Japan Finance CorporationBusiness guideThe Japan Finance Corporation explains the application procedure and necessary documents for those planning to start a business and those who have only recently started one. The documents required change with the application method (internet or post) and the type of loan. Following the guidance the Corporation publishes, this article sets out general examples of documents to prepare. The result of the assessment is decided by the applicant's circumstances, and the Corporation may not be able to meet the applicant's wishes.When you start a new job, there is a way to borrow money from a government financial institution. When you borrow, you hand in a document explaining "what work you will do and how you will repay", a document confirming you are who you say you are, and so on. Whether you can borrow is decided by a check called an assessment. The documents to prepare change with the way of applying and the type of loan, so before you apply, check on the official website.
Read more →Small and Medium Enterprise AgencyBusiness guideWhen you take out a loan for your business, the financial institution judges the outlook for repayment comprehensively from the numbers in the financial statements and the substance of the business. Public arrangements include the systems guaranteed by credit guarantee associations, loans from the Japan Finance Corporation, and the "Guidelines on guarantees by business owners", which encourage lending that does not rely on the owner's personal guarantee. This article sets out basic knowledge useful in preparing for a loan, following government guidance. The result of an individual assessment differs by financial institution and by case.When a company borrows money from a bank, the bank checks "whether it will be repaid properly" using a report card called the financial statements and the outlook for the work ahead. There are also arrangements such as the "credit guarantee association", which pays in place of the borrower if the borrower cannot repay, and the "Japan Finance Corporation", which handles the government's money. If you know before borrowing what will be looked at, it is easier to prepare.
Read more →Small and Medium Enterprise AgencyBusiness guideIn assessing a loan, a financial institution checks the numbers in the financial statements and asks the owner about the background. To make financing easier to obtain, the basic approach is not to make the numbers look good but to put numbers that are true to the facts into a form you can explain logically. The Guidelines on guarantees by business owners also cite clearly separating the assets and accounting of the corporation from those of the owner personally, and disclosing financial information in a timely way, as preconditions for lending that does not rely on guarantees. This article sets out general points to look at when preparing financial statements.Financial statements are documents that sum up a company's results for a year and the state of its money, and a bank looks at them when it considers whether to lend. What matters is not making the numbers look good but putting the truth into a form you can explain properly. Preparations such as separating the company's money from the president's personal money and sorting out loans and borrowings whose purpose is unclear are useful. Fudging the numbers must never be done.
Read more →Small and Medium Enterprise AgencyBusiness guideWhen cash flow becomes tight, the first things that matter are to make visible in numbers when and how much will run short, and to consult early. Public support includes the cash flow consultation desks that the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency lists, Yorozu Support Centers (free management consultation), the Safety Net Guarantee of the credit guarantee associations, and the national tax deferment systems for when taxes cannot be paid in one sum. Following government guidance, this article sets out the general order of action. Responses change with individual circumstances, so consult a professional or a desk at an early stage.In a shop or a company, even when there are sales, the time money comes in and the time it is paid out can be out of step, and money can run short for a while. When this looks likely, it is important to make a table early of "when and how much will run short" and check it. After that, if you talk to the consultation desks of the government and public organizations, they can tell you about ways to borrow money and ways to discuss the time of payment. Do not worry alone; it is important to consult early.
Read more →Small and Medium Enterprise AgencyBusiness guideWith cash flow, you have more options if you make it hard to break through daily management than if you deal with it only after it becomes tight. The Small and Medium Enterprise Agency's guide to using accounting sets out, as efforts to stabilize cash flow, recording cash and deposit movements, managing accounts receivable (claims) and accounts payable (debts), keeping track of inventory, and a cash flow table. This article sets out the main points as a general explanation.In a shop or a company, even when there are sales, the day money comes in and the day it is paid out can be out of step, and money can run short for a while. To keep that from happening, it is important to record money in and out every day and to check the money that has not come in yet and the money that has not been paid yet. Knowing your stock of goods and not holding too much of it also helps. If you make a table of the outlook ahead, you can find early the times when money is likely to run short.
