Japan Institute for National Fundamentals

2026.08.05 (Wed)

【#1392】Takaichi Should Steadily Implement Tax Cut and Growth Strategy

August 3, 2026 　 On July 30, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced her plan to lower the consumption tax on food products from 8% to 1% for two years from next April. This will be the first cut in...

2026.07.23 (Thu)

【#1388】Use Construction Bonds to Increase Defense Spending

July 21, 2026 　 The National Security Strategy released by the former Fumio Kishida administration in late 2022 set a target of increasing Japan’s defense-related spending to 2% of gross domestic pr...

2026.07.08 (Wed)

【#1385】Current Yen Weakness Provides Opportunity for Investment in Growth

July 6, 2026 　 The current weakness of the yen should be viewed as a strong tailwind for Japan’s economic restructuring. Japan does not have to be swayed by greedy currency speculators who are striv...

2026.06.25 (Thu)

【#1380】Government Should Ask BOJ to Be Consistent with National Policy

June 22, 2026 　 On June 16, the Bank of Japan raised its policy interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 1%, the highest level in 31 years, and is poised to raise rates further. If interest rate h...

2026.06.03 (Wed)

【#1376】Serious Question about Expected BOJ Rate Hike

June 1, 2026 　 The Bank of Japan is expected to raise its policy interest rate at its monetary policy meeting scheduled for June 15-16. Although the rate hike is reportedly designed to respond to ri...

2026.04.23 (Thu)

【#1363】China’s 5% Growth Is a Sham

April 20, 2026 　 China’s National Bureau of Statistics announced last week that the country’s gross domestic product in the January-March quarter this year grew 5% year on year in real terms. It’s a...

2026.04.14 (Tue)

【#1361】Allowing Iran to Collect Hormuz Toll Plays into Xi’s Hands

April 13, 2026 　 Peace talks between the United States and Iran were suspended on April 12, the second day of the negotiations, due to their large gaps. Supported by its strategic partner China, Ira...

2026.02.12 (Thu)

【#1344】Old Media Should Not Interfere with Japan’s Revitalization

February 9, 2026 　 Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi led the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to an explosive victory in the House of Representatives general election on February 8. However, there is sti...

2025.12.23 (Tue)

【#1327】BOJ Must Not Undermine Japan’s Recovery with Further Rate Hikes

December 22, 2025 　 The Bank of Japan at its monetary policy meeting on December 19 decided to raise its policy interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 0.75%. At a press conference after the deci...

2025.12.10 (Wed)

【#1321】Questionable Advisability of BOJ’s Biased Approach to Rate Hikes

December 8, 2025 　 The Bank of Japan led by Governor Kazuo Ueda is likely to raise the policy interest rate, or the benchmark for short-term interest rates, by 0.25 percentage points to 0.75% at its...