Showing 1 - 10 of 45
Is Takaichi Sanae the 'Iron Lady' of Japan?
Oped, Koichi Hamada, Published on 10/11/2025
» For the first time in its history, Japan's parliament has selected a woman, Takaichi Sanae of the Liberal Democratic Party, to be prime minister. In this sense, Ms Takaichi has already followed in the footsteps of her political idol, Margaret Thatcher -- the UK's first female PM. But whether she is remembered as Japan's own "Iron Lady" will depend on her ability to manage three key challenges: inflation, low female labour-force participation and a fraught geopolitical environment.
Sanae Takaichi becomes Japan's first female prime minister
Reuters, Published on 21/10/2025
» TOKYO — Conservative nationalist Sanae Takaichi was appointed Japan's first female prime minister on Tuesday in a parliamentary vote that handed her a majority in the lower house.
China hawk Takaichi set to be Japan's first woman PM
AFP, Published on 21/10/2025
» TOKYO — Japan was set to get its first woman prime minister on Tuesday after Sanae Takaichi, a China hawk and social conservative, forged an 11th-hour deal to form a new coalition.
Japan's bruised ruling party to pick yet another leader
AFP, Published on 04/10/2025
» TOKYO — Japan's ruling party began voting Saturday to choose its fifth leader in as many years, charged with reviving its flagging fortunes as a new anti-immigration grouping snaps at its heels.
Risky central bank politicisation
Published on 29/08/2025
» There is legitimate debate about the actual independence of modern-day central banks, but almost everyone agrees that overt politicisation of monetary policy — as we appear to be seeing in the United States — is dangerous. Why is that?
Incoming Japanese PM calls for end to deflation
Published on 27/09/2024
» TOKYO - Japan’s incoming prime minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday stressed the need for the country’s economy to fully emerge from deflation.
The lasting legacy of Abenomics
Oped, Koichi Hamada, Published on 31/05/2024
» After the 1985 Plaza Accord pushed the yen's exchange rate sharply upwards, Japan's economy suffered a severe slowdown that proved mightily difficult to reverse. In fact, the only prime minister to oversee a period of consistent growth and high employment in the past three decades was Shinzo Abe, during his second term, which began in 2012.
Japan ranks 'number four' as fortunes wane
Oped, Published on 07/03/2024
» Harvard Professor Ezra Vogel's 1979 book, Japan as Number One: Lessons for America, became an instant bestseller in Japan. The flattering title certainly helped sales, but it was the book's central argument -- that the Japanese approach to governance and business were superior to others -- that really made a splash.
Downsides to digital cash handout plan
Oped, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 21/09/2023
» I announced in a previous article that today's story would focus on liquidity and debt. But after careful consideration, I have decided to postpone this for another fortnight. The main reason being that I want to wait for the Bank of Thailand's economic data release for August due out on Sept 29.
Japan's giant of central banking
Oped, Koichi Hamada, Published on 16/05/2023
» Haruhiko Kuroda's ten-year tenure at the helm of the Bank of Japan was the most consequential in the central bank's history. Following his departure last month, it is worth reflecting on his record.