Read more →National Tax AgencyBusiness guideWhen national taxes cannot be paid in one sum by the due date, a deferment of payment may be granted on application to the tax office if certain requirements are met. The National Tax Agency explains the "deferment of realization", which holds off the seizure and sale of assets, and the "deferment of tax payment", which is based on grounds such as disaster, illness, closure of a business or a significant loss. Even when a deferment is granted, the treatment of delinquent tax (the charge corresponding to interest) is involved, so it is recommended to consult the collection section of the tax office with jurisdiction before the due date approaches.The rule is to pay tax by a set day, but when you are ill, there is a disaster, or your shop is struggling, you may not be able to pay all of it right away. For such times, if you tell the tax office, there is a system that lets you wait on the time of payment or pay in parts. Even while you are waiting, the tax charged for the late part keeps growing, so once you know you cannot pay, it is important to consult the tax office early.
Read more →National Tax AgencyBusiness guideWhen you start a business, whether to stay a sole proprietorship or become a corporation (a stock company, a limited liability company and so on) affects both how much money stays in your hands and the burden of procedures. Income from a sole proprietorship is subject to income tax (progressive, 5 to 45%) plus resident tax and individual business tax, while a corporation's profit is subject to corporation tax and related taxes. Becoming a corporation requires enrolment in social insurance (health insurance and employees' pension), and the officer's remuneration can use the employment income deduction. Which is better depends on the level of profit and the family situation, so comparing the numbers is the starting point.When you start a shop or a job, you can choose between a "sole proprietorship", done in your own name alone, and a "corporation", where you make a company. The taxes and insurance systems differ, so both the money left in your hands and how hard the procedures are will change. It is said that staying an individual is easier while the profit is small, and a company is often more advantageous once the profit grows, but this also changes with the number of people in your family and where you live. First, it is important to compare using numbers.
Read more →Ministry of JusticeBusiness guideA stock company (kabushiki kaisha) comes into being when the articles of incorporation are drawn up and certified at a notary office, the capital is paid in, and an application for registration of incorporation is filed with the Legal Affairs Bureau. The day the registration is applied for becomes the company's date of establishment. After that, notifications are made to the tax office, the prefecture, the municipality, the pension office and others. Following materials published by government agencies, this article sets out the general flow when promoters set up a small stock company that has no board of directors.To make a stock company, you first prepare a document called the articles of incorporation, which sets out the company's rules, and have it checked at a government office called a notary office. Next, you pay in the money that forms the base of the company (the capital) and apply to a government office called the Legal Affairs Bureau to register that you have made the company. After that, you also let the tax office and others know that the company now exists. There are an order and deadlines, so it is important to proceed while checking the guidance of the government agencies.
Read more →National Tax AgencyBusiness guideA sole proprietorship can be started simply by filing a notice of business start-up with the tax office. However, some procedures are better completed early, such as the application for approval to file blue-form returns, notifications when hiring people, and preparing account books. Under "If you are starting a business", the National Tax Agency lists the necessary notification forms, and each document has its own deadline. Following the Agency's guidance, this page sets out what to decide before you start, the documents to file, and the general flow after you start. The documents you need vary with individual circumstances, so please make the final check with the tax office or a professional.You can start a "sole proprietorship", running a shop or a job in your own name, by handing a paper called a notice of business start-up to the tax office, one of the government offices. There are also the application for "blue-form returns", which makes the tax system easier to use, and notifications for when you hire people. Each has a deadline, so it is reassuring to check early. If you are unsure, asking the tax office or a professional is the surest way.
Read more →National Tax AgencyBusiness guideOnce you start a sole proprietorship, recording each day's transactions in account books is the foundation of your tax return. The National Tax Agency explains that a person who has received approval to file blue-form returns and meets certain requirements can deduct up to 650,000 yen from income (550,000 yen or 100,000 yen depending on the requirements) as the special blue-form return deduction. The amount depends on how the books are kept (double-entry or simple bookkeeping) and how the return is filed (for example, through e-Tax). Following the Agency's guidance, this article sets out the bookkeeping basics worth checking right after you start.When you start a shop or a job, it is important to record every day when money came in, how much, and how much went out. This record is called an account book. There is a system in which a person who keeps the books properly and completes the required procedures can subtract a certain amount from their income when calculating tax. The amount you can subtract changes depending on how you keep the records. If you are unsure, you can ask the tax office or a tax accountant.
