straight session on Friday, July 10, with the Nikkei Stock Average climbing 813.88 points to close at 68,557.73 after strong gains in U.S. technology and semiconductor stocks fueled renewed buying of AI-related shares.

June Corporate Goods Price Index Up 7.1%

Japan’s domestic Corporate Goods Price Index, which measures prices charged for goods traded between companies, rose 7.1% from a year earlier to 135.4 in June, the Bank of Japan said on July 10.

Zentoshi Becomes 2026’s Biggest Bankruptcy

A credit card payment processor with liabilities of about 125.9 billion yen has become Japan’s largest bankruptcy so far in 2026, disrupting card payments at restaurants and shops across the country and forcing many businesses to accept cash only.

Japan Delays 060 Mobile Numbers as Carriers Need More Time

Japan's planned rollout of mobile phone numbers beginning with 060 has been postponed after telecom carriers said they need more time to complete system preparations.

Nikkei Falls Below 67,000 as Yield Fears Deepen

Tokyo stocks fell for a third straight session on July 8 as selling in semiconductor and AI-related shares continued, while rising Japanese government bond yields, Middle East tensions and concern over the Bank of Japan’s policy independence added pressure to the broader market.

< 2 3 4 5 >