Japan Economist, Japan Macro Advisors

Takuji Okubo

Japan Economist

Concise and Insightful Analysis on Japan Economy

Japan Macro Advisors

Our mission is to provide a concise and timely analysis on the Japanese economy for the benefit of global audiences. Communication, especially in foreign languages, has always been a weakness for the Japanese, which was fine when Japan's economic might attracted foreign media and various other institutions to study and report on Japan - such days are long gone. In the last two decades, we saw foreign institutions reallocating their resources from Japan to other more exciting parts of the world. As a result, when we read reporting on Japan in foreign media, we sense a subtle but noticeable decline in the depth of understanding what is actually happening in Japan.

Macroeconomics

<p>After 2 years of consistent growth, the Japanese economy contracted in the 2018 January-March quarter. While it is a disappointing result, we think it was a temporary dip and the growth is likely to return in the following quarters. The news should be a wake-up call for Japanese policymakers. Japan has made a progress in reflating the economy, but they should not take continued growth for granted. The BoJ needs to maintain, or better, strengthen its stimulus and clearly communicate its intention…</p>

After 2 years of consistent growth, the Japanese economy contracted in the 2018 January-March quarter. While it is a disappointing result, we think it was a temporary dip and the growth is likely to return in the following quarters. The news should be a wake-up call for Japanese policymakers. Japan has made a progress in reflating the economy, but they should not take continued growth for granted. The BoJ needs to maintain, or better, strengthen its stimulus and clearly communicate its intention…

A Wake-Up Call for Japanese Policymakers.

Deputy Chief Economist

Sharmila Whelan

Independent and original Asian investment research

Aletheia Capital

Aletheia Capital (HK) Ltd. (previously known as Asianomics) combines the extensive knowledge of its experienced team with technology and regulatory changes to disrupt Global Markets business in Asia. The firm is completely independent with no conflicts of interest either on Investment Banking advisory or Capital Markets execution.

<p>China, Korea and Japan, met in Tokyo this week for a trilateral business summit, the first since 2015, to discuss regional trade and North Korea. Following the summit, China the new champion of global free trade, urged Japan and Korea to stand firmly together with it in resisting the rising wave of protectionism while deepening intra-regional trade by accelerating talks on a China-Japan-Korea free trade area and the completion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Mr Trump…</p>

China, Korea and Japan, met in Tokyo this week for a trilateral business summit, the first since 2015, to discuss regional trade and North Korea. Following the summit, China the new champion of global free trade, urged Japan and Korea to stand firmly together with it in resisting the rising wave of protectionism while deepening intra-regional trade by accelerating talks on a China-Japan-Korea free trade area and the completion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Mr Trump…

China-Korea-Japan Trade: Thank You Mr Trump!

<p>BoJ Governor Kuroda is starting to resemble these government officials being hauled into the parliament to give explanations they themselves do not believe in and prove counter-factual. On April 27, the BoJ policy board concluded its first policy meeting in Kuroda's second term. BoJ kept its policy unchanged but made an important change to its policy outlook. Since 2013, the BoJ under Governor Kuroda kept an explicit mention of when it expects its 2% inflation target to be achieved. In the April…</p>

BoJ Governor Kuroda is starting to resemble these government officials being hauled into the parliament to give explanations they themselves do not believe in and prove counter-factual. On April 27, the BoJ policy board concluded its first policy meeting in Kuroda's second term. BoJ kept its policy unchanged but made an important change to its policy outlook. Since 2013, the BoJ under Governor Kuroda kept an explicit mention of when it expects its 2% inflation target to be achieved. In the April…

<div class="content-highlight"><p>The opposition parties seem to be losing momentum in pursuing the responsibility of Prime Minister Abe for the cronyism scandal. However, we are seeing signs of erosion in the support for PM Abe within his party. Ultimately, the polling results would set the course, but we think it is more likely that the ruling party would decide against letting PM Abe continue as their leader when his term expires this September.  </p></div><h2>The testimony was a success for Prime Minister Abe</h2><p>The parliamentary testimony on…</p>

The opposition parties seem to be losing momentum in pursuing the responsibility of Prime Minister Abe for the cronyism scandal. However, we are seeing signs of erosion in the support for PM Abe within his party. Ultimately, the polling results would set the course, but we think it is more likely that the ruling party would decide against letting PM Abe continue as their leader when his term expires this September.  The testimony was a success for Prime Minister AbeThe parliamentary testimony on…

PM Abe Facing Erosion of Support from His Party

<p>Poll results reported by various media this weekend showed that the approval rate for Prime Minister Abe is falling to new lows, raising a possibility that his government will not last for long. In three out of four media polls reported on Sunday, Asahi, Mainichi, Nippon TV and Kyodo, the approval rate hit the lowest rate since the current Abe government started in late 2012.  <a href="http://www.ntv.co.jp/yoron/201803/soku-index.html" target="_blank">Nippon TV's poll</a> put the approval rate at 30.3% and the disapproval rate at 53.0%. Among media polls we have been…</p>

Poll results reported by various media this weekend showed that the approval rate for Prime Minister Abe is falling to new lows, raising a possibility that his government will not last for long. In three out of four media polls reported on Sunday, Asahi, Mainichi, Nippon TV and Kyodo, the approval rate hit the lowest rate since the current Abe government started in late 2012.  Nippon TV's poll put the approval rate at 30.3% and the disapproval rate at 53.0%. Among media polls we have been…

Abe Government Unlikely to Last Beyond This Summer

Japan

TOPIX-Banks Index is a capitalization-weighted index of all the banks listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and is one of the 33 industry sectors of the TOPIX Index (TPX). The index was developed with a base value of 1000 as of January 6, 1992. The parent index is TPX.

TOPIX Banks Index (TPNBNK INDEX)

A Wake-Up Call for Japanese Policymakers.

After 2 years of consistent growth, the Japanese economy contracted in the 2018 January-March quarter. While it is a disappointing result, we think...

Takuji Okubo

China-Korea-Japan Trade: Thank You Mr Trump!

China, Korea and Japan, met in Tokyo this week for a trilateral business summit, the first since 2015, to discuss regional trade and North Korea....

Sharmila Whelan

Governor Kuroda, Please Stop Lying

BoJ Governor Kuroda is starting to resemble these government officials being hauled into the parliament to give explanations they themselves do not...

Takuji Okubo

PM Abe Facing Erosion of Support from His Party

The opposition parties seem to be losing momentum in pursuing the responsibility of Prime Minister Abe for the cronyism scandal. However, we are...

Takuji Okubo

Abe Government Unlikely to Last Beyond This Summer

Poll results reported by various media this weekend showed that the approval rate for Prime Minister Abe is falling to new lows, raising a...

Takuji Okubo