Read more →Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)Trade rules & company lawNovember 2026 (Reiwa 8), one monthOn October 30, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that November will be the Campaign Month for Preventing Burden-Shifting onto Subcontractors. Working with the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency and the Japan Fair Trade Commission, the ministry will carry out intensive awareness activities, including displaying posters and requesting cooperation from industry-supervising ministries, prefectures, and labour and management organizations. Prefectural labour bureaus will also make company visits to large firms that may be causing such burden-shifting.When a large company tries to cut overtime, some of that work can be passed on to smaller partner firms, turning into unreasonable requests such as finish it by tomorrow or redo it right away. This is called burden-shifting. For one month in November, the government will raise awareness with posters and visit large firms that may be placing such strain on others.
Read more →Japan Fair Trade CommissionTrade rules & company lawOn October 30, 2026 (Reiwa 8), the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) announced a recommendation against 株式会社日工 (Nikko). According to the release, the company had subcontracted the manufacture of bolts and similar parts to 16 subcontractors and, between December 2024 and December 2025, deducted a total of JPY 17,128,945 from the subcontract payments by applying a fixed rate to the amounts in order to secure its own profit. It is a useful prompt to review in-house practices on the ordering side.When a large company asks a small factory to make parts, the price is agreed in advance. But one company, after receiving the finished parts, paid less than agreed by taking off a percentage of the price. On October 30 the national competition authority (the JFTC) told it to stop. The amounts taken off came to more than JPY 17 million across 16 business partners, and the company has already paid all of it back.
Read more →Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)Economic news (Japan & world)On October 30, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare released Employment Referrals for General Workers for September 2026 (Reiwa 8). The ratio of active job openings to active job applicants (seasonally adjusted) was 1.19, up 0.01 point from the previous month, and the ratio of new job openings to new applicants (seasonally adjusted) was 2.19, up 0.13 point. For regular (permanent) positions the ratio was 1.01. These figures serve as basic reference data for assessing the hiring environment.Every month the government compares the number of job openings filed with the public employment offices against the number of people looking for work. In September 2026, there were 119 openings for every 100 job seekers. This is expressed as an openings-to-applicants ratio of 1.19. When the figure is above 1, there are more companies looking for people than people looking for work.
Read more →Ministry of Health, Labour and WelfareLabor law & HRApplications close on Friday, February 26, 2027On October 30, 2026 (Reiwa 8), the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) announced that it will run the FY2027 Contest for Companies Making the Most of Older Workers, jointly with the Japan Organization for Employment of the Elderly, Persons with Disabilities and Job Seekers, and is inviting examples of initiatives that help older workers thrive. Applications close on Friday, February 26, 2027; for postal applications, a postmark of that day is accepted. Winners are scheduled to be announced in mid-September 2027.The national government (the MHLW) is looking for companies that let people keep working past the age of 65 and that have gone further with their own ideas, so that it can honour them. Applications opened on October 30 and close on February 26, 2027. The chosen companies will be announced in mid-September 2027, and the very best are due to be honoured in Tokyo in October of the same year.
Read more →Bank of JapanEconomic news (Japan & world)The Bank of Japan holds a Monetary Policy Meeting on October 29 and 30, and immediately after it ends the Outlook for Economic Activity and Prices (the Basic View) is released. The price stability target that underpins those judgements was set in a document published on January 22, 2013 as a 2% year-on-year rate of increase in consumer prices, to be achieved as early as possible. Here is which index that 2% refers to, and when the related releases appear.The Bank of Japan aims for a state in which the prices of the things and services we buy are about 2% higher than a year earlier. This is called the price stability target, and it was decided and published on January 22, 2013. On October 29 and 30 a meeting is held to discuss the economy and prices ahead, and a document setting out the outlook comes out as soon as it finishes.
Read more →Bank of JapanEconomic news (Japan & world)On October 30, 2026, the Bank of Japan published the Bank's View in its Outlook for Economic Activity and Prices (October 2026), decided at the Monetary Policy Meeting held on October 29 and 30. In fiscal 2026 higher energy and raw material prices weigh on the economy, but growing global AI-related demand, government measures and accommodative financial conditions provide support, so growth is expected to slow yet remain moderate. Year-on-year CPI (all items less fresh food) is projected to rise clearly above 2% and then narrow toward about 2%.Every three months the Bank of Japan publishes an Outlook Report on how it sees the economy and prices ahead. In the October 2026 report, higher oil and raw material prices are a heavy load, but the worldwide demand for machines and parts used for AI and other factors provide support, so Japan's economy is expected to keep growing slowly. Prices are expected to rise clearly above the 2% the Bank is aiming for, and then to come back to around 2%.
