Major food producers in Japan are planning to raise prices for 1,078 items in June, with the number topping 1,000 for the first time in two months. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/05/29/economy/food-rise-june/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #food #japaneseeconomy #middleeast #energy

The Bank of Japan will probably raise its benchmark rate next month to keep from falling behind the curve in fighting inflation, according to a former board member of the central bank. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/05/29/economy/boj-rate-hike-june-former-board-member/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #boj #japaneseeconomy #yen #inflation #sanaetakaichi

Tokyo's key inflation gauge has unexpectedly cooled to the slowest pace in four years, complicating the messaging for Bank of Japan policymakers who may try to justify an interest-rate hike as early as next month. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/05/29/economy/tokyo-inflation-slows-again/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #japaneseeconomy #inflation #economicindicators #boj

Japan's cautious approach to AI could become a strength by letting the country learn from others' mistakes and apply the technology to real-world problems such as labor shortages, tourism and aging demographics. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/05/28/japans-an-ai-laggard/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #artificialintelligence #ai #japaneseeconomy #tech #openai #anthropic

Japan plans to use what are known as bridging bonds to help finance Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's investment plans, in a development that comes as investors are already concerned about more debt issuance. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/05/28/economy/japan-bridging-bonds/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #japaneseeconomy #bonds #minorukihara #investments

Mizuho Financial Group's CEO suggested that the Bank of Japan might be better off considering an outsized interest-rate increase to combat inflation — a move it hasn't made since the country's asset bubble in 1990. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/05/27/mizuho-ceo-rate-increase-inflation/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #mizuho #banks #masahirokihara #boj #inflation #japaneseeconomy #energy #sanaetakaichi #australia

Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda has indicated the need for vigilance over the impact of oil price spikes on the underlying inflation trend, but didn't hint how that would influence next month's policy meeting. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/05/27/economy/boj-ueda-warning-oil-inflation/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #boj #japaneseeconomy #kazuoueda #inflation #oil #energy #middleeast #yen

Buoyed by overnight gains in U.S. technology stocks, the 225-issue Nikkei stock average staged a rebound to briefly top 66,000 for the first time on Wednesday morning. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/05/27/markets/nikkei-hit-high-may/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #markets #japaneseeconomy #nikkei #stocks #us #ai

Fumiya Kokubu's comments contrast with the government's view that supplies will last into next year. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/05/26/companies/former-marubeni-head-naphtha/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #companies #iran #middleeast #naphtha #trade #japaneseeconomy

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average surged over 1,900 points on Monday morning to exceed 65,000 for the first time, backed by expectations for an end to the fighting between the U.S. and Iran. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/05/25/markets/japan-nikkei-stock-average-tops-65000/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #markets #nikkei #stocks #tse #japaneseeconomy