Read more →Japan Fair Trade CommissionTrade rules & company lawOn October 29, 2026, the Japan Fair Trade Commission issued a recommendation to Maruzen Co., Ltd., a manufacturer and seller of commercial kitchen equipment, finding conduct in breach of Article 4, Paragraph 1, Item 3 of the Subcontract Act as it stood before amendment (prohibition on reducing subcontract payments). Between April 2025 and January 2026 the company deducted a total of JPY 60,888,107 from sums due to 385 subcontractors, labelling the deductions as administrative fees and interest. Maruzen has paid back the full amount. Any company that deducts items from its payments has reason to review its own practice.When you ask another company to make something, cutting the agreed price afterwards without a reason is forbidden by law. On October 29 the Japan Fair Trade Commission said that a maker of commercial kitchen equipment had taken a total of JPY 60,888,107 out of the money owed to 385 partners, calling it administrative fees and interest, and told the company to put its payment practice right. The company paid the whole of that money back.
Read more →International Monetary Fund (IMF)Economic news (Japan & world)At the Annual Meetings the IMF published the October 2026 Fiscal Monitor, Taxing Better to Boost Growth (the IMF Media Center gives October 14 as the release date). It recommends that taxing better can support growth without sacrificing revenue. The Director of the Fiscal Affairs Department said fiscal risks are rising and a proper reaction is largely absent in many countries.In the Fiscal Monitor the IMF reviews how countries tax and spend. The October 2026 theme is boosting growth by taxing better. Its suggestion is that reducing the distortions in how taxes are levied can raise companies' investment, the number of people working and productivity without reducing tax revenue.
Read more →International Monetary Fund (IMF)Economic news (Japan & world)The IMF published the October 2026 Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR), Resilience, Risk, and Transformation (the official page is dated October 13, 2026). It says financial markets have remained resilient, supported by solid economic growth and strong corporate earnings, but financial stability risks remain elevated.Twice a year the IMF checks whether the world's finances are stable. The October 2026 edition says markets are holding up for now but the risks to stability remain high. It names three things to watch: a sudden correction in AI-related prices, a sharp rise in government bond yields, and cyberattacks.
Read more →World Trade Organization (WTO)Economic news (Japan & world)On October 8, 2026 the WTO updated its Global Trade Outlook and Statistics. Global trade proved more resilient than expected in the first half of 2026 despite the Middle East conflict, as supply chains adapted and AI investment surged, and the merchandise trade volume forecast was raised from 1.9% in March to 3.9%. The services trade forecast was cut from 4.8% to 3.3%, and the gains are uneven across regions.The WTO, an international organisation, has raised its forecast for world trade. Even with the conflict in the Middle East, logistics workarounds and growing trade in semiconductors and servers for AI helped, so trade in goods is expected to grow 3.9% in 2026. Services such as travel and transport are weak, though, and countries and regions differ.
Read more →Bank of JapanEconomic news (Japan & world)On October 8 the Bank of Japan published the Regional Economic Report (Sakura Report) for October 2026. It compiles reports from the Bank's branches and other regional economic departments, based on information gathered for the branch managers' meeting held the same day, and states that although some weak movements are seen, economic activity in all regions is "recovering moderately", "picking up" or "picking up moderately".The Bank of Japan divides the country into nine regions and, four times a year, reports on the economy by putting together the information gathered by its branches and other offices. In the October 8 report, published on October 2026, the economy in every region is described as "recovering moderately", "picking up" or "picking up moderately". Some weak movements are also seen, however.
Read more →Bank for International Settlements (BIS)Economic news (Japan & world)On September 14, 2026 the BIS published its Quarterly Review. It says flare-ups in geopolitical tensions tested the positive momentum of the first half of the year, with hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz heightening uncertainty about the inflation and monetary policy outlook. With concerns about fiscal burdens added, government bond yields rose and AI-led equity momentum wobbled, but investors’ risk appetite proved resilient on the whole.The BIS, an international organisation, has summed up what happened in the world’s financial markets. Rising tension in the Middle East and worries that governments are borrowing too much pushed long-term interest rates up. Momentum in AI-related shares wobbled a little, but investors’ willingness to take risks stayed strong overall.
Read more →Bank of JapanEconomic news (Japan & world)On July 31, 2026, the Bank of Japan published the Bank's view in its Outlook for Economic Activity and Prices (July 2026), decided at the Monetary Policy Meeting held on July 30 and 31 (the full text with the background explanation followed on August 3). Higher oil prices weigh on the economy, but growing global AI-related demand and government measures provide support, so growth is expected to slow yet remain moderate. Year-on-year CPI (all items less fresh food) is projected to rise clearly above 2% from the latter half of fiscal 2026.In the Outlook Report it published on July 31, 2026, the Bank of Japan says that although higher oil prices have an effect, growing demand related to AI and other factors support the economy, so Japan's economy keeps growing slowly. It expects price increases to grow larger from the second half of this fiscal year, to clearly above the 2% the Bank is aiming for.
Read more →International Monetary Fund (IMF)Economic news (Japan & world)On July 30, 2026 the IMF published the 2026 External Sector Report, Amid Rising Imbalances, the Case for Rebalancing. Based on 2025 data, it provides the external assessment of 30 of the world's largest economies. It reports that global current account balances widened further in 2025 and that excess balances increased.The gap between the money flowing into and out of a country through trade and investment with other countries is called the current account balance. Every year the IMF assesses whether this gap has become too lopsided for 30 of the world's large economies. The 2026 report says the gaps widened further in 2025.
Read more →Bank of JapanEconomic news (Japan & world)On July 9 the Bank of Japan published the Regional Economic Report (Sakura Report) for July 2026. It compiles reports from the Bank's branches and other regional economic departments, based on information gathered for the branch managers' meeting held the same day, and states that although some weak movements are seen, economic activity in all regions is "recovering moderately", "picking up" or "picking up moderately".The Bank of Japan divides the country into nine regions and, four times a year, reports on the economy by putting together the information gathered by its branches and other offices. In the July 9 report, published on July 2026, the economy in every region is described as "recovering moderately", "picking up" or "picking up moderately". Some weak movements are also seen, however.
Read more →Bank of JapanEconomic news (Japan & world)In the 209th Tankan (Short-Term Economic Survey of Enterprises in Japan, June 2026 survey), published by the Bank of Japan on July 1, 2026, the business conditions DI for all industries ("favorable" minus "unfavorable", percentage points) was 29 for large enterprises, 22 for medium-sized enterprises and 13 for small enterprises. The changes in the "actual results" from the previous survey were +2, -1 and 0 points, respectively.The Bank of Japan runs a large survey four times a year asking companies across the country "How is the economy right now?". In the results announced on July 1, 2026 for the June 2026 survey, more companies answered "favorable" than "unfavorable". The outlook for about three months ahead, however, was lower than the current figure.
Read more →Bank for International Settlements (BIS)Economic news (Japan & world)On June 28, 2026 the BIS published its Annual Economic Report. Over the past year investment in AI ecosystems helped global growth withstand the blow from major tariff hikes, but geopolitical headwinds and rising fiscal and financial fragilities remain. The BIS calls for stronger foundations: fiscal sustainability, an unambiguous commitment to price stability and congruent prudential policies across the financial system.The BIS, an international organisation where the world’s central banks work together, has published its annual report. Over the past year the world economy held up even with higher tariffs, and investment in AI was a big support. But with public debt and weak spots in finance growing, it urges strengthening the “foundations”, such as stable prices and sound public finances.
Read more →World BankEconomic news (Japan & world)On June 11, 2026 the World Bank published its Global Economic Prospects. Higher energy prices from the conflict in the Middle East, together with steeper inflation and higher borrowing costs, are forecast to slow global growth from 2.9% in 2025 to 2.5% in 2026, the lowest rate since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Growth improves to 2.8% in 2027 but stays 0.4 percentage point below the 2010s average.The World Bank, an international organisation, has published its outlook for the world economy. Because the conflict in the Middle East pushes up energy prices and other prices, world growth in 2026 is expected to be 2.5%, the lowest since the pandemic began. The impact is said to be especially big on developing countries.
Read more →Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)Economic news (Japan & world)On June 3, 2026 the OECD published its Economic Outlook. It says the conflict in the Middle East has become the dominant force shaping global prospects through an energy shock and inflationary pressure. Global growth slows from 3.4% in 2025 to 2.8% in 2026 and picks up to 3.1% in 2027 if the disruption is time-limited, and falls to 2.1% in 2026 and 1.8% in 2027 if it is prolonged.The conflict in the Middle East is casting a shadow over the world economy. The OECD, an international organisation, gave two outlooks: one in which the disruption ends fairly soon and one in which it drags on. If it ends soon, world growth in 2026 is 2.8%; if it drags on, 2.1%, a big difference.
Read more →Bank of JapanEconomic news (Japan & world)On April 28, 2026, the Bank of Japan published the Bank's view in its Outlook for Economic Activity and Prices (April 2026), decided at the Monetary Policy Meeting held on April 27 and 28. Higher oil prices stemming from the Middle East situation will weigh on corporate profits and households' real incomes, so growth is expected to slow in fiscal 2026, though moderate growth continues. Year-on-year CPI (all items less fresh food) is projected at the high-2% range for fiscal 2026.In the Outlook Report it published on April 28, 2026, the Bank of Japan says that the large rise in crude oil, the raw material for gasoline and electricity, caused by the Middle East situation will weigh on this fiscal year's economy. So it expects growth to slow, though not to stop. It expects prices to rise sharply this fiscal year.
Read more →Bank of JapanEconomic news (Japan & world)On April 21, 2026 the Bank of Japan published the Financial System Report (April 2026 issue). It assesses that Japan's financial system "maintains stability on the whole", and examines that stability as the external environment changes substantially, including the tension in the Middle East since the end of February and the activity of overseas non-bank entities.The financial system means the whole mechanism, including banks, through which money changes hands. Twice a year the Bank of Japan issues a report that is like a health check of it. In the report published on April 21, 2026, Japan's financial system was described as "maintaining stability on the whole". Points to watch, such as the situation in the Middle East and the flow of money from overseas, were also named.
Read more →International Monetary Fund (IMF)Economic news (Japan & world)On April 16, 2026 the IMF published the Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and Pacific, April 2026. Asia's economy entered 2026 on solid ground despite last year's trade tensions, but the war in the Middle East has triggered an energy shock that is testing that strength. Higher oil and gas prices are pushing up inflation, widening trade gaps and limiting governments' room to respond.The IMF also publishes outlooks for each region. The April 2026 edition for Asia and Pacific says that, because of the war in the Middle East, oil and gas have become expensive, which affects prices and government budgets in Asian countries that rely on imported fuel. Even so, Asia is still set to lead global growth.
Read more →International Monetary Fund (IMF)Economic news (Japan & world)On April 15, 2026 the IMF published the April 2026 Fiscal Monitor, Fiscal Policy under Pressure: High Debt, Rising Risks. Global public debt rose to just under 94 percent of GDP in 2025 and is set to reach 100 percent by 2029, one year earlier than projected in April 2025.Twice a year the IMF publishes the Fiscal Monitor, which checks the state of countries' public finances. The April 2026 edition says that the debts of governments around the world keep growing. In 2025 they were just under 94 percent of GDP, and they are set to reach 100 percent by 2029.
Read more →International Monetary Fund (IMF)Economic news (Japan & world)In its World Economic Outlook of April 14, 2026, the IMF projected, assuming the conflict stays limited in duration and scope, that global growth would slow to 3.1 percent in 2026 and be 3.2 percent in 2027. Global headline inflation is projected to rise modestly in 2026 before resuming its decline in 2027, with the slowdown and the rise in inflation particularly pronounced in emerging market and developing economies.On April 14, 2026 the IMF (International Monetary Fund) said the world economy is expected to grow 3.1 percent in 2026 and 3.2 percent in 2027. The forecast assumes the conflict does not drag on, and it says the pace of growth eases a little in 2026.
Read more →International Monetary Fund (IMF)Economic news (Japan & world)On April 14, 2026 the IMF published the April 2026 Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR), titled Global Financial Markets Confront the War in the Middle East and Amplification Risks. It says equity prices have fallen and bond yields have risen since late February, and that market functioning has remained orderly but risks are asymmetric and could intensify if the conflict persists.The IMF (International Monetary Fund) issues a report twice a year that checks whether the world's finances are stable. The April 2026 edition focuses on how the war in the Middle East affects financial markets. Since late February, share prices have fallen and the yields on government bonds have risen.
Read more →Bank of JapanEconomic news (Japan & world)On April 6 the Bank of Japan published the Regional Economic Report (Sakura Report) for April 2026. It compiles reports from the Bank's branches and other regional economic departments, based on information gathered for the branch managers' meeting held the same day, and states that although some weak movements are seen, economic activity in all regions is "recovering moderately", "picking up" or "picking up moderately".The Bank of Japan divides the country into nine regions and, four times a year, reports on the economy by putting together the information gathered by its branches and other offices. In the April 6 report, published on April 2026, the economy in every region is described as "recovering moderately", "picking up" or "picking up moderately". Some weak movements are also seen, however.
Read more →International Monetary Fund (IMF)Economic news (Japan & world)The IMF Executive Board concluded the 2026 Article IV consultation with Japan, and a press release was issued dated April 3. Directors commended Japan's strong economic resilience and concurred that the war in the Middle East poses significant new risks to the outlook. Growth is projected at 0.8 percent in 2026 and 0.6 percent in 2027.The IMF (International Monetary Fund) reviews each member country's economy every year and gives its opinion. This is called an Article IV consultation. In 2026 the IMF's Executive Board praised Japan's economy as resilient to global shocks, while pointing out that the war in the Middle East has added risks to the outlook.
Read more →Bank of JapanEconomic news (Japan & world)In the 208th Tankan (Short-Term Economic Survey of Enterprises in Japan, March 2026 survey), published by the Bank of Japan on April 1, 2026, the business conditions DI for all industries ("favorable" minus "unfavorable", percentage points) was 27 for large enterprises, 23 for medium-sized enterprises and 13 for small enterprises. The changes in the "actual results" from the previous survey were +2, +1 and -1 points, respectively.The Bank of Japan runs a large survey four times a year asking companies across the country "How is the economy right now?". In the results announced on April 1, 2026 for the March 2026 survey, more companies answered "favorable" than "unfavorable". The outlook for about three months ahead, however, was lower than the current figure.
Read more →World Trade Organization (WTO)Economic news (Japan & world)On March 19, 2026 the WTO released its Global Trade Outlook and Statistics. World trade, which grew more than expected in 2025 on surging trade in AI-enabling goods, is forecast to slow in 2026. In the baseline scenario, which excludes energy price shocks, merchandise trade volume growth falls from 4.6% to 1.9%, and in a scenario of persistently high energy prices it falls further to 1.4%.The WTO, an international organisation, has published its outlook for world trade. In 2025, trade in AI-related products such as semiconductors and servers jumped, and trade grew 4.6%. In 2026, partly as a reaction to that, growth is expected to settle at 1.9%. If energy stays expensive because of the conflict in the Middle East, it could fall even lower.
Read more →Bank for International Settlements (BIS)Economic news (Japan & world)On March 16, 2026 the BIS published its Quarterly Review. It says markets appeared calm on the surface during the review period, but there were significant shifts under the surface as investors rotated away from previously high-performing assets, and the conflict in the Middle East in early March exacerbated volatility. Concerns over AI spending weighed on richly valued tech stocks, and gold, silver, oil and natural gas all moved sharply.The BIS, an international organisation, has summed up what happened in the world’s financial markets. On the surface things looked calm, but investors were moving their money from what had been popular to other things. Then the conflict in the Middle East in early March added to this, and prices swung more widely.
Read more →Bank of JapanEconomic news (Japan & world)On January 23, 2026, the Bank of Japan published the Bank's view in its Outlook for Economic Activity and Prices (January 2026), decided at the Monetary Policy Meeting held on January 22 and 23. It expects the economy to keep growing moderately as the positive cycle from income to spending gradually strengthens. Year-on-year CPI (all items less fresh food) is expected to narrow below 2% in the first half of this year, then gradually rise, and in the latter half of the projection period to move at a level broadly consistent with the price stability target.Four times a year the Bank of Japan publishes an Outlook Report on how the economy and prices are likely to move. In the January 23, 2026 report, it expects Japan's economy to keep growing slowly. It expects price increases to ease for a while in the first half of this year and then pick up gradually again.
Read more →International Monetary Fund (IMF)Economic news (Japan & world)In its World Economic Outlook Update of January 19, 2026, the IMF projected global growth of 3.3 percent in 2026 and 3.2 percent in 2027, a slight upward revision from its October 2025 outlook. It says technology investment and fiscal and monetary support offset the drag from shifts in trade policy, and names a reassessment of technology expectations and rising geopolitical tensions as downside risks.The IMF (International Monetary Fund) publishes its outlook for the world's economies several times a year. On January 19, 2026 it said the world economy would grow 3.3 percent in 2026 and 3.2 percent in 2027, a little brighter than its October 2025 outlook.
Read more →World BankEconomic news (Japan & world)On January 13, 2026 the World Bank published its Global Economic Prospects. It says the global economy is proving more resilient than anticipated despite persistent trade tensions and policy uncertainty, and projects global growth of 2.6% in 2026 and 2.7% in 2027, revised up from the June forecast. The 2020s are on track to be the weakest decade for global growth since the 1960s, and fiscal sustainability is a challenge for developing economies.The World Bank, an international organisation, has published its outlook for the world economy. Even with trade disputes continuing, the economy is sturdier than expected, with 2026 growth at 2.6%, a little better than the earlier forecast. Compared with past decades, though, the pace is slow.
Read more →Bank of JapanEconomic news (Japan & world)On January 8 the Bank of Japan published the Regional Economic Report (Sakura Report) for January 2026. It compiles reports from the Bank's branches and other regional economic departments, based on information gathered for the branch managers' meeting held the same day, and states that although some weak movements are seen, economic activity in all regions is "recovering moderately", "picking up" or "picking up moderately".The Bank of Japan divides the country into nine regions and, four times a year, reports on the economy by putting together the information gathered by its branches and other offices. In the January 8 report, published on January 2026, the economy in every region is described as "recovering moderately", "picking up" or "picking up moderately". Some weak movements are also seen, however.
Read more →Bank of JapanEconomic news (Japan & world)In the 207th Tankan (Short-Term Economic Survey of Enterprises in Japan, December 2025 survey), published by the Bank of Japan on December 15, 2025, the business conditions DI for all industries ("favorable" minus "unfavorable", percentage points) was 24 for large enterprises, 22 for medium-sized enterprises and 12 for small enterprises. The changes in the "actual results" from the previous survey were 0, +3 and +3 points, respectively.The Bank of Japan runs a large survey four times a year asking companies across the country "How is the economy right now?". In the results announced on December 15, 2025 for the December 2025 survey, more companies answered "favorable" than "unfavorable". The outlook for about three months ahead, however, was lower than the current figure.
Read more →Bank for International Settlements (BIS)Economic news (Japan & world)On December 8, 2025 the BIS published its Quarterly Review. It says the risk-on mood that prevailed for much of the review period faced mounting challenges from spells of market volatility, concerns about an economic slowdown and unease around stretched equity valuations. The AI-related boom in equity prices shaped market developments, and valuations of risk assets remained at historically elevated levels.The BIS, an international organisation, has summed up what happened in the world’s financial markets. Shares of AI-related companies rose sharply, and the mood in markets was bold. But worries about a slowing economy and fears that shares have become too expensive caused some big ups and downs in share prices.
Read more →Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)Economic news (Japan & world)On December 2, 2025 the OECD published its latest Economic Outlook. It says the global economy has proved resilient this year but underlying fragilities remain, and projects global growth slowing from 3.2% in 2025 to 2.9% in 2026 before picking up to 3.1% in 2027. G20 inflation is expected to move from 3.4% this year to 2.9% in 2026 and 2.5% in 2027.The OECD, an international organisation, has published its outlook for the world economy. Global growth is expected to ease from 3.2% this year to 2.9% next year and then return to 3.1% the year after. The pace at which prices rise is also expected to calm down gradually